Chain-link fence cost in Eau Claire, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,550 – $6,550
- Per linear ft
- $10 – $42.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #74
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a chain-link fence in Eau Claire, plan on $1,550 to $6,550 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $10 to $42.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 5% higher than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $28.00 an hour in the Eau Claire area, 24% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Eau Claire, WI, standard level
$3,050 to $5,050
About $20 to $33 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 65% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,850 | $3,400 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $3,050 | $5,050 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Eau Claire, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $840 | $1,350 | $1,850 | 33% |
| Labor | $680 | $2,650 | $4,600 | 65% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $1,550 | $4,050 | $6,550 | 100% |
What is behind the Eau Claire 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 $28.00 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Eau Claire is 1.13 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 65% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Eau Claire 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 (92.8) and land at $35 to $140.
Pick a size, pick a tier: chain-link fence pricing in Eau Claire
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Eau Claire 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
$1,550 to $3,550
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$3,050 to $5,050
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,550 to $6,550
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,050 – $2,400 | $2,050 – $3,400 | $3,050 – $4,400 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,550 – $3,550 | $3,050 – $5,050 | $4,550 – $6,550 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,050 – $4,700 | $4,050 – $6,700 | $6,050 – $8,700 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,100 – $7,050 | $6,050 – $10,000 | $9,000 – $13,000 |
Extras that change the Eau Claire total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Eau Claire by the average of the local wage index (1.13) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 1.03. 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) | $85 – $1,050 |
Climate in Eau Claire: timing your chain-link fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Eau Claire Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Eau Claire (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March, November and December the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Eau Claire gets about 33 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 55 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.8 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and October are the driest, at 3.1 and 2.5 inches. The station averages about 10 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 | 23 | 6 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 28 | 9 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 21 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 33 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 45 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 56 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 83 | 60 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 58 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 49 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 37 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 42 | 25 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Dec | 29 | 13 | 1.4 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for Eau Claire
Because every project leans on different trades, Eau Claire's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs +9% and vinyl fence −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,050 – $7,600 | level |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,400 – $8,950 | −3% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,850 – $11,400 | level |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,750 – $11,100 | +9% |
Is Eau Claire cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Eau Claire. Wausau is the lowest at about $3,750 (midpoint, 150 linear ft), 75 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, WIthis page | $1,550 – $6,550 | $4,050 | |
| Wausau, WI75 miles | $1,500 – $6,000 | $3,750 | −8% |
| Rochester, MN85 miles | $1,600 – $6,750 | $4,200 | +3% |
| La Crosse, WI85 miles | $1,550 – $6,600 | $4,050 | level |
| Minneapolis, MN100 miles | $1,750 – $7,350 | $4,550 | +12% |
| Oshkosh, WI140 miles | $1,600 – $6,850 | $4,250 | +5% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $1,550 – $6,500 | $4,050 | level |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | −5% |
Across 300 US metros, Eau Claire comes in at #74 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Eau Claire is 0% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $1,550 – $6,650 | $4,100 | +1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $1,550 – $6,600 | $4,100 | +1% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $1,550 – $6,400 | $4,000 | −2% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $1,600 – $6,700 | $4,150 | +2% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $1,600 – $6,850 | $4,250 | +5% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $1,550 – $6,600 | $4,050 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Eau Claire's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Eau Claire against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | −18% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | −13% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | −10% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $1,550 – $6,600 | $4,050 | level |
Why two Eau Claire quotes can differ
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.
Eau Claire 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 Eau Claire is 1.13 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $28.00 an hour, 24% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.33 and $36.35 an hour. About 640 work in the metro. That is 74.4 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 $28.41 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.39 and $38.28 an hour. BLS counts 360 of them working in the area, 41.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($36.35 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $510. At the 25th percentile ($22.33) it shrinks by about $350. The total moves by 12.7% or 8.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 86,060 jobs in the Eau Claire area. That makes it the 226th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $22.33 | $28.00 | $36.35 | $22.66 | 1.24 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $23.39 | $28.41 | $38.28 | $29.12 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.13 | |||||
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Chain-link fence in Eau Claire: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Eau Claire?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,550 to $6,550 in the Eau Claire area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,050 to $5,050. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Eau Claire?
About $10 to $42.50 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 Eau Claire or Wausau?
Wausau is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,750, which is 8% less than Eau Claire ($4,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Eau Claire?
About 65% at the midpoint, or $2,650 out of $4,050. Materials are 33% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Eau Claire?
$2,050 to $8,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Eau Claire?
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 Eau Claire area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Eau Claire expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Eau Claire is 0% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($4,050 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Eau Claire?
The BLS median is $28.00 an hour in the Eau Claire area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.33 to $36.35.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Eau Claire?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,550 to $3,550 and premium work $4,550 to $6,550. 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 Eau Claire?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April and October 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 Eau Claire?
$85 to $1,050, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Eau Claire
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).