Vinyl fence cost in Durham, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $4,350 – $8,750
- Per linear ft
- $29 – $57.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $6,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #157
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a vinyl fence in Durham, plan on $4,350 to $8,750 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $29 to $57.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 3% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.6).
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Durham, NC, standard level
$5,650 to $7,400
About $37.50 to $48.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 21% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $5,650 |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,650 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $5,650 | $7,400 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Durham, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,600 | $5,050 | $6,500 | 78% |
| Labor | $690 | $1,400 | $2,050 | 21% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 1% |
| Total | $4,350 | $6,550 | $8,750 | 100% |
Why Durham prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $24.78 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Durham is 0.92 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 21% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Durham metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $5,050, compared with $5,250 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (97.6) and land at $40 to $150.
Cost by quality level and size in Durham
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Durham 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
$4,350 to $6,100
4-ft picket or ranch rail
Standard
$5,650 to $7,400
6-ft privacy fence, standard white
Premium
$7,000 to $8,750
Tall or colored privacy, many corners and gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,900 – $4,100 | $3,800 – $5,000 | $4,700 – $5,850 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $4,350 – $6,100 | $5,650 – $7,400 | $7,000 – $8,750 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $5,800 – $8,100 | $7,550 – $9,850 | $9,300 – $11,600 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $8,650 – $12,100 | $11,300 – $14,700 | $13,900 – $17,300 |
Durham 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 Durham is 0.92 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 50%) the local median is $24.78 an hour, which is 15% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.40 and $29.03 an hour. BLS counts 520 of them working in the area, 15.1 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 $22.38 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.03 and $25.15 an hour. About 1,120 work in the metro. That is 32.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.03 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $110. At the 25th percentile ($21.40) it shrinks by about $85. The total moves by 1.7% or 1.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 344,020 jobs in the Durham-Chapel Hill area. That makes it the 74th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.22% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 50% | $21.40 | $24.78 | $29.03 | $29.12 | 0.85 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $19.03 | $22.38 | $25.15 | $22.66 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
How Durham compares
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Durham is the priciest of the group. Greensboro is the cheapest at $6,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NCthis page | $4,350 – $8,750 | $6,550 | |
| Burlington, NC15 miles | $4,300 – $8,600 | $6,450 | −2% |
| Greensboro, NC40 miles | $4,300 – $8,550 | $6,400 | −2% |
| Raleigh, NC40 miles | $4,350 – $8,700 | $6,500 | level |
| Fayetteville, NC65 miles | $4,300 – $8,550 | $6,450 | −2% |
| Winston, NC70 miles | $4,300 – $8,600 | $6,450 | −1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $4,300 – $8,650 | $6,500 | −1% |
| United States | $4,550 – $9,150 | $6,850 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Durham comes in at #157 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $8,350; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $6,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Durham is 1% above the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $4,350 – $8,700 | $6,500 | level |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $4,350 – $8,700 | $6,500 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $4,300 – $8,550 | $6,400 | −2% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $4,300 – $8,600 | $6,450 | −1% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $4,350 – $8,700 | $6,550 | level |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $4,350 – $8,750 | $6,550 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Durham's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Durham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $4,600 – $9,500 | $7,050 | +8% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $4,350 – $8,700 | $6,500 | level |
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $4,150 – $8,250 | $6,200 | −5% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $4,100 – $8,100 | $6,100 | −7% |
Vinyl fence: what moves the price in Durham
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 Durham: timing your vinyl fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Raleigh Durham Intl Ap (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
August through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Durham (11 of 12 months). July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Durham gets about 46 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 5 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (5.2 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 52 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 | 52 | 32 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 56 | 34 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 63 | 40 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 58 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 66 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 5.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 69 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 63 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 73 | 50 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 55 | 34 | 3.4 | Workable |
Planning more than one job in Durham?
Because every project leans on different trades, Durham's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, chain-link fence runs −5% and concrete slab −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,850 – $7,200 | −6% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,450 – $5,800 | −5% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,550 – $10,700 | −6% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,800 | −8% |
Add-ons priced for Durham
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Durham by the average of the local wage index (0.92) and goods index (0.97), a factor of 0.94. 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) | $140 – $740 |
| Remove old fence | $1,400 – $2,850 |
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 $5,650 to $7,400 for Durham, NC is attached.
Detailed vinyl fence report for Durham, NC, $9
The report lays out the vinyl fence numbers for Durham, NC 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.
Vinyl fence in Durham: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a vinyl fence in Durham?
For 150 linear ft, expect $4,350 to $8,750 in the Durham area. A standard-spec job lands at $5,650 to $7,400. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for vinyl fence in Durham?
About $29 to $57.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $150 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $30 to $60.
+Is vinyl fence cheaper in Durham or Burlington?
Burlington is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $6,450, which is 2% less than Durham ($6,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Durham?
About 21% at the midpoint, or $1,400 out of $6,550. Materials are 78% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 22%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Durham?
$5,800 to $11,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does vinyl fence need a permit in Durham?
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 Durham area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Durham expensive for vinyl fence compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Durham is 1% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($6,500 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Durham?
The BLS median is $24.78 an hour in the Durham area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.40 to $29.03.
+What do basic and premium vinyl fence work cost in Durham?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $4,350 to $6,100 and premium work $7,000 to $8,750. 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 Durham?
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 Durham?
$140 to $740, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Vinyl fence near Durham
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.