Chain-link fence cost in Abilene, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,350 – $5,100
- Per linear ft
- $8.70 – $33
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −16%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #289
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a chain-link fence in Abilene, plan on $1,350 to $5,100 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $8.70 to $33 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 16% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.35 an hour in the Abilene area, 19% below the US median of $22.66.
Estimate your chain-link fence cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Abilene, TX, standard level
$2,450 to $3,950
About $16 to $25.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,250 | $2,300 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $110 |
| Total | $2,450 | $3,950 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Abilene, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $840 | $1,350 | $1,850 | 42% |
| Labor | $460 | $1,800 | $3,100 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $140 | 3% |
| Total | $1,350 | $3,200 | $5,100 | 100% |
Where the Abilene price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: construction laborers at 60%, carpenters at 40%. Weighted together, Abilene wages are 0.77 times the national level. Labor makes up about 56% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Abilene metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $1,350, compared with $1,450 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (90.4) and land at $35 to $140.
Add-ons priced for Abilene
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Abilene by the average of the local wage index (0.77) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.85. Tick any of them in the estimator above to add them to your total. Treat these as planning figures: an add-on touches different trades than the main job, so the scaling is an approximation.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $70 – $850 |
Planning more than one job in Abilene?
Because every project leans on different trades, Abilene's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl fence runs −10% and wood fence −14%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,550 – $6,600 | −14% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,100 – $8,150 | −10% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,250 – $10,000 | −13% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $8,950 | −12% |
Climate in Abilene: timing your chain-link fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Abilene Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Abilene (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Abilene gets about 25 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and October (3.4 inches in June). Inside the workable window, January and December are the driest, at 1.1 and 1.3 inches. The station averages about 102 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59 | 34 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 63 | 37 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Mar | 71 | 45 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 53 | 1.9 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 62 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 93 | 70 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Jul | 96 | 73 | 1.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 96 | 72 | 2.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 65 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 55 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 68 | 43 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 59 | 35 | 1.3 | Workable |
How Abilene compares
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Dallas is the priciest of the group at $3,600. Lubbock is the cheapest at $3,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TXthis page | $1,350 – $5,100 | $3,200 | |
| Midland, TX135 miles | $1,400 – $5,650 | $3,550 | +10% |
| Killeen, TX140 miles | $1,350 – $5,200 | $3,250 | +2% |
| Lubbock, TX145 miles | $1,350 – $5,050 | $3,200 | −1% |
| Waco, TX155 miles | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | +2% |
| Dallas, TX160 miles | $1,500 – $5,750 | $3,600 | +12% |
| Texas (statewide) | $1,450 – $5,450 | $3,450 | +7% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +20% |
Across 300 US metros, Abilene comes in at #289 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Abilene is 7% below the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $1,500 – $5,750 | $3,600 | +12% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $1,450 – $5,550 | $3,500 | +9% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $1,400 – $5,600 | $3,500 | +9% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $1,400 – $5,300 | $3,350 | +4% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $1,300 – $4,950 | $3,150 | −3% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $1,300 – $4,850 | $3,100 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Abilene's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Abilene against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha, WI | 75,450 jobs | $1,600 – $6,400 | $4,000 | +25% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | +13% |
| Warner Robins, GA | 76,050 jobs | $1,400 – $5,300 | $3,350 | +4% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $1,400 – $5,450 | $3,450 | +7% |
Cost by quality level and size in Abilene
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Abilene wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$1,350 to $2,850
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,450 to $3,950
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$3,600 to $5,100
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $910 – $1,900 | $1,650 – $2,700 | $2,400 – $3,450 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,350 – $2,850 | $2,450 – $3,950 | $3,600 – $5,100 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,800 – $3,750 | $3,250 – $5,250 | $4,750 – $6,750 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,650 – $5,600 | $4,850 – $7,800 | $7,100 – $10,000 |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Abilene
Height
A 4-ft fence runs $10-$20 per linear foot; 6- to 8-ft backyard fences run $15-$40+ (HomeGuide).
Coating
Black or green vinyl-coated mesh costs more than galvanized.
Gates
Gates are $80-$1,000+ before installation. Rolling or slide gates are the expensive end.
Abilene labor market for chain-link fence
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Abilene is 0.77 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $18.35 an hour, 19% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.82 and $22.01 an hour. About 570 work in the metro. That is 75.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $20.69 an hour, which is 29% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $18.00 and $23.86 an hour. BLS counts 80 of them working in the area, 10.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.01 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $230. At the 25th percentile ($16.82) it shrinks by about $95. The total moves by 7.0% or 2.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 75,070 jobs in the Abilene area. That makes it the 246th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $16.82 | $18.35 | $22.01 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $18.00 | $20.69 | $23.86 | $29.12 | 0.71 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.77 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $2,450 to $3,950 for Abilene, TX is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the chain-link fence numbers for Abilene, TX line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Chain-link fence in Abilene: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Abilene?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,350 to $5,100 in the Abilene area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,450 to $3,950. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Abilene?
About $8.70 to $33 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Abilene or Midland?
Midland is 135 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,550, which is 10% more than Abilene ($3,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Abilene?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $1,800 out of $3,200. Materials are 42% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Abilene?
$1,800 to $6,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Abilene?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $140 for fees in the Abilene area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Abilene expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Texas?
Abilene is 7% below the Texas statewide estimate ($3,450 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Abilene?
The BLS median is $18.35 an hour in the Abilene area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.82 to $22.01.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Abilene?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,350 to $2,850 and premium work $3,600 to $5,100. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+When is the best time to install a chain-link fence in Abilene?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. January and December are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
+What does "add one gate" add in Abilene?
$70 to $850, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Abilene
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Chain-Link Fence Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Visual Fence Pro: Chain Link Fence Cost & Pricing Guide for Contractors (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = Visual Fence Pro's $6-$13 per foot for residential galvanized 4-6 ft fence (taller or vinyl-coated fence costs more).