Wood fence cost in Idaho
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $2,850 – $7,200
- Per linear ft
- $19 – $47
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $5,350
- Metros covered
- 3
Across Idaho, a wood fence costs about $2,850 to $7,200 for 150 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 6% below the US figure of $5,350. Carpenters earn a median $25.00 an hour in Idaho (US: $29.12).
Inside Idaho, the metros we cover range from $5,000 (Idaho Falls) to $5,200 (Coeur d'Alene) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Idaho (statewide), standard level
$4,150 to $5,900
About $27.50 to $38.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $3,450 |
| Labor | $1,800 | $2,350 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $4,150 | $5,900 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Idaho
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,900 | $4,350 | 57% |
| Labor | $1,350 | $2,050 | $2,750 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $2,850 | $5,050 | $7,200 | 100% |
Wages behind the Idaho number
Idaho'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 0.91 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $25.00 an hour, 14% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.76 and $30.25 an hour. About 8,380 work in the state. That is 97.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $22.57 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.02 and $26.46 an hour. BLS counts 10,850 of them working in the state, 126.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($30.25 an hour) would add about $240 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($21.76) would take off about $150. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 857,440 jobs across Idaho (May 2025), which is 0.6% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $21.76 | $25.00 | $30.25 | $29.12 | 0.86 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $19.02 | $22.57 | $26.46 | $22.66 | 1.00 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
Why two Idaho 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).
How Idaho compares with nearby states
Idaho ranks 35 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. Idaho sits at $5,050. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 270 miles away | $3,000 – $7,500 | $5,250 | +4% |
| Utah | 280 miles away | $2,850 – $7,250 | $5,050 | level |
| Oregon | 350 miles away | $3,200 – $8,050 | $5,650 | +12% |
| Washington | 380 miles away | $3,450 – $8,550 | $6,000 | +19% |
| Nevada | 460 miles away | $3,050 – $7,600 | $5,300 | +5% |
Basic, standard or premium: Idaho 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
$2,850 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 – $4,000 | $3,700 – $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 | $5,550 – $7,850 | $7,250 – $9,600 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,650 – $9,100 | $8,250 – $11,700 | $10,800 – $14,300 |
Wood fence cost by metro in Idaho
1 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $5,050, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $2,950 – $7,450 | $5,200 | +3% |
| Boise, ID | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | level |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | level |
Weather windows across Idaho
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Idaho 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.
Every Idaho metro on the list has 8 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 10 inches a year in Idaho Falls to 25 in Coeur d'Alene.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | 26 | 93 | 12 | 8: February through June and September through November |
| Idaho Falls | 12 | 87 | 10 | 8: March through October |
| Coeur d'Alene | 26 | 83 | 25 | 8: March through October |
If you are planning more than one job in Idaho
Each project weights the trades differently, so Idaho's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, vinyl fence is −4% and wood deck −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,750 | −4% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,450 – $5,850 | −5% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,550 – $10,700 | −6% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,000 – $14,100 | −7% |
Add-ons priced for Idaho
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.94 for Idaho, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.91) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $140 – $750 |
Get 3 local quotes
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A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the wood fence numbers for Idaho 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 Idaho: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Idaho?
$2,850 to $7,200 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Idaho can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Idaho is cheapest for wood fence?
Idaho Falls at about $5,000 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Coeur d'Alene at $5,200.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Idaho than the US average?
It is 6% cheaper: $5,050 against $5,350 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Idaho?
About 41% ($2,050). Materials are 57%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.91x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Idaho?
The BLS statewide median is $25.00 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.76 to $30.25.
+Where does Idaho rank for wood fence costs?
35th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $5,050 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Idaho?
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.
+Does the season matter for wood fence in Idaho?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Idaho metros we cover, Boise has the most comfortable months (8 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 Idaho?
$140 to $750, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence by city in Idaho
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