Wood fence cost in Merced, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,400 – $8,500
- Per linear ft
- $22.50 – $55.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #24
- 1 = most expensive
A wood fence in Merced, CA usually costs $3,400 to $8,500 for 150 linear ft. That works out to about $22.50 to $55.50 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $610 more. Carpenters earn a median of $35.94 an hour in the Merced area, 23% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Merced, CA, standard level
$4,950 to $6,950
About $32.50 to $45.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,500 | $3,800 |
| Labor | $2,350 | $3,050 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $4,950 | $6,950 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Merced, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $3,150 | $4,750 | 53% |
| Labor | $1,800 | $2,700 | $3,600 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $3,400 | $5,950 | $8,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Merced number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 60%, construction laborers at 40%. Weighted together, Merced wages are 1.20 times the national level. Labor makes up about 45% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Merced 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 98.3: $40 to $150.
Add-ons priced for Merced
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.13 for Merced, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.20) and goods price index (1.05). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $170 – $900 |
What nearby projects cost in Merced
Jobs that often go together with wood fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Merced wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, chain-link fence comes out highest (+13%) and vinyl fence lowest (+8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,900 – $9,950 | +8% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,700 – $7,000 | +13% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,200 – $12,500 | +10% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,500 – $17,000 | +12% |
Merced 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, Merced Muni 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 Merced are October through May: 8 of 12. Outside them, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Merced gets about 12 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.4 inches in January). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 0.6 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 100 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 | 56 | 37 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 39 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 42 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 45 | 1.1 | Workable |
| May | 83 | 52 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 58 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 96 | 62 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 95 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 57 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 49 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 41 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 36 | 1.9 | Workable |
Merced: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Merced. 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
$3,400 to $5,450
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,950 to $6,950
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$6,450 to $8,500
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,300 – $3,650 | $3,300 – $4,700 | $4,350 – $5,700 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,400 – $5,450 | $4,950 – $6,950 | $6,450 – $8,500 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,550 – $7,250 | $6,550 – $9,250 | $8,600 – $11,300 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,800 – $10,800 | $9,800 – $13,800 | $12,800 – $16,800 |
How Merced compares
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. San Jose is the priciest of the group at $6,350. Fresno is the cheapest at $5,700.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CAthis page | $3,400 – $8,500 | $5,950 | |
| Modesto, CA30 miles | $3,500 – $8,600 | $6,050 | +2% |
| San Jose, CA40 miles | $3,700 – $9,000 | $6,350 | +7% |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $3,400 – $8,400 | $5,900 | −1% |
| Fresno, CA60 miles | $3,250 – $8,200 | $5,700 | −4% |
| Santa Cruz, CA70 miles | $3,500 – $8,700 | $6,100 | +3% |
| California (statewide) | $3,550 – $8,750 | $6,150 | +3% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Merced ranks #24 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Merced is 3% 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 | +3% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $3,900 – $9,550 | $6,750 | +13% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $3,350 – $8,350 | $5,850 | −2% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $3,500 – $8,650 | $6,050 | +2% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $3,700 – $9,000 | $6,350 | +7% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $3,500 – $8,650 | $6,050 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Merced against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $3,000 – $7,450 | $5,200 | −12% |
| Chico, CA | 78,220 jobs | $3,400 – $8,450 | $5,900 | −1% |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $2,850 – $7,150 | $5,000 | −16% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $3,600 – $8,800 | $6,200 | +4% |
Why two Merced quotes can differ
Composite
A composite wood-look privacy fence is $55-$85 per linear foot installed (HomeGuide).
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.
What local crews earn in Merced
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 Merced the blend is 1.20.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $35.94 an hour, 23% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.11 and $39.05 an hour. About 350 work in the metro. That is 44.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $26.17 an hour, which is 15% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.73 and $33.81 an hour. BLS counts 380 of them working in the area, 47.8 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 $140 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $410. That is a swing of roughly 6.9% to 2.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Merced has 79,510 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 240th 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% | $27.11 | $35.94 | $39.05 | $29.12 | 1.23 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $21.73 | $26.17 | $33.81 | $22.66 | 1.15 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.20 | |||||
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Wood fence in Merced: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Merced?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,400 to $8,500 in the Merced area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,950 to $6,950. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Merced?
About $22.50 to $55.50 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 Merced or Modesto?
Modesto is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $6,050, which is 2% more than Merced ($5,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Merced?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $2,700 out of $5,950. Materials are 53% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Merced?
$4,550 to $11,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Merced?
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 Merced area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Merced expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of California?
Merced is 3% 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 Merced?
The BLS median is $35.94 an hour in the Merced area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.11 to $39.05.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Merced?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,400 to $5,450 and premium work $6,450 to $8,500. 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 Merced?
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 Merced?
$170 to $900, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Merced
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