Wood fence cost in Iowa
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $2,900 – $7,300
- Per linear ft
- $19 – $48
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $5,350
- Metros covered
- 7
Iowa prices for wood fence: $2,900 to $7,300 for 150 linear ft, or $19 to $48 per linear ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 4% below the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $27.75 an hour.
Inside Iowa, the metros we cover range from $4,900 (Iowa City) to $5,300 (Davenport) 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 Iowa (statewide), standard level
$4,250 to $6,000
About $28 to $39 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $3,350 |
| Labor | $1,900 | $2,500 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $100 |
| Total | $4,250 | $6,000 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Iowa
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,400 | $2,800 | $4,200 | 55% |
| Labor | $1,450 | $2,200 | $2,950 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $130 | 2% |
| Total | $2,900 | $5,100 | $7,300 | 100% |
Other Iowa jobs that often go with wood fence
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Iowa wages and prices. Against national midpoints, chain-link fence comes out highest (−3%) and vinyl fence lowest (−5%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $8,700 | −5% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,500 – $6,000 | −3% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,650 – $10,900 | −4% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,200 – $14,400 | −5% |
When Iowa weather lets you install
Season matters for wood fence. For each Iowa metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Des Moines has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Iowa at 9 months (March through November); Dubuque has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 29 inches a year in Sioux City to 38 inches in Dubuque.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 14 | 86 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Davenport | 14 | 84 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Cedar Rapids | 11 | 83 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Iowa City | 15 | 86 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Waterloo | 11 | 85 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Sioux City | 10 | 85 | 29 | 9: March through November |
| Dubuque | 11 | 82 | 38 | 8: April through November |
Quality levels and sizes in Iowa
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Iowa wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$2,900 to $4,650
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,250 to $6,000
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,550 to $7,300
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,950 – $3,150 | $2,850 – $4,000 | $3,750 – $4,900 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $2,900 – $4,650 | $4,250 – $6,000 | $5,550 – $7,300 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,900 – $6,200 | $5,600 – $7,950 | $7,350 – $9,700 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,800 – $9,250 | $8,400 – $11,900 | $11,000 – $14,500 |
Which Iowa city is cheapest for wood fence?
4 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $5,100, and the top-to-bottom gap is 8%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | $3,050 – $7,550 | $5,300 | +4% |
| Des Moines, IA | $3,000 – $7,450 | $5,200 | +2% |
| Dubuque, IA | $2,950 – $7,400 | $5,150 | +1% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $2,950 – $7,350 | $5,150 | +1% |
| Waterloo, IA | $2,900 – $7,300 | $5,100 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | −3% |
| Iowa City, IA | $2,800 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −4% |
Iowa versus the states around it
Iowa ranks 31 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. Iowa sits at $5,100. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 190 miles away | $2,800 – $7,050 | $4,950 | −3% |
| Missouri | 220 miles away | $3,100 – $7,700 | $5,400 | +6% |
| Wisconsin | 230 miles away | $3,100 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +5% |
| Minnesota | 240 miles away | $3,300 – $8,150 | $5,700 | +12% |
| Illinois | 240 miles away | $3,550 – $8,700 | $6,150 | +20% |
Iowa labor market for wood fence
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.98 for Iowa.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $27.75 an hour, which is 5% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.91 and $31.69 an hour. BLS counts 5,770 of them working in the state, 37.0 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 $23.31 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.90 and $28.11 an hour. About 13,780 work in the state. That is 88.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($31.69 an hour) would add about $180 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.91) would take off about $220. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,559,240 jobs across Iowa (May 2025), which is 1.0% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $22.91 | $27.75 | $31.69 | $29.12 | 0.95 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $21.90 | $23.31 | $28.11 | $22.66 | 1.03 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.98 | |||||
Optional extras in Iowa
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Iowa by the average of the local wage index (0.98) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.96. 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 – $770 |
Wood fence: what moves the price in Iowa
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).
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed wood fence report for Iowa, $9
The report lays out the wood fence numbers for Iowa 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 Iowa: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Iowa?
$2,900 to $7,300 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Iowa can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Iowa is cheapest for wood fence?
Iowa City at about $4,900 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Davenport at $5,300.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Iowa than the US average?
It is 4% cheaper: $5,100 against $5,350 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Iowa?
About 43% ($2,200). Materials are 55%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.98x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Iowa?
The BLS statewide median is $27.75 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.91 to $31.69.
+Where does Iowa rank for wood fence costs?
31st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $5,100 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Iowa?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $2,900 to $4,650 and premium work $5,550 to $7,300. 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 Iowa?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Iowa metros we cover, Des Moines 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 Iowa?
$140 to $770, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence by city in Iowa
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