Chain-link fence cost in Roanoke, VA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,400 – $5,250
- Per linear ft
- $9 – $34
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −14%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #264
- 1 = most expensive
Roanoke homeowners pay roughly $1,400 to $5,250 to install a chain-link fence at 150 linear ft, or $9 to $34 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Roanoke is 14% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.34 an hour in the Roanoke area, 19% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Roanoke, VA, standard level
$2,550 to $4,100
About $16.50 to $26.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $1,600 |
| Labor | $1,300 | $2,400 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $2,550 | $4,100 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Roanoke, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $870 | $1,400 | $1,900 | 42% |
| Labor | $480 | $1,850 | $3,250 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $90 | $140 | 3% |
| Total | $1,400 | $3,300 | $5,250 | 100% |
Why Roanoke prices look the way they do
Labor is 56% of the midpoint bill here, against 60% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (60%), carpenters (40%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Roanoke the blended ratio comes out at 0.80.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Roanoke metro is 96.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $1,400, compared with $1,450 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.6) and land at $35 to $140.
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Roanoke is 0.80 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $18.34 an hour, 19% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.27 and $21.31 an hour. About 1,210 work in the metro. That is 78.6 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 $22.62 an hour, which is 22% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $19.19 and $26.78 an hour. BLS counts 830 of them working in the area, 53.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($21.31 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $180. At the 25th percentile ($17.27) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 5.5% or 2.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 153,980 jobs in the Roanoke area. That makes it the 153rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.10% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $17.27 | $18.34 | $21.31 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $19.19 | $22.62 | $26.78 | $29.12 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
When to schedule chain-link fence in Roanoke
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Roanoke Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Roanoke: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Roanoke gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 15 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.7 inches in June). The station averages about 30 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 | 47 | 29 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Feb | 51 | 31 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 59 | 38 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 70 | 46 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 55 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 63 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 67 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 87 | 66 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 59 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 48 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 59 | 38 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 50 | 32 | 3.1 | Workable |
Optional extras in Roanoke
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Roanoke by the average of the local wage index (0.80) and goods index (0.97), a factor of 0.88. 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 – $880 |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Roanoke
Survey
A land survey ($300-$900) is worth it before you put a fence near a boundary.
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.
Related projects, priced for Roanoke
Because every project leans on different trades, Roanoke's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl fence runs −7% and gravel driveway −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,650 – $6,850 | −11% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,250 – $8,450 | −7% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,400 – $10,300 | −10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,100 | −11% |
Roanoke: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Roanoke 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
$1,400 to $2,950
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,550 to $4,100
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$3,700 to $5,250
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $940 – $2,000 | $1,700 – $2,750 | $2,500 – $3,550 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,400 – $2,950 | $2,550 – $4,100 | $3,700 – $5,250 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,850 – $3,900 | $3,350 – $5,400 | $4,900 – $6,950 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,750 – $5,800 | $5,000 – $8,100 | $7,300 – $10,400 |
Roanoke against nearby metros and the rest of Virginia
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Charlottesville is the priciest of the group at $3,650.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VAthis page | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | |
| Blacksburg, VA35 miles | $1,400 – $5,450 | $3,450 | +3% |
| Lynchburg, VA40 miles | $1,400 – $5,300 | $3,350 | +1% |
| Winston, NC85 miles | $1,450 – $5,550 | $3,500 | +5% |
| Charlottesville, VA85 miles | $1,500 – $5,850 | $3,650 | +11% |
| Greensboro, NC90 miles | $1,400 – $5,450 | $3,400 | +3% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $1,500 – $5,850 | $3,650 | +11% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +16% |
Across 300 US metros, Roanoke comes in at #264 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Roanoke is 10% below the Virginia figure.
Other Virginia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $1,400 – $5,400 | $3,400 | +2% |
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | +6% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $1,500 – $5,850 | $3,650 | +11% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $1,400 – $5,300 | $3,350 | +1% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $1,400 – $5,450 | $3,450 | +3% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $1,450 – $5,550 | $3,500 | +5% |
Cities with a workforce like Roanoke's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Roanoke against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NC | 154,090 jobs | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | +6% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $1,400 – $5,450 | $3,450 | +3% |
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $1,300 – $4,700 | $3,000 | −9% |
| Killeen, TX | 150,580 jobs | $1,350 – $5,200 | $3,250 | −2% |
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 $2,550 to $4,100 for Roanoke, VA is attached.
Detailed chain-link fence report for Roanoke, VA, $9
The report lays out the chain-link fence numbers for Roanoke, 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 Roanoke: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Roanoke?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,400 to $5,250 in the Roanoke area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,550 to $4,100. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Roanoke?
About $9 to $34 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 Roanoke or Blacksburg?
Blacksburg is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,450, which is 3% more than Roanoke ($3,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Roanoke?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $1,850 out of $3,300. Materials are 42% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Roanoke?
$1,850 to $6,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Roanoke?
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 Roanoke area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Roanoke expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Virginia?
Roanoke is 10% 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 Roanoke?
The BLS median is $18.34 an hour in the Roanoke area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.27 to $21.31.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Roanoke?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $2,950 and premium work $3,700 to $5,250. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Is there a bad season to install a chain-link fence in Roanoke?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
+What does "add one gate" add in Roanoke?
$70 to $880, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Roanoke
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).