Wood fence cost in Lexington, KY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $2,850 – $7,200
- Per linear ft
- $18.50 – $47
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #173
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a wood fence in the Lexington area: $2,850 to $7,200 for 150 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 6% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $25.01 an hour in the Lexington area, 14% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Lexington, KY, standard level
$4,150 to $5,900
About $27 to $38.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $3,450 |
| Labor | $1,750 | $2,300 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $4,150 | $5,900 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Lexington, KY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,900 | $4,350 | 58% |
| Labor | $1,350 | $2,050 | $2,700 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $2,850 | $5,000 | $7,200 | 100% |
Why Lexington prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 60%, construction laborers at 40%. Weighted together, Lexington wages are 0.91 times the national level. Labor makes up about 41% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Lexington is at 96.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,000 nationally becomes $2,900 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.9: $35 to $140.
Planning more than one job in Lexington?
Jobs that often go together with wood fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Lexington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−5%) and wood deck lowest (−7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,700 | −5% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,450 – $5,800 | −6% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,600 – $10,900 | −5% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,000 – $14,100 | −7% |
Is Lexington cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Cincinnati is the priciest of the group at $5,300. Bowling Green is the cheapest at $4,950.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, KYthis page | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | |
| Cincinnati, OH65 miles | $3,050 – $7,550 | $5,300 | +5% |
| Louisville, KY70 miles | $2,900 – $7,350 | $5,150 | +2% |
| Huntington, WV100 miles | $2,850 – $7,150 | $5,000 | level |
| Dayton, OH120 miles | $3,000 – $7,450 | $5,200 | +4% |
| Bowling Green, KY130 miles | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | −1% |
| Kentucky (statewide) | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | level |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Lexington ranks #173 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Lexington is 0% above the Kentucky figure.
Elsewhere in Kentucky
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $2,900 – $7,350 | $5,150 | +2% |
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lexington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | 288,480 jobs | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +7% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $3,250 – $8,050 | $5,650 | +12% |
| Stockton, CA | 289,660 jobs | $3,400 – $8,400 | $5,900 | +17% |
| Reno, NV | 275,680 jobs | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +7% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Lexington bid
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).
Optional extras in Lexington
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.94 for Lexington, 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 |
Who does the work: Lexington trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Lexington the blend is 0.91.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $25.01 an hour, 14% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.63 and $29.61 an hour. About 1,200 work in the metro. That is 41.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $22.26 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.37 and $24.40 an hour. BLS counts 1,810 of them working in the area, 63.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $210 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $110. That is a swing of roughly 2.2% to 4.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Lexington-Fayette has 286,910 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 90th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $22.63 | $25.01 | $29.61 | $29.12 | 0.86 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $18.37 | $22.26 | $24.40 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
The best months for wood fence in Lexington
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Lexington Bluegrass Ap (10 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Lexington are February through December: 11 of 12. Outside them, January has an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January 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.
Lexington gets about 50 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 15 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (5.4 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 25 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42 | 25 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 28 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 56 | 36 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 67 | 45 | 4.4 | Workable |
| May | 76 | 55 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 63 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 67 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 65 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 58 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 47 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 56 | 36 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 46 | 30 | 4.2 | Workable |
Pick a size, pick a tier: wood fence pricing in Lexington
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Lexington. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run 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 – $3,950 | $3,650 – $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 | $5,500 – $7,800 | $7,250 – $9,550 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,650 – $9,100 | $8,250 – $11,700 | $10,800 – $14,300 |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $4,150 to $5,900 for Lexington, KY is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Lexington, KY: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Lexington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Lexington?
For 150 linear ft, expect $2,850 to $7,200 in the Lexington area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,150 to $5,900. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Lexington?
About $18.50 to $47 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Lexington or Cincinnati?
Cincinnati is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $5,300, which is 5% more than Lexington ($5,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lexington?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $2,050 out of $5,000. Materials are 58% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Lexington?
$3,800 to $9,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Lexington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $140 for fees in the Lexington area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lexington expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of Kentucky?
Lexington is 0% above the Kentucky statewide estimate ($5,000 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Kentucky; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Lexington?
The BLS median is $25.01 an hour in the Lexington area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.63 to $29.61.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Lexington?
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.
+When is the best time to install a wood fence in Lexington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through December. September and November 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 Lexington?
$140 to $750, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Lexington
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