Wood fence cost in Dothan, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $2,500 – $6,550
- Per linear ft
- $16.50 – $43
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −15%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #294
- 1 = most expensive
Dothan homeowners pay roughly $2,500 to $6,550 to install a wood fence at 150 linear ft, or $16.50 to $43 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Dothan is 15% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $20.58 an hour in the Dothan area, 29% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Dothan, AL, standard level
$3,750 to $5,350
About $24.50 to $35 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 35% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $3,450 |
| Labor | $1,350 | $1,750 |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $100 |
| Total | $3,750 | $5,350 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Dothan, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,900 | $4,350 | 64% |
| Labor | $1,050 | $1,550 | $2,100 | 35% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $80 | $130 | 2% |
| Total | $2,500 | $4,550 | $6,550 | 100% |
Where the Dothan price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $20.58 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Dothan is 0.70 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 35% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dothan metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $2,900, compared with $3,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (83.8) and land at $35 to $130.
When to schedule wood fence in Dothan
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Dothan Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Dothan (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Dothan gets about 54 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (6.2 inches in August). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.7 inches. The station averages about 89 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 | 62 | 40 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 66 | 43 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 49 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 55 | 4.8 | Workable |
| May | 87 | 64 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 71 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 93 | 73 | 6.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 72 | 6.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 88 | 67 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 81 | 57 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 71 | 47 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 42 | 4.8 | Workable |
Why two Dothan quotes can differ
Style
Split-rail and picket styles are cheaper to build than privacy fence, which uses more boards and takes more labor.
Height and permits
Fences over about 6 ft often need a permit and a setback check. Permits run $40-$150.
Slope and soil
Hills, rock, and tree roots slow post digging.
How Dothan compares
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Crestview is the priciest of the group at $4,950. Albany is the cheapest at $4,500.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dothan, ALthis page | $2,500 – $6,550 | $4,550 | |
| Panama City, FL70 miles | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | +8% |
| Crestview, FL70 miles | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | +9% |
| Albany, GA85 miles | $2,500 – $6,500 | $4,500 | −1% |
| Auburn, AL85 miles | $2,650 – $6,800 | $4,750 | +4% |
| Columbus, GA90 miles | $2,600 – $6,700 | $4,650 | +3% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $2,650 – $6,850 | $4,750 | +5% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +18% |
Across 300 US metros, Dothan comes in at #294 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $7,050; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $4,350 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Dothan is 5% below the Alabama figure.
Other Alabama metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $2,700 – $6,950 | $4,850 | +7% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $2,700 – $6,900 | $4,800 | +6% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $2,650 – $6,850 | $4,750 | +5% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $2,650 – $6,800 | $4,750 | +4% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $2,650 – $6,850 | $4,750 | +5% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $2,650 – $6,850 | $4,750 | +5% |
Cities with a workforce like Dothan's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dothan against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | 61,240 jobs | $2,700 – $6,950 | $4,850 | +6% |
| Sheboygan, WI | 60,630 jobs | $3,100 – $7,650 | $5,400 | +19% |
| Santa Fe, NM | 61,770 jobs | $2,900 – $7,300 | $5,100 | +13% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $2,550 – $6,600 | $4,600 | +1% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Dothan is 0.70 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $20.58 an hour, which is 29% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $17.19 and $23.52 an hour. BLS counts 130 of them working in the area, 21.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $15.39 an hour, 32% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $12.40 and $18.76 an hour. About 600 work in the metro. That is 98.8 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 ($23.52 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $140. At the 25th percentile ($17.19) it shrinks by about $160. The total moves by 3.0% or 3.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 60,720 jobs in the Dothan area. That makes it the 284th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $17.19 | $20.58 | $23.52 | $29.12 | 0.71 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $12.40 | $15.39 | $18.76 | $22.66 | 0.68 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.70 | |||||
Dothan: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dothan 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
$2,500 to $4,150
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$3,750 to $5,350
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$4,950 to $6,550
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,700 – $2,800 | $2,500 – $3,600 | $3,300 – $4,400 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $2,500 – $4,150 | $3,750 – $5,350 | $4,950 – $6,550 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,350 – $5,500 | $4,950 – $7,100 | $6,550 – $8,700 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,000 – $8,200 | $7,400 – $10,600 | $9,800 – $13,000 |
Planning more than one job in Dothan?
Because every project leans on different trades, Dothan's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl fence runs −10% and chain-link fence −20%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,150 – $8,200 | −10% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,800 | −20% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,250 – $10,000 | −13% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,400 – $12,900 | −15% |
Add-ons priced for Dothan
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Dothan by the average of the local wage index (0.70) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.83. 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) | $120 – $660 |
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 $3,750 to $5,350 for Dothan, AL is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Dothan, AL: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Wood fence in Dothan: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Dothan?
For 150 linear ft, expect $2,500 to $6,550 in the Dothan area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,750 to $5,350. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Dothan?
About $16.50 to $43 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $130 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Dothan or Panama City?
Panama City is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,900, which is 8% more than Dothan ($4,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dothan?
About 35% at the midpoint, or $1,550 out of $4,550. Materials are 64% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Dothan?
$3,350 to $8,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Dothan?
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 Dothan area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dothan expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of Alabama?
Dothan is 5% below the Alabama statewide estimate ($4,750 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Dothan?
The BLS median is $20.58 an hour in the Dothan area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.19 to $23.52.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Dothan?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $2,500 to $4,150 and premium work $4,950 to $6,550. Basic means: pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft. Premium means: premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence.
+When is the best time to install a wood fence in Dothan?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. May 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 Dothan?
$120 to $660, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Dothan
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 Wood Fence Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Vinyl Fence Cost? (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