Wood fence cost in Bakersfield, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,300 – $8,300
- Per linear ft
- $22 – $54
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #37
- 1 = most expensive
A wood fence in Bakersfield, CA usually costs $3,300 to $8,300 for 150 linear ft. That works out to about $22 to $54 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $450 more. Carpenters earn a median of $31.99 an hour in the Bakersfield area, 10% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Bakersfield, CA, standard level
$4,800 to $6,800
About $31.50 to $44.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,500 | $3,800 |
| Labor | $2,200 | $2,900 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $4,800 | $6,800 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Bakersfield, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $3,150 | $4,750 | 54% |
| Labor | $1,700 | $2,550 | $3,400 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $3,300 | $5,800 | $8,300 | 100% |
Where the Bakersfield price comes from
Labor is 44% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (60%), construction laborers (40%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Bakersfield the blended ratio comes out at 1.13.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Bakersfield is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,000 nationally becomes $3,150 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 100.9: $40 to $150.
Wood fence: what moves the price in Bakersfield
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.
Bakersfield against nearby metros and the rest of California
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. San Luis Obispo is the priciest of the group at $6,150. Visalia is the cheapest at $5,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CAthis page | $3,300 – $8,300 | $5,800 | |
| Visalia, CA60 miles | $3,200 – $8,000 | $5,600 | −4% |
| Oxnard, CA70 miles | $3,450 – $8,600 | $6,050 | +4% |
| Los Angeles, CA90 miles | $3,500 – $8,700 | $6,100 | +5% |
| Santa Maria, CA95 miles | $3,450 – $8,550 | $6,000 | +4% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA95 miles | $3,550 – $8,700 | $6,150 | +6% |
| California (statewide) | $3,550 – $8,750 | $6,150 | +6% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bakersfield ranks #37 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bakersfield is 5% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $3,500 – $8,700 | $6,100 | +5% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $3,900 – $9,550 | $6,750 | +16% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $3,350 – $8,350 | $5,850 | +1% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $3,500 – $8,650 | $6,050 | +5% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $3,700 – $9,000 | $6,350 | +10% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $3,500 – $8,650 | $6,050 | +5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bakersfield against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $2,550 – $6,500 | $4,550 | −22% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −8% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | −14% |
| Oxnard, CA | 323,890 jobs | $3,450 – $8,600 | $6,050 | +4% |
Bakersfield weather and the wood fence calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Bakersfield Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Bakersfield are October through May: 8 of 12. Outside them, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Bakersfield gets about 6 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and March (1.2 inches in January). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 0.3 and 0.3 inches. The station averages about 112 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 | 59 | 41 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Feb | 64 | 43 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 47 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 76 | 51 | 0.6 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 58 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 92 | 65 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 98 | 71 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 97 | 70 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 65 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 55 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 45 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 59 | 40 | 1.1 | Workable |
What local crews earn in Bakersfield
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 Bakersfield the blend is 1.13.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $31.99 an hour, 10% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.72 and $38.81 an hour. About 1,100 work in the metro. That is 32.5 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 $26.83 an hour, which is 18% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.25 and $35.76 an hour. BLS counts 1,480 of them working in the area, 43.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $320 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $340. That is a swing of roughly 5.8% to 5.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bakersfield-Delano has 338,230 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 77th 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% | $24.72 | $31.99 | $38.81 | $29.12 | 1.10 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.25 | $26.83 | $35.76 | $22.66 | 1.18 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.13 | |||||
Extras that change the Bakersfield total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.09 for Bakersfield, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.13) and goods price index (1.05). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $160 – $870 |
Related projects, priced for Bakersfield
Jobs that often go together with wood fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bakersfield wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, chain-link fence comes out highest (+11%) and vinyl fence lowest (+7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,850 – $9,800 | +7% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,700 – $6,850 | +11% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,150 – $12,400 | +9% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,150 – $16,300 | +8% |
Cost by quality level and size in Bakersfield
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bakersfield. 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
$3,300 to $5,300
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,800 to $6,800
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$6,300 to $8,300
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,200 – $3,550 | $3,250 – $4,550 | $4,250 – $5,550 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,300 – $5,300 | $4,800 – $6,800 | $6,300 – $8,300 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,400 – $7,050 | $6,400 – $9,000 | $8,350 – $11,000 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,600 – $10,500 | $9,550 – $13,500 | $12,500 – $16,400 |
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Detailed wood fence report for Bakersfield, CA, $9
Multi-page report for Bakersfield, CA: 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 Bakersfield: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Bakersfield?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,300 to $8,300 in the Bakersfield area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,800 to $6,800. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Bakersfield?
About $22 to $54 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $150 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Bakersfield or Visalia?
Visalia is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $5,600, which is 4% less than Bakersfield ($5,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bakersfield?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $2,550 out of $5,800. Materials are 54% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Bakersfield?
$4,400 to $11,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Bakersfield?
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 Bakersfield area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bakersfield expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of California?
Bakersfield is 5% below the California statewide estimate ($6,150 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Bakersfield?
The BLS median is $31.99 an hour in the Bakersfield area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.72 to $38.81.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Bakersfield?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,300 to $5,300 and premium work $6,300 to $8,300. 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 Bakersfield?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October 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 Bakersfield?
$160 to $870, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Bakersfield
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