Wood fence cost in Bloomington, IN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,000 – $7,450
- Per linear ft
- $19.50 – $48.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #131
- 1 = most expensive
Bloomington homeowners pay roughly $3,000 to $7,450 to install a wood fence at 150 linear ft, or $19.50 to $48.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Bloomington is almost level. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 94.3).
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Bloomington, IN, standard level
$4,300 to $6,100
About $28.50 to $40 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $3,400 |
| Labor | $2,000 | $2,600 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $4,300 | $6,100 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Bloomington, IN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,400 | $2,850 | $4,250 | 54% |
| Labor | $1,550 | $2,300 | $3,050 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $3,000 | $5,200 | $7,450 | 100% |
Where the Bloomington price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.50 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Bloomington is 1.02 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 44% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Bloomington metro is 94.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $2,850, compared with $3,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (95.1) and land at $40 to $140.
Specs and site conditions that change a Bloomington 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.
What nearby projects cost in Bloomington
Because every project leans on different trades, Bloomington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, chain-link fence runs −1% and vinyl fence −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,800 | −4% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,500 – $6,150 | −1% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,700 – $11,100 | −3% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,350 – $14,800 | −2% |
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 Bloomington is 1.02 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $29.50 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.82 and $35.36 an hour. BLS counts 270 of them working in the area, 36.9 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 $23.42 an hour, 3% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.28 and $30.52 an hour. About 360 work in the metro. That is 49.2 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 ($35.36 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $270. At the 25th percentile ($23.82) it shrinks by about $260. The total moves by 5.2% or 5.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 73,240 jobs in the Bloomington area. That makes it the 251st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $23.82 | $29.50 | $35.36 | $29.12 | 1.01 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $19.28 | $23.42 | $30.52 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Bloomington: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Bloomington 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
$3,000 to $4,750
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,300 to $6,100
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,650 to $7,450
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,000 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,100 | $3,800 – $5,000 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,000 – $4,750 | $4,300 – $6,100 | $5,650 – $7,450 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,950 – $6,350 | $5,750 – $8,100 | $7,500 – $9,900 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,950 – $9,450 | $8,600 – $12,100 | $11,200 – $14,800 |
Bloomington against nearby metros and the rest of Indiana
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Evansville is the priciest of the group at $5,350. Terre Haute is the cheapest at $5,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, INthis page | $3,000 – $7,450 | $5,200 | |
| Terre Haute, IN40 miles | $2,950 – $7,350 | $5,150 | −2% |
| Indianapolis, IN50 miles | $3,050 – $7,600 | $5,350 | +2% |
| Louisville, KY90 miles | $2,900 – $7,350 | $5,150 | −1% |
| Lafayette, IN90 miles | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,300 | +1% |
| Evansville, IN95 miles | $3,100 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +3% |
| Indiana (statewide) | $3,050 – $7,600 | $5,300 | +2% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +2% |
Across 300 US metros, Bloomington comes in at #131 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $7,050; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $4,350 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Bloomington is 2% below the Indiana figure.
Other Indiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $3,050 – $7,600 | $5,350 | +2% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 225,520 jobs | $2,950 – $7,400 | $5,150 | −1% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $3,100 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +3% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $3,000 – $7,500 | $5,250 | +1% |
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $3,050 – $7,550 | $5,300 | +1% |
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,300 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Bloomington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bloomington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HI | 73,750 jobs | $3,950 – $9,650 | $6,800 | +30% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $2,650 – $6,800 | $4,750 | −9% |
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −6% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $2,900 – $7,350 | $5,100 | −2% |
When to schedule wood fence in Bloomington
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Bloomington Indiana Univ (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Bloomington (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February and December 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.
Bloomington gets about 49 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 18 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (5.4 inches in June). Inside the workable window, March and August are the driest, at 3.7 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 21 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 | 37 | 21 | 3.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 42 | 23 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 52 | 32 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 64 | 42 | 5.2 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 53 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 62 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 65 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 64 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 56 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 34 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 41 | 26 | 3.5 | Cold |
Extras that change the Bloomington total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Bloomington by the average of the local wage index (1.02) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.98. 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 – $790 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Wood fence in Bloomington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Bloomington?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,000 to $7,450 in the Bloomington area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,300 to $6,100. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Bloomington?
About $19.50 to $48.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Bloomington or Terre Haute?
Terre Haute is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $5,150, which is 2% less than Bloomington ($5,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bloomington?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $2,300 out of $5,200. Materials are 54% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Bloomington?
$3,950 to $9,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Bloomington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $140 for fees in the Bloomington area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bloomington expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of Indiana?
Bloomington is 2% below the Indiana statewide estimate ($5,300 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Indiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Bloomington?
The BLS median is $29.50 an hour in the Bloomington area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.82 to $35.36.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Bloomington?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,000 to $4,750 and premium work $5,650 to $7,450. 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 Bloomington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March and August 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 Bloomington?
$150 to $790, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Bloomington
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