Vinyl fence cost in Lancaster, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $4,550 – $9,150
- Per linear ft
- $30 – $60
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $6,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #80
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a vinyl fence in Lancaster, plan on $4,550 to $9,150 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $30 to $60 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $26.77 an hour in the Lancaster area, 8% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Lancaster, PA, standard level
$5,900 to $7,750
About $39 to $51 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 21% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,700 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $1,150 | $1,750 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $5,900 | $7,750 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Lancaster, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,800 | $5,300 | $6,800 | 77% |
| Labor | $730 | $1,450 | $2,200 | 21% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 1% |
| Total | $4,550 | $6,850 | $9,150 | 100% |
Where the Lancaster price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 50%, construction laborers at 50%. Weighted together, Lancaster wages are 0.98 times the national level. Labor makes up about 21% of the midpoint estimate (22% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Lancaster metro is 100.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $5,300, compared with $5,250 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.3) and land at $40 to $150.
Lancaster 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 Lancaster is 0.98 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 50%) the local median is $26.77 an hour, which is 8% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.56 and $29.68 an hour. BLS counts 2,750 of them working in the area, 109.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $23.40 an hour, 3% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.76 and $28.00 an hour. About 2,270 work in the metro. That is 90.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.68 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $75. At the 25th percentile ($22.56) it shrinks by about $110. The total moves by 1.1% or 1.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 252,230 jobs in the Lancaster area. That makes it the 103rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.16% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 50% | $22.56 | $26.77 | $29.68 | $29.12 | 0.92 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $21.76 | $23.40 | $28.00 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.98 | |||||
Climate in Lancaster: timing your vinyl fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Lancaster 2Ne Fltr Plt (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Lancaster (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February 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.
Lancaster gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 21 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, September and October (4.8 inches in September). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 20 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 | 40 | 22 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 43 | 24 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 52 | 31 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 65 | 41 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 50 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 60 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 65 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 63 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 56 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 34 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 44 | 27 | 3.5 | Cold |
How Lancaster compares
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Baltimore is the priciest of the group at $7,000. Philadelphia is the cheapest at $6,800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PAthis page | $4,550 – $9,150 | $6,850 | |
| York, PA25 miles | $4,600 – $9,250 | $6,900 | +1% |
| Reading, PA30 miles | $4,550 – $9,150 | $6,850 | level |
| Harrisburg, PA45 miles | $4,550 – $9,200 | $6,900 | +1% |
| Philadelphia, PA50 miles | $4,500 – $9,150 | $6,800 | level |
| Baltimore, MD55 miles | $4,650 – $9,350 | $7,000 | +2% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $4,550 – $9,150 | $6,850 | level |
| United States | $4,550 – $9,150 | $6,850 | level |
Across 300 US metros, Lancaster comes in at #80 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $8,350; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $6,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Lancaster is 0% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $4,500 – $9,150 | $6,800 | level |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $4,600 – $9,300 | $6,950 | +1% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $4,550 – $9,200 | $6,900 | +1% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $4,550 – $9,200 | $6,900 | +1% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $4,550 – $9,200 | $6,900 | +1% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $4,600 – $9,250 | $6,900 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Lancaster's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lancaster against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $4,550 – $9,200 | $6,900 | +1% |
| Palm Bay, FL | 245,170 jobs | $4,300 – $8,600 | $6,450 | −6% |
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $4,750 – $9,600 | $7,200 | +5% |
| Trenton, NJ | 240,190 jobs | $4,750 – $9,850 | $7,300 | +7% |
Extras that change the Lancaster total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Lancaster by the average of the local wage index (0.98) and goods index (1.01), a factor of 0.99. 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) | $150 – $770 |
| Remove old fence | $1,500 – $2,950 |
Vinyl fence: what moves the price in Lancaster
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.
What nearby projects cost in Lancaster
Because every project leans on different trades, Lancaster's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, concrete slab runs +1% and wood fence −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,000 – $7,550 | −1% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,550 – $6,100 | −1% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,750 – $11,400 | level |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,250 | +1% |
Cost by quality level and size in Lancaster
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Lancaster 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
$4,550 to $6,400
4-ft picket or ranch rail
Standard
$5,900 to $7,750
6-ft privacy fence, standard white
Premium
$7,300 to $9,150
Tall or colored privacy, many corners and gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $3,050 – $4,300 | $3,950 – $5,200 | $4,900 – $6,150 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $4,550 – $6,400 | $5,900 – $7,750 | $7,300 – $9,150 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $6,050 – $8,500 | $7,900 – $10,300 | $9,700 – $12,100 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $9,050 – $12,700 | $11,800 – $15,400 | $14,500 – $18,100 |
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 $5,900 to $7,750 for Lancaster, PA is attached.
Detailed vinyl fence report for Lancaster, PA, $9
The report lays out the vinyl fence numbers for Lancaster, PA 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 Lancaster: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a vinyl fence in Lancaster?
For 150 linear ft, expect $4,550 to $9,150 in the Lancaster area. A standard-spec job lands at $5,900 to $7,750. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for vinyl fence in Lancaster?
About $30 to $60 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 Lancaster or York?
York is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $6,900, which is 1% more than Lancaster ($6,850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lancaster?
About 21% at the midpoint, or $1,450 out of $6,850. Materials are 77% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 22%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Lancaster?
$6,050 to $12,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does vinyl fence need a permit in Lancaster?
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 Lancaster area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lancaster expensive for vinyl fence compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Lancaster is 0% above the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($6,850 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Lancaster?
The BLS median is $26.77 an hour in the Lancaster area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.56 to $29.68.
+What do basic and premium vinyl fence work cost in Lancaster?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $4,550 to $6,400 and premium work $7,300 to $9,150. 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 Lancaster?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March 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 Lancaster?
$150 to $770, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Vinyl fence near Lancaster
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.