Vinyl fence cost in Hickory, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $4,300 – $8,600
- Per linear ft
- $28.50 – $56.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $6,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #199
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a vinyl fence in Hickory, plan on $4,300 to $8,600 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $28.50 to $56.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 6% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $23.20 an hour in the Hickory area, 20% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Hickory, NC, standard level
$5,600 to $7,300
About $37 to $48 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 20% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $5,650 |
| Labor | $1,050 | $1,550 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $100 |
| Total | $5,600 | $7,300 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Hickory, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,600 | $5,050 | $6,500 | 78% |
| Labor | $650 | $1,300 | $1,950 | 20% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $130 | 1% |
| Total | $4,300 | $6,450 | $8,600 | 100% |
Why Hickory prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 50%, construction laborers at 50%. Weighted together, Hickory wages are 0.87 times the national level. Labor makes up about 20% of the midpoint estimate (22% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Hickory 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 (88.5) and land at $35 to $130.
How Hickory compares
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Asheville is the priciest of the group at $6,550. Johnson City is the cheapest at $6,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | $4,300 – $8,600 | $6,450 | |
| Johnson City, TN60 miles | $4,250 – $8,500 | $6,400 | −1% |
| Charlotte, NC60 miles | $4,350 – $8,700 | $6,500 | +1% |
| Asheville, NC65 miles | $4,350 – $8,750 | $6,550 | +1% |
| Winston, NC65 miles | $4,300 – $8,600 | $6,450 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $4,300 – $8,600 | $6,450 | level |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $4,300 – $8,650 | $6,500 | level |
| United States | $4,550 – $9,150 | $6,850 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Hickory comes in at #199 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $8,350; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $6,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Hickory is 0% below 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 | +1% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $4,350 – $8,700 | $6,500 | +1% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $4,300 – $8,550 | $6,400 | −1% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $4,350 – $8,750 | $6,550 | +1% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $4,300 – $8,600 | $6,450 | level |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $4,350 – $8,700 | $6,550 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Hickory's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hickory against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $4,050 – $7,950 | $6,000 | −7% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $4,250 – $8,450 | $6,350 | −2% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $4,750 – $9,550 | $7,150 | +11% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $4,300 – $8,550 | $6,400 | −1% |
What nearby projects cost in Hickory
Because every project leans on different trades, Hickory's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, aluminum fence runs −8% and concrete slab −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,750 – $7,050 | −8% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,450 – $5,600 | −8% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,500 – $10,600 | −8% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,750 | −9% |
Hickory: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Hickory 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
$4,300 to $6,050
4-ft picket or ranch rail
Standard
$5,600 to $7,300
6-ft privacy fence, standard white
Premium
$6,900 to $8,600
Tall or colored privacy, many corners and gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,900 – $4,050 | $3,750 – $4,900 | $4,650 – $5,800 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $4,300 – $6,050 | $5,600 – $7,300 | $6,900 – $8,600 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $5,750 – $8,000 | $7,450 – $9,750 | $9,150 – $11,400 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $8,600 – $12,000 | $11,100 – $14,500 | $13,700 – $17,100 |
Climate in Hickory: timing your vinyl fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Hickory Faa 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 Hickory: 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.
Hickory gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.6 inches in August). The station averages about 33 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 | 49 | 30 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 53 | 33 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 61 | 40 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 70 | 48 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 64 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 68 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 67 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 39 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 52 | 33 | 3.9 | Workable |
Hickory 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 Hickory is 0.87 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 50%) the local median is $23.20 an hour, which is 20% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.63 and $27.52 an hour. BLS counts 250 of them working in the area, 16.2 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 $21.42 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.03 and $24.58 an hour. About 800 work in the metro. That is 51.9 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 ($27.52 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $110. At the 25th percentile ($20.63) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 1.7% or 1.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 154,090 jobs in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area. That makes it the 152nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 50% | $20.63 | $23.20 | $27.52 | $29.12 | 0.80 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.03 | $21.42 | $24.58 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Add-ons priced for Hickory
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Hickory by the average of the local wage index (0.87) and goods index (0.97), a factor of 0.92. 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 – $720 |
| Remove old fence | $1,400 – $2,750 |
Why two Hickory quotes can differ
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.
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 $5,600 to $7,300 for Hickory, NC is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the vinyl fence numbers for Hickory, 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 Hickory: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a vinyl fence in Hickory?
For 150 linear ft, expect $4,300 to $8,600 in the Hickory area. A standard-spec job lands at $5,600 to $7,300. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for vinyl fence in Hickory?
About $28.50 to $56.50 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 Hickory or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $6,400, which is 1% less than Hickory ($6,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hickory?
About 20% at the midpoint, or $1,300 out of $6,450. Materials are 78% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 22%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Hickory?
$5,750 to $11,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does vinyl fence need a permit in Hickory?
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 Hickory area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hickory expensive for vinyl fence compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Hickory is 0% below 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 Hickory?
The BLS median is $23.20 an hour in the Hickory area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.63 to $27.52.
+What do basic and premium vinyl fence work cost in Hickory?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $4,300 to $6,050 and premium work $6,900 to $8,600. Basic means: 4-ft picket or ranch rail. Premium means: tall or colored privacy, many corners and gates.
+Is there a bad season to install a vinyl fence in Hickory?
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 Hickory?
$140 to $720, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Vinyl fence near Hickory
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.