Wood 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)
- $2,550 – $6,550
- Per linear ft
- $16.50 – $43
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −15%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #293
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a wood fence in the Fort Smith area: $2,550 to $6,550 for 150 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 15% lower than the US figure. 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
$3,750 to $5,350
About $24.50 to $35 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 36% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $3,350 |
| Labor | $1,450 | $1,850 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $100 |
| Total | $3,750 | $5,350 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Fort Smith, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,400 | $2,800 | $4,200 | 62% |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,650 | $2,200 | 36% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $80 | $130 | 2% |
| Total | $2,550 | $4,550 | $6,550 | 100% |
What is behind the Fort Smith number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 60%, construction laborers at 40%. Weighted together, Fort Smith wages are 0.73 times the national level. Labor makes up about 36% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Fort Smith is at 93.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,000 nationally becomes $2,800 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 85.9: $35 to $130.
Specs and site conditions that change a Fort Smith bid
Wood species
A 6-ft privacy fence is $25-$50 per linear foot installed; an 8-ft one goes up to $75. Tropical hardwood privacy fences run $35-$55 (HomeGuide).
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.
Fort Smith: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Fort Smith. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from backyard (100 linear ft) to full lot (300 linear ft).
Basic
$2,550 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) | $2,550 – $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) | $5,050 – $8,200 | $7,400 – $10,600 | $9,800 – $13,000 |
Optional extras in Fort Smith
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.83 for Fort Smith, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.73) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $130 – $670 |
The best months for wood fence in Fort Smith
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Ft Smith Rgnl Ap (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Fort Smith are September through June: 10 of 12. Outside them, 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.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| 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 |
Who does the work: Fort Smith trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Fort Smith the blend is 0.73.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $20.39 an hour, 30% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $17.84 and $23.62 an hour. About 240 work in the metro. That is 25.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $17.77 an hour, which is 22% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.31 and $21.83 an hour. BLS counts 670 of them working in the area, 70.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $150 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $120. That is a swing of roughly 2.6% to 3.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Fort Smith has 95,560 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 210th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $17.84 | $20.39 | $23.62 | $29.12 | 0.70 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $16.31 | $17.77 | $21.83 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.73 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Fort Smith
Jobs that often go together with wood fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Fort Smith wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−11%) and chain-link fence lowest (−18%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,100 – $8,100 | −11% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,350 – $5,000 | −18% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,250 – $9,950 | −13% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,350 – $12,700 | −16% |
Fort Smith against nearby metros and the rest of Arkansas
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Fort Smith. Texarkana is the lowest at about $4,550 (midpoint, 150 linear ft), 135 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, ARthis page | $2,550 – $6,550 | $4,550 | |
| Fayetteville, AR50 miles | $2,650 – $6,800 | $4,750 | +4% |
| Tulsa, OK110 miles | $2,700 – $6,850 | $4,750 | +5% |
| Joplin, MO115 miles | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | +9% |
| Little Rock, AR125 miles | $2,650 – $6,700 | $4,650 | +3% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $2,550 – $6,550 | $4,550 | level |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $2,650 – $6,700 | $4,650 | +3% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +18% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Fort Smith ranks #293 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Fort Smith is 3% below the Arkansas figure.
Elsewhere in Arkansas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $2,650 – $6,700 | $4,650 | +3% |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $2,650 – $6,800 | $4,750 | +4% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $2,550 – $6,600 | $4,600 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
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 | $2,600 – $6,750 | $4,700 | +3% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $2,600 – $6,700 | $4,650 | +3% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $3,200 – $8,000 | $5,600 | +23% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $3,300 – $8,150 | $5,700 | +26% |
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Wood fence in Fort Smith: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Fort Smith?
For 150 linear ft, expect $2,550 to $6,550 in the Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith?
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 Fort Smith or Fayetteville?
Fayetteville is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,750, which is 4% more than Fort Smith ($4,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Smith?
About 36% at the midpoint, or $1,650 out of $4,550. Materials are 62% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Fort Smith?
$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 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 wood fence compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Fort Smith is 3% below the Arkansas statewide estimate ($4,650 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 wood fence work cost in Fort Smith?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $2,550 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 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 $670, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood 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 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