Wood fence cost in Illinois
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $3,550 – $8,700
- Per linear ft
- $23.50 – $57
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +15%
- US $5,350
- Metros covered
- 6
Illinois prices for wood fence: $3,550 to $8,700 for 150 linear ft, or $23.50 to $57 per linear ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 15% above the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $37.98 an hour.
Inside Illinois, the metros we cover range from $5,550 (Champaign) to $6,250 (Chicago) 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 Illinois (statewide), standard level
$5,100 to $7,150
About $33.50 to $47 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,500 | $3,750 |
| Labor | $2,550 | $3,300 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $5,100 | $7,150 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Illinois
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,550 | $3,100 | $4,650 | 51% |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,900 | $3,900 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $3,550 | $6,150 | $8,700 | 100% |
Basic, standard or premium: Illinois 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
$3,550 to $5,600
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$5,100 to $7,150
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$6,650 to $8,700
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,400 – $3,750 | $3,400 – $4,800 | $4,450 – $5,850 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,550 – $5,600 | $5,100 – $7,150 | $6,650 – $8,700 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,700 – $7,450 | $6,750 – $9,500 | $8,850 – $11,600 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $7,050 – $11,100 | $10,100 – $14,200 | $13,200 – $17,300 |
When Illinois weather lets you install
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Illinois 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 Illinois metro on the list has 9 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 34 inches a year in Chicago to 40 in Springfield.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 19 | 85 | 34 | 9: March through November |
| Peoria | 18 | 86 | 38 | 9: March through November |
| Rockford | 15 | 84 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Champaign | 18 | 85 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Springfield | 19 | 86 | 40 | 9: March through November |
| Bloomington | 16 | 86 | 39 | 9: March through November |
Wages behind the Illinois number
Illinois'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 1.30 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $37.98 an hour, 30% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.00 and $51.42 an hour. About 19,570 work in the state. That is 32.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $29.18 an hour, which is 29% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $45.79 an hour. BLS counts 35,940 of them working in the state, 58.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($51.42 an hour) would add about $620 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($27.00) would take off about $510. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 6,098,130 jobs across Illinois (May 2025), which is 3.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $27.00 | $37.98 | $51.42 | $29.12 | 1.30 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.14 | $29.18 | $45.79 | $22.66 | 1.29 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.30 | |||||
Which Illinois city is cheapest for wood fence?
1 of the 6 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $6,150, and the top-to-bottom gap is 14%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $3,600 – $8,900 | $6,250 | +2% |
| Springfield, IL | $3,350 – $8,200 | $5,800 | −6% |
| Peoria, IL | $3,350 – $8,200 | $5,800 | −6% |
| Bloomington, IL | $3,350 – $8,150 | $5,750 | −6% |
| Rockford, IL | $3,250 – $8,000 | $5,650 | −8% |
| Champaign, IL | $3,200 – $7,850 | $5,550 | −10% |
Illinois against its neighbors
Illinois ranks 3 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. Illinois sits at $6,150. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 120 miles away | $3,100 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −12% |
| Indiana | 140 miles away | $3,050 – $7,600 | $5,300 | −13% |
| Michigan | 220 miles away | $3,050 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −14% |
| Iowa | 240 miles away | $2,900 – $7,300 | $5,100 | −17% |
| Kentucky | 280 miles away | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | −18% |
Add-ons priced for Illinois
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.17 for Illinois, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.30) and goods price index (1.04). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $180 – $930 |
Related projects, priced for Illinois
Each project weights the trades differently, so Illinois's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, chain-link fence is +19% and vinyl fence +9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,900 – $10,100 | +9% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,750 – $7,400 | +19% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $12,900 | +13% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,700 – $17,500 | +15% |
Why two Illinois 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).
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Detailed wood fence report for Illinois, $9
The report lays out the wood fence numbers for Illinois 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 Illinois: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Illinois?
$3,550 to $8,700 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Illinois can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Illinois is cheapest for wood fence?
Champaign at about $5,550 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Chicago at $6,250.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Illinois than the US average?
It is 15% more expensive: $6,150 against $5,350 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Illinois?
About 48% ($2,900). Materials are 51%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.30x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Illinois?
The BLS statewide median is $37.98 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.00 to $51.42.
+Where does Illinois rank for wood fence costs?
3rd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $6,150 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Illinois?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,550 to $5,600 and premium work $6,650 to $8,700. 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 Illinois?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Illinois metros we cover, Chicago has the most comfortable months (9 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 Illinois?
$180 to $930, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence by city in Illinois
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