Chain-link fence cost in Bellingham, WA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,700 – $7,150
- Per linear ft
- $11 – $47
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +16%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #25
- 1 = most expensive
A chain-link fence in Bellingham, WA usually costs $1,700 to $7,150 for 150 linear ft. That works out to about $11 to $47 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $600 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $28.06 an hour in the Bellingham area, 24% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Bellingham, WA, standard level
$3,350 to $5,550
About $22 to $36 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 64% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $1,700 |
| Labor | $2,000 | $3,700 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $3,350 | $5,550 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Bellingham, WA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $950 | $1,500 | $2,050 | 34% |
| Labor | $740 | $2,850 | $4,950 | 64% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $100 | $160 | 2% |
| Total | $1,700 | $4,450 | $7,150 | 100% |
Why Bellingham prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: construction laborers at 60%, carpenters at 40%. Weighted together, Bellingham wages are 1.23 times the national level. Labor makes up about 64% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Bellingham is at 105.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,450 nationally becomes $1,500 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 103.3: $40 to $160.
Optional extras in Bellingham
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.14 for Bellingham, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.23) and goods price index (1.05). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $90 – $1,150 |
Bellingham 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, Bellingham Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Bellingham: 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.
Bellingham gets about 35 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, November and December (5.2 inches in November).
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 | 46 | 34 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Feb | 49 | 35 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 53 | 38 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 58 | 42 | 2.8 | Workable |
| May | 64 | 47 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 68 | 52 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 73 | 55 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 73 | 55 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 68 | 50 | 2.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 43 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 38 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 46 | 34 | 4.3 | Workable |
Is Bellingham cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Seattle is the priciest of the group at $4,550. Yakima is the cheapest at $4,000.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WAthis page | $1,700 – $7,150 | $4,450 | |
| Bremerton, WA90 miles | $1,650 – $6,750 | $4,200 | −5% |
| Seattle, WA95 miles | $1,750 – $7,300 | $4,550 | +2% |
| Olympia, WA140 miles | $1,650 – $6,650 | $4,150 | −7% |
| Yakima, WA175 miles | $1,600 – $6,400 | $4,000 | −10% |
| Spokane, WA200 miles | $1,600 – $6,500 | $4,050 | −9% |
| Washington (statewide) | $1,700 – $7,150 | $4,450 | level |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | −14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bellingham ranks #25 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bellingham is 0% above the Washington figure.
Elsewhere in Washington
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $1,750 – $7,300 | $4,550 | +2% |
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $1,600 – $6,500 | $4,050 | −9% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $1,650 – $6,650 | $4,150 | −7% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $1,650 – $6,750 | $4,200 | −6% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $1,600 – $6,400 | $4,000 | −10% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $1,650 – $6,750 | $4,200 | −5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bellingham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $1,650 – $6,750 | $4,200 | −5% |
| Panama City, FL | 90,610 jobs | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | −21% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $1,600 – $6,850 | $4,250 | −5% |
| St. George, UT | 90,500 jobs | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | −20% |
What local crews earn in Bellingham
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 Bellingham the blend is 1.23.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 60%) the local median is $28.06 an hour, which is 24% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.41 and $36.85 an hour. BLS counts 1,030 of them working in the area, 112.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $35.22 an hour, 21% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $29.17 and $46.22 an hour. About 950 work in the metro. That is 104.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $540 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $350. That is a swing of roughly 7.8% to 12.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bellingham has 91,390 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 217th 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% | $22.41 | $28.06 | $36.85 | $22.66 | 1.24 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $29.17 | $35.22 | $46.22 | $29.12 | 1.21 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.23 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Bellingham
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bellingham. 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
$1,700 to $3,900
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$3,350 to $5,550
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$5,000 to $7,150
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,650 | $2,250 – $3,750 | $3,350 – $4,850 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,700 – $3,900 | $3,350 – $5,550 | $5,000 – $7,150 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,300 – $5,150 | $4,450 – $7,350 | $6,600 – $9,500 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,400 – $7,700 | $6,650 – $11,000 | $9,850 – $14,200 |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Bellingham
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.
Related projects, priced for Bellingham
Jobs that often go together with chain-link fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bellingham wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (+22%) and vinyl fence lowest (+9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,450 – $8,550 | +12% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,900 – $10,000 | +9% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $12,800 | +13% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $3,050 – $12,400 | +22% |
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 $3,350 to $5,550 for Bellingham, WA is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the chain-link fence numbers for Bellingham, WA 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 Bellingham: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Bellingham?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,700 to $7,150 in the Bellingham area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,350 to $5,550. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Bellingham?
About $11 to $47 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $160 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Bellingham or Bremerton?
Bremerton is 90 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,200, which is 5% less than Bellingham ($4,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bellingham?
About 64% at the midpoint, or $2,850 out of $4,450. Materials are 34% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Bellingham?
$2,300 to $9,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Bellingham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $160 for fees in the Bellingham area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bellingham expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Washington?
Bellingham is 0% above the Washington statewide estimate ($4,450 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Washington; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Bellingham?
The BLS median is $28.06 an hour in the Bellingham area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.41 to $36.85.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Bellingham?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,700 to $3,900 and premium work $5,000 to $7,150. 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 Bellingham?
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 Bellingham?
$90 to $1,150, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Bellingham
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).