Wood fence cost in Washington, DC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,100 – $7,900
- Per linear ft
- $20.50 – $51.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #64
- 1 = most expensive
Washington homeowners pay roughly $3,100 to $7,900 to install a wood fence at 150 linear ft, or $20.50 to $51.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Washington is 3% higher. Building materials run about 5% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 104.8).
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Washington, DC, standard level
$4,550 to $6,450
About $30 to $42 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,500 | $3,750 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,550 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $130 |
| Total | $4,550 | $6,450 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Washington, DC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,550 | $3,150 | $4,700 | 57% |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,250 | $3,000 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $100 | $160 | 2% |
| Total | $3,100 | $5,500 | $7,900 | 100% |
Where the Washington price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 60%, construction laborers at 40%. Weighted together, Washington wages are 1.00 times the national level. Labor makes up about 41% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Washington metro is 104.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $3,150, compared with $3,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (108.9) and land at $45 to $160.
Cost by quality level and size in Washington
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Washington 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
$3,100 to $5,050
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,550 to $6,450
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$6,000 to $7,900
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,100 – $3,400 | $3,050 – $4,350 | $4,050 – $5,300 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,100 – $5,050 | $4,550 – $6,450 | $6,000 – $7,900 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,150 – $6,700 | $6,050 – $8,600 | $7,950 – $10,500 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,200 – $9,950 | $9,050 – $12,800 | $11,900 – $15,600 |
Extras that change the Washington total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Washington by the average of the local wage index (1.00) and goods index (1.05), a factor of 1.03. 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) | $150 – $820 |
Related projects, priced for Washington
Because every project leans on different trades, Washington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl fence runs +4% and chain-link fence +2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,750 – $9,500 | +4% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,600 – $6,300 | +2% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,900 – $11,800 | +3% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,750 – $15,600 | +3% |
How Washington compares
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Washington. Winchester is the lowest at about $4,900 (midpoint, 150 linear ft), 60 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DCthis page | $3,100 – $7,900 | $5,500 | |
| Hagerstown, MD55 miles | $2,850 – $7,250 | $5,050 | −8% |
| Baltimore, MD60 miles | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | −1% |
| Winchester, VA60 miles | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −11% |
| Lexington Park, MD65 miles | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −3% |
| Chambersburg, PA75 miles | $2,850 – $7,300 | $5,100 | −8% |
| District of Columbia (statewide) | $3,200 – $8,050 | $5,650 | +2% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −3% |
Across 300 US metros, Washington comes in at #64 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $7,050; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $4,350 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Washington is 2% below the District of Columbia figure.
Washington is the only District of Columbia 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 Washington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Washington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $2,800 – $7,200 | $5,000 | −9% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,450 | −1% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $2,850 – $7,350 | $5,100 | −7% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $2,850 – $7,250 | $5,050 | −9% |
When to schedule wood fence in Washington
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Washington Reagan Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
August through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Washington (11 of 12 months). July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Washington gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 14 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.3 inches in July). Inside the workable window, January and February are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.6 inches. The station averages about 40 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 | 45 | 30 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 48 | 32 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 57 | 39 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 68 | 48 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 58 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 85 | 68 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 72 | 4.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 71 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 64 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 52 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 58 | 42 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 49 | 35 | 3.4 | Workable |
Specs and site conditions that change a Washington bid
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.
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 Washington is 1.00 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $29.23 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $26.62 and $35.56 an hour. BLS counts 13,280 of them working in the area, 42.3 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 $22.80 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.07 and $27.05 an hour. About 17,710 work in the metro. That is 56.5 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 ($35.56 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $290. At the 25th percentile ($26.62) it shrinks by about $120. The total moves by 5.3% or 2.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 3,136,190 jobs in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area. That makes it the 6th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 2.02% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $26.62 | $29.23 | $35.56 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $20.07 | $22.80 | $27.05 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
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Wood fence in Washington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Washington?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,100 to $7,900 in the Washington area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,550 to $6,450. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Washington?
About $20.50 to $51.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $160 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Washington or Hagerstown?
Hagerstown is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $5,050, which is 8% less than Washington ($5,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Washington?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $2,250 out of $5,500. Materials are 57% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Washington?
$4,150 to $10,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Washington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $160 for fees in the Washington area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Washington expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of District of Columbia?
Washington is 2% below the District of Columbia statewide estimate ($5,650 at the midpoint).
+What do carpenters earn in Washington?
The BLS median is $29.23 an hour in the Washington area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.62 to $35.56.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Washington?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,100 to $5,050 and premium work $6,000 to $7,900. 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 Washington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August 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 Washington?
$150 to $820, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Washington
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