Chain-link fence cost in Virginia
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $1,500 – $5,850
- Per linear ft
- $9.70 – $38
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 8
What does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Virginia? Plan on $1,500 to $5,850 for 150 linear ft. Wages (0.92x the US blend), materials (price index 100.4) and permit costs (101.1) put the state below the national midpoint by 5%.
Inside Virginia, the metros we cover range from $3,300 (Roanoke) to $3,650 (Charlottesville) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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 Virginia (statewide), standard level
$2,800 to $4,550
About $18 to $29.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $1,650 |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,800 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $2,800 | $4,550 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Virginia
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $900 | $1,450 | $1,950 | 39% |
| Labor | $550 | $2,150 | $3,750 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 3% |
| Total | $1,500 | $3,650 | $5,850 | 100% |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Virginia
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.
Survey
A land survey ($300-$900) is worth it before you put a fence near a boundary.
Virginia seasons and chain-link fence
Season matters for chain-link fence. For each Virginia metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Virginia Beach has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Virginia at 12 months; Harrisonburg has the shortest at 11 (February through December). Rainfall runs from 39 inches a year in Harrisonburg to 48 inches in Charlottesville.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | 32 | 87 | 47 | 12: all year |
| Richmond | 29 | 90 | 46 | 11: August through June |
| Roanoke | 29 | 88 | 43 | 12: all year |
| Charlottesville | 28 | 84 | 48 | 11: February through December |
| Lynchburg | 25 | 85 | 44 | 12: all year |
| Blacksburg | 22 | 82 | 43 | 11: February through December |
| Winchester | 24 | 86 | 41 | 11: February through December |
| Harrisonburg | 23 | 86 | 39 | 11: February through December |
How Virginia compares with nearby states
Virginia ranks 32 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for chain-link fence, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $5,300 and the cheapest Arkansas at $3,250, both for 150 linear ft at the midpoint. Virginia sits at $3,650. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 110 miles away | $1,650 – $6,450 | $4,050 | +10% |
| Maryland | 150 miles away | $1,550 – $6,250 | $3,900 | +7% |
| Delaware | 170 miles away | $1,500 – $5,950 | $3,700 | +1% |
| North Carolina | 180 miles away | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | −3% |
| Pennsylvania | 210 miles away | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | +6% |
Quality levels and sizes in Virginia
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Virginia wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$1,500 to $3,250
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,800 to $4,550
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,100 to $5,850
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,000 – $2,200 | $1,900 – $3,050 | $2,750 – $3,950 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,800 – $4,550 | $4,100 – $5,850 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,000 – $4,300 | $3,700 – $6,000 | $5,450 – $7,750 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,950 – $6,400 | $5,550 – $8,950 | $8,100 – $11,500 |
Extras that change the Virginia total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Virginia by the average of the local wage index (0.92) and goods index (1.00), a factor of 0.96. 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) | $75 – $960 |
Wages behind the Virginia number
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.92 for Virginia.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $20.94 an hour, 8% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.80 and $22.86 an hour. About 25,830 work in the state. That is 62.9 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 $26.77 an hour, which is 8% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.34 and $29.49 an hour. BLS counts 20,460 of them working in the state, 49.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($22.86 an hour) would add about $120 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($17.80) would take off about $190. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 4,109,320 jobs across Virginia (May 2025), which is 2.6% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $17.80 | $20.94 | $22.86 | $22.66 | 0.92 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $22.34 | $26.77 | $29.49 | $29.12 | 0.92 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
Chain-link fence cost by metro in Virginia
0 of the 8 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $3,650, and the top-to-bottom gap is 11%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (150 linear ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | $1,500 – $5,850 | $3,650 | level |
| Richmond, VA | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | −4% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | −4% |
| Winchester, VA | $1,450 – $5,550 | $3,500 | −5% |
| Blacksburg, VA | $1,400 – $5,450 | $3,450 | −7% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $1,400 – $5,400 | $3,400 | −7% |
| Lynchburg, VA | $1,400 – $5,300 | $3,350 | −9% |
| Roanoke, VA | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | −10% |
Related projects, priced for Virginia
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Virginia wages and prices. Against national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−1%) and wood fence lowest (−3%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,950 – $7,450 | −3% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,500 – $9,000 | −1% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,650 – $11,100 | −3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,900 | −3% |
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 $2,800 to $4,550 for Virginia is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for Virginia: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Virginia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Virginia?
$1,500 to $5,850 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Virginia can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Virginia is cheapest for chain-link fence?
Roanoke at about $3,300 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Charlottesville at $3,650.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Virginia than the US average?
It is 5% cheaper: $3,650 against $3,850 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Virginia?
About 58% ($2,150). Materials are 39%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.92x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Virginia?
The BLS statewide median is $20.94 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.80 to $22.86.
+Where does Virginia rank for chain-link fence costs?
32nd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,650 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Virginia?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,500 to $3,250 and premium work $4,100 to $5,850. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Does the season matter for chain-link fence in Virginia?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Virginia metros we cover, Virginia Beach has the most comfortable months (12 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
+What does "add one gate" add in Virginia?
$75 to $960, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence by city in Virginia
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).