Wood fence cost in Delaware
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $2,950 – $7,400
- Per linear ft
- $19.50 – $48.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $5,350
- Metros covered
- 1
Across Delaware, a wood fence costs about $2,950 to $7,400 for 150 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 3% below the US figure of $5,350. Carpenters earn a median $28.46 an hour in Delaware (US: $29.12).
Delaware has one metro in our dataset, Dover, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Estimate your wood fence cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Delaware (statewide), standard level
$4,300 to $6,050
About $28 to $39.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $3,450 |
| Labor | $1,900 | $2,500 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $4,300 | $6,050 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Delaware
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,900 | $4,350 | 56% |
| Labor | $1,450 | $2,200 | $2,900 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $2,950 | $5,150 | $7,400 | 100% |
How Delaware compares with nearby states
Delaware ranks 29 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for wood fence, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $6,800 and the cheapest Arkansas at $4,650, both for 150 linear ft at the midpoint. Delaware sits at $5,150. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 60 miles away | $3,400 – $8,500 | $5,950 | +15% |
| Maryland | 60 miles away | $3,100 – $7,850 | $5,500 | +6% |
| Pennsylvania | 100 miles away | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +3% |
| District of Columbia | 110 miles away | $3,200 – $8,050 | $5,650 | +9% |
| New York | 150 miles away | $3,450 – $8,550 | $6,000 | +16% |
Why two Delaware quotes can differ
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.
Slope and soil
Hills, rock, and tree roots slow post digging.
Composite
A composite wood-look privacy fence is $55-$85 per linear foot installed (HomeGuide).
Related projects, priced for Delaware
Each project weights the trades differently, so Delaware's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, chain-link fence is −3% and vinyl fence −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,850 | −4% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,500 – $5,950 | −3% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,650 – $11,000 | −3% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,300 – $14,700 | −3% |
Which Delaware city is cheapest for wood fence?
Delaware has one metro in our dataset, Dover, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (150 linear ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | −3% |
Wages behind the Delaware number
Delaware's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.97 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $28.46 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.35 and $36.24 an hour. About 2,250 work in the state. That is 46.4 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 $21.90 an hour, which is 3% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.93 and $27.07 an hour. BLS counts 3,240 of them working in the state, 66.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($36.24 an hour) would add about $360 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.35) would take off about $240. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 484,790 jobs across Delaware (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $23.35 | $28.46 | $36.24 | $29.12 | 0.98 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $17.93 | $21.90 | $27.07 | $22.66 | 0.97 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
Extras that change the Delaware total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.97 for Delaware, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.97) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $150 – $770 |
When Delaware weather lets you install
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Delaware is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Dover has 11 comfortable months (February through December), with about 48 inches of precipitation a year.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | 28 | 87 | 48 | 11: February through December |
Basic, standard or premium: Delaware prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from backyard (100 linear ft) to full lot (300 linear ft).
Basic
$2,950 to $4,700
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,300 to $6,050
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,600 to $7,400
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,950 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,100 | $3,800 – $5,000 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $2,950 – $4,700 | $4,300 – $6,050 | $5,600 – $7,400 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,900 – $6,250 | $5,700 – $8,050 | $7,450 – $9,800 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,850 – $9,350 | $8,500 – $12,000 | $11,100 – $14,600 |
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 $4,300 to $6,050 for Delaware is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
The report lays out the wood fence numbers for Delaware 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.
Wood fence in Delaware: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Delaware?
$2,950 to $7,400 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Delaware can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Delaware is cheapest for wood fence?
Dover at about $5,000 (midpoint, 150 linear ft).
+Is wood fence cheaper in Delaware than the US average?
It is 3% cheaper: $5,150 against $5,350 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Delaware?
About 42% ($2,200). Materials are 56%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.97x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Delaware?
The BLS statewide median is $28.46 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.35 to $36.24.
+Where does Delaware rank for wood fence costs?
29th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $5,150 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Delaware?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $2,950 to $4,700 and premium work $5,600 to $7,400. Basic means: pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft. Premium means: premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence.
+Does the season matter for wood fence in Delaware?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Delaware metros we cover, Dover has the most comfortable months (11 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
+What does "add one gate" add in Delaware?
$150 to $770, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence by city in Delaware
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