Vinyl fence cost in Fort Smith, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $4,100 – $8,100
- Per linear ft
- $27 – $53.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $6,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #295
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a vinyl fence in Fort Smith, plan on $4,100 to $8,100 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $27 to $53.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 11% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $20.39 an hour in the Fort Smith area, 30% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Fort Smith, AR, standard level
$5,300 to $6,900
About $35 to $45.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 18% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,350 | $5,500 |
| Labor | $890 | $1,350 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $100 |
| Total | $5,300 | $6,900 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Fort Smith, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,500 | $4,900 | $6,300 | 80% |
| Labor | $560 | $1,100 | $1,650 | 18% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $80 | $130 | 1% |
| Total | $4,100 | $6,100 | $8,100 | 100% |
Where the Fort Smith price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 50%, construction laborers at 50%. Weighted together, Fort Smith wages are 0.74 times the national level. Labor makes up about 18% of the midpoint estimate (22% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Fort Smith metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $4,900, compared with $5,250 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (85.9) and land at $35 to $130.
Is Fort Smith cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 150 linear ft range from $6,100 to $6,400 across Fort Smith and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, ARthis page | $4,100 – $8,100 | $6,100 | |
| Fayetteville, AR50 miles | $4,150 – $8,300 | $6,250 | +2% |
| Tulsa, OK110 miles | $4,200 – $8,350 | $6,300 | +3% |
| Joplin, MO115 miles | $4,250 – $8,600 | $6,400 | +5% |
| Little Rock, AR125 miles | $4,150 – $8,250 | $6,200 | +1% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $4,100 – $8,100 | $6,100 | level |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $4,150 – $8,250 | $6,200 | +1% |
| United States | $4,550 – $9,150 | $6,850 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, Fort Smith comes in at #295 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $8,350; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $6,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Fort Smith is 1% below the Arkansas figure.
Other Arkansas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $4,150 – $8,250 | $6,200 | +1% |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $4,150 – $8,300 | $6,250 | +2% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $4,100 – $8,150 | $6,150 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Fort Smith's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fort Smith against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $4,200 – $8,350 | $6,300 | +3% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $4,200 – $8,350 | $6,300 | +3% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $4,750 – $9,550 | $7,150 | +17% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $4,600 – $9,450 | $7,000 | +15% |
Related projects, priced for Fort Smith
Because every project leans on different trades, Fort Smith's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, aluminum fence runs −13% and chain-link fence −18%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,550 – $6,550 | −15% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,350 – $5,000 | −18% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,250 – $9,950 | −13% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,050 – $4,400 | −16% |
Optional extras in Fort Smith
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Fort Smith by the average of the local wage index (0.74) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.84. 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) | $130 – $650 |
| Remove old fence | $1,250 – $2,500 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Fort Smith bid
Permit
Fence permits run $40-$150 depending on location.
Type and height
A vinyl picket fence is $30-$45 per linear foot; a 6-ft privacy fence $40-$60, and 8-ft goes to $85 (HomeGuide).
Gates
A vinyl gate costs $150-$780 installed, more for large or complex ones.
Climate in Fort Smith: timing your vinyl fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Ft Smith Rgnl Ap (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Fort Smith (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Fort Smith gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (5.6 inches in May). Inside the workable window, January and February are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.7 inches. The station averages about 78 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 | 51 | 30 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 57 | 33 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 42 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 50 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 60 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 68 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 94 | 72 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 71 | 3.6 | Hot |
| Sep | 87 | 63 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 51 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 32 | 3.5 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Fort Smith
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Fort Smith 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
$4,100 to $5,700
4-ft picket or ranch rail
Standard
$5,300 to $6,900
6-ft privacy fence, standard white
Premium
$6,500 to $8,100
Tall or colored privacy, many corners and gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,750 – $3,850 | $3,550 – $4,650 | $4,350 – $5,450 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $4,100 – $5,700 | $5,300 – $6,900 | $6,500 – $8,100 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $5,450 – $7,600 | $7,050 – $9,200 | $8,650 – $10,800 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $8,150 – $11,300 | $10,500 – $13,700 | $12,900 – $16,100 |
Fort Smith labor market for vinyl 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 Fort Smith is 0.74 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 50%) the local median is $20.39 an hour, which is 30% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $17.84 and $23.62 an hour. BLS counts 240 of them working in the area, 25.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $17.77 an hour, 22% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.31 and $21.83 an hour. About 670 work in the metro. That is 70.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($23.62 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $85. At the 25th percentile ($17.84) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 1.4% or 1.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 95,560 jobs in the Fort Smith area. That makes it the 210th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 50% | $17.84 | $20.39 | $23.62 | $29.12 | 0.70 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $16.31 | $17.77 | $21.83 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.74 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
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Vinyl fence in Fort Smith: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a vinyl fence in Fort Smith?
For 150 linear ft, expect $4,100 to $8,100 in the Fort Smith area. A standard-spec job lands at $5,300 to $6,900. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for vinyl fence in Fort Smith?
About $27 to $53.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $130 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $30 to $60.
+Is vinyl fence cheaper in Fort Smith or Fayetteville?
Fayetteville is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $6,250, which is 2% more than Fort Smith ($6,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Smith?
About 18% at the midpoint, or $1,100 out of $6,100. Materials are 80% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 22%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Fort Smith?
$5,450 to $10,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does vinyl fence need a permit in Fort Smith?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $130 for fees in the Fort Smith area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fort Smith expensive for vinyl fence compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Fort Smith is 1% below the Arkansas statewide estimate ($6,200 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Arkansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Fort Smith?
The BLS median is $20.39 an hour in the Fort Smith area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.84 to $23.62.
+What do basic and premium vinyl fence work cost in Fort Smith?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $4,100 to $5,700 and premium work $6,500 to $8,100. Basic means: 4-ft picket or ranch rail. Premium means: tall or colored privacy, many corners and gates.
+When is the best time to install a vinyl fence in Fort Smith?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. January and February 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 Fort Smith?
$130 to $650, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Vinyl fence near Fort Smith
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 Vinyl Fence Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (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 are as cited ($25-$45/ft). HomeGuide reports basic labor at $5-$15/ft, so materials are most of the installed price.