Chain-link fence cost in Richmond, VA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,450 – $5,600
- Per linear ft
- $9.35 – $36.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #211
- 1 = most expensive
A chain-link fence in Richmond, VA usually costs $1,450 to $5,600 for 150 linear ft. That works out to about $9.35 to $36.50 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $320 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $20.39 an hour in the Richmond area, 10% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Richmond, VA, standard level
$2,700 to $4,350
About $17.50 to $28.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $1,600 |
| Labor | $1,450 | $2,650 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $2,700 | $4,350 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Richmond, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $870 | $1,400 | $1,900 | 39% |
| Labor | $530 | $2,050 | $3,550 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 3% |
| Total | $1,450 | $3,500 | $5,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Richmond number
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $20.39 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Richmond is 0.88 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 58% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Richmond is at 96.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,450 nationally becomes $1,400 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.9: $40 to $150.
Richmond weather and the chain-link fence calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Richmond Intl Ap (10 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Richmond are August through June: 11 of 12. Outside them, July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Richmond gets about 46 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 9 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.9 inches in August). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.6 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 45 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48 | 29 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Feb | 52 | 30 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 60 | 37 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 70 | 46 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 78 | 56 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 86 | 65 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 4.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 68 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 61 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 71 | 49 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 39 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 52 | 32 | 3.5 | Workable |
What local crews earn in Richmond
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Richmond the blend is 0.88.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 60%) the local median is $20.39 an hour, which is 10% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.21 and $22.61 an hour. BLS counts 4,560 of them working in the area, 69.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $24.94 an hour, 14% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.42 and $28.84 an hour. About 3,070 work in the metro. That is 46.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $140 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $130. That is a swing of roughly 3.8% to 3.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Richmond has 660,350 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 45th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $18.21 | $20.39 | $22.61 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $22.42 | $24.94 | $28.84 | $29.12 | 0.86 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
How Richmond compares
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Washington is the priciest of the group at $3,950. Lynchburg is the cheapest at $3,350.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VAthis page | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | |
| Virginia Beach, VA70 miles | $1,400 – $5,400 | $3,400 | −3% |
| Charlottesville, VA75 miles | $1,500 – $5,850 | $3,650 | +4% |
| Lexington Park, MD80 miles | $1,550 – $6,100 | $3,850 | +9% |
| Lynchburg, VA95 miles | $1,400 – $5,300 | $3,350 | −5% |
| Washington, DC100 miles | $1,600 – $6,300 | $3,950 | +12% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $1,500 – $5,850 | $3,650 | +4% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Richmond ranks #211 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Richmond is 4% below the Virginia figure.
Elsewhere in Virginia
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $1,400 – $5,400 | $3,400 | −3% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | −6% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $1,500 – $5,850 | $3,650 | +4% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $1,400 – $5,300 | $3,350 | −5% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $1,400 – $5,450 | $3,450 | −3% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $1,450 – $5,550 | $3,500 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Richmond against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $1,400 – $5,300 | $3,350 | −5% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,550 | +1% |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $1,500 – $5,950 | $3,750 | +6% |
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $1,600 – $6,700 | $4,150 | +18% |
Richmond: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Richmond. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from backyard (100 linear ft) to full lot (300 linear ft).
Basic
$1,450 to $3,100
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,700 to $4,350
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$3,950 to $5,600
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $970 – $2,100 | $1,800 – $2,950 | $2,650 – $3,800 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,450 – $3,100 | $2,700 – $4,350 | $3,950 – $5,600 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,900 – $4,100 | $3,550 – $5,750 | $5,200 – $7,450 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,850 – $6,150 | $5,300 – $8,600 | $7,800 – $11,100 |
Optional extras in Richmond
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.93 for Richmond, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.88) and goods price index (0.97). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $75 – $930 |
Planning more than one job in Richmond?
Jobs that often go together with chain-link fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Richmond wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−5%) and wood fence lowest (−7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,800 – $7,100 | −7% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,650 | −5% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,500 – $10,600 | −7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,600 | −6% |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Richmond
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.
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Detailed chain-link fence report for Richmond, VA, $9
The report lays out the chain-link fence numbers for Richmond, VA 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 Richmond: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Richmond?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,450 to $5,600 in the Richmond area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,700 to $4,350. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Richmond?
About $9.35 to $36.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $150 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Richmond or Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,400, which is 3% less than Richmond ($3,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Richmond?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $2,050 out of $3,500. Materials are 39% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Richmond?
$1,900 to $7,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Richmond?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $150 for fees in the Richmond area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Richmond expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Virginia?
Richmond is 4% below the Virginia statewide estimate ($3,650 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Richmond?
The BLS median is $20.39 an hour in the Richmond area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.21 to $22.61.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Richmond?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $3,100 and premium work $3,950 to $5,600. 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 Richmond?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. February and November 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 Richmond?
$75 to $930, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Richmond
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).