Wood fence cost in Dover, DE
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $2,850 – $7,200
- Per linear ft
- $18.50 – $47
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #170
- 1 = most expensive
Dover homeowners pay roughly $2,850 to $7,200 to install a wood fence at 150 linear ft, or $18.50 to $47 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Dover is 6% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $25.07 an hour in the Dover area, 14% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Dover, DE, standard level
$4,150 to $5,900
About $27 to $38.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $3,450 |
| Labor | $1,750 | $2,300 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $4,150 | $5,900 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Dover, DE
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,900 | $4,350 | 58% |
| Labor | $1,350 | $2,050 | $2,700 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $2,850 | $5,000 | $7,200 | 100% |
Where the Dover price comes from
Labor is 41% 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 Dover the blended ratio comes out at 0.91.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dover 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 (97.5) and land at $40 to $150.
Specs and site conditions that change a Dover bid
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).
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 Dover is 0.91 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $25.07 an hour, which is 14% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.87 and $32.20 an hour. BLS counts 270 of them working in the area, 39.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $22.02 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.50 and $24.63 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 58.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($32.20 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $330. At the 25th percentile ($22.87) it shrinks by about $100. The total moves by 6.6% or 2.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 68,080 jobs in the Dover area. That makes it the 265th 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% | $22.87 | $25.07 | $32.20 | $29.12 | 0.86 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $18.50 | $22.02 | $24.63 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
Dover against nearby metros and the rest of Delaware
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 150 linear ft range from $5,000 to $6,100 across Dover and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DEthis page | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | |
| Vineland, NJ25 miles | $3,550 – $8,650 | $6,100 | +21% |
| Atlantic City, NJ45 miles | $3,150 – $7,850 | $5,500 | +9% |
| Philadelphia, PA55 miles | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,450 | +8% |
| Baltimore, MD60 miles | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | +9% |
| Lancaster, PA75 miles | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,300 | +5% |
| Delaware (statewide) | $2,950 – $7,400 | $5,150 | +3% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Dover comes in at #170 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $7,050; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $4,350 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Dover is 3% below the Delaware figure.
Dover is the only Delaware metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Cities with a workforce like Dover's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dover against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $2,950 – $7,350 | $5,150 | +2% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −3% |
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,350 | +7% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −2% |
Dover: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dover 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
$2,850 to $4,600
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,150 to $5,900
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,450 to $7,200
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,900 – $3,100 | $2,800 – $3,950 | $3,650 – $4,850 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $2,850 – $4,600 | $4,150 – $5,900 | $5,450 – $7,200 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,800 – $6,100 | $5,500 – $7,800 | $7,250 – $9,550 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,650 – $9,100 | $8,250 – $11,700 | $10,800 – $14,300 |
What nearby projects cost in Dover
Because every project leans on different trades, Dover's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl fence runs −5% and wood deck −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,700 | −5% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,450 – $5,800 | −6% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,600 – $10,900 | −5% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,000 – $14,100 | −7% |
Add-ons priced for Dover
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Dover by the average of the local wage index (0.91) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.93. 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) | $140 – $750 |
When to schedule wood fence in Dover
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Dover (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through December is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Dover (11 of 12 months). January has an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Dover gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 13 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.9 inches in August). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 3.1 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 25 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 | 44 | 28 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 29 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Mar | 55 | 35 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 66 | 45 | 3.7 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 54 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 64 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 69 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 67 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 61 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 50 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 58 | 39 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 49 | 32 | 4.0 | Workable |
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 $4,150 to $5,900 for Dover, DE is attached.
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Multi-page report for Dover, DE: 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 Dover: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Dover?
For 150 linear ft, expect $2,850 to $7,200 in the Dover area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,150 to $5,900. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Dover?
About $18.50 to $47 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 Dover or Vineland?
Vineland is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $6,100, which is 21% more than Dover ($5,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dover?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $2,050 out of $5,000. Materials are 58% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Dover?
$3,800 to $9,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Dover?
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 Dover area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dover expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of Delaware?
Dover is 3% below the Delaware statewide estimate ($5,150 at the midpoint).
+What do carpenters earn in Dover?
The BLS median is $25.07 an hour in the Dover area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.87 to $32.20.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Dover?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $2,850 to $4,600 and premium work $5,450 to $7,200. 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 Dover?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through December. February and November 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 Dover?
$140 to $750, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Dover
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