Wood fence cost in Houma, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $2,650 – $6,700
- Per linear ft
- $17.50 – $44
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #281
- 1 = most expensive
Houma homeowners pay roughly $2,650 to $6,700 to install a wood fence at 150 linear ft, or $17.50 to $44 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Houma is 13% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $23.18 an hour in the Houma area, 20% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Houma, LA, standard level
$3,850 to $5,500
About $25.50 to $36 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $3,350 |
| Labor | $1,550 | $2,000 |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $100 |
| Total | $3,850 | $5,500 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Houma, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,400 | $2,800 | $4,200 | 60% |
| Labor | $1,200 | $1,800 | $2,350 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $80 | $130 | 2% |
| Total | $2,650 | $4,650 | $6,700 | 100% |
What is behind the Houma number
Labor is 38% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (60%), construction laborers (40%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Houma the blended ratio comes out at 0.79.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Houma metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $2,800, compared with $3,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (85.1) and land at $35 to $130.
Specs and site conditions that change a Houma bid
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.
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 Houma is 0.79 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $23.18 an hour, which is 20% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.76 and $28.31 an hour. BLS counts 400 of them working in the area, 47.9 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 $17.74 an hour, 22% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.80 and $21.44 an hour. About 880 work in the metro. That is 105.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.31 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $240. At the 25th percentile ($21.76) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 5.1% or 1.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 83,440 jobs in the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux area. That makes it the 230th 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% | $21.76 | $23.18 | $28.31 | $29.12 | 0.80 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $16.80 | $17.74 | $21.44 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Houma against nearby metros and the rest of Louisiana
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Baton Rouge is the priciest of the group at $4,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houma, LAthis page | $2,650 – $6,700 | $4,650 | |
| New Orleans, LA75 miles | $2,700 – $6,850 | $4,750 | +2% |
| Baton Rouge, LA85 miles | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,900 | +4% |
| Lafayette, LA90 miles | $2,650 – $6,750 | $4,700 | level |
| Slidell, LA90 miles | $2,650 – $6,750 | $4,700 | +1% |
| Gulfport, MS135 miles | $2,700 – $6,900 | $4,800 | +3% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $2,650 – $6,800 | $4,750 | +1% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +14% |
Across 300 US metros, Houma comes in at #281 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $7,050; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $4,350 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Houma is 1% below the Louisiana figure.
Other Louisiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $2,700 – $6,850 | $4,750 | +2% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,900 | +4% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $2,650 – $6,750 | $4,700 | level |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $2,650 – $6,700 | $4,650 | level |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $2,700 – $6,850 | $4,800 | +2% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $2,650 – $6,750 | $4,700 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Houma's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Houma against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $2,900 – $7,300 | $5,100 | +9% |
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | +6% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $3,050 – $7,600 | $5,350 | +14% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | +6% |
Cost by quality level and size in Houma
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Houma 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
$2,650 to $4,250
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$3,850 to $5,500
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,100 to $6,700
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,750 – $2,850 | $2,600 – $3,700 | $3,400 – $4,500 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $2,650 – $4,250 | $3,850 – $5,500 | $5,100 – $6,700 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,500 – $5,650 | $5,100 – $7,300 | $6,750 – $8,900 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,200 – $8,450 | $7,650 – $10,900 | $10,100 – $13,300 |
When to schedule wood fence in Houma
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Houma (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Houma (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Houma gets about 65 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (9.1 inches in July). Inside the workable window, April and December are the driest, at 4.0 and 4.2 inches. The station averages about 76 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 | 64 | 44 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 48 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 54 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 60 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 67 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 73 | 8.4 | Hot |
| Jul | 91 | 74 | 9.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 75 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 71 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 82 | 61 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 72 | 52 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 66 | 46 | 4.2 | Workable |
Related projects, priced for Houma
Because every project leans on different trades, Houma's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl fence runs −10% and chain-link fence −16%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,150 – $8,250 | −10% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,350 – $5,150 | −16% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,350 – $10,200 | −11% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,600 – $13,200 | −13% |
Extras that change the Houma total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Houma by the average of the local wage index (0.79) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.86. 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) | $130 – $690 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed wood fence report for Houma, LA, $9
Multi-page report for Houma, LA: 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 Houma: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Houma?
For 150 linear ft, expect $2,650 to $6,700 in the Houma area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,850 to $5,500. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Houma?
About $17.50 to $44 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $130 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Houma or New Orleans?
New Orleans is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,750, which is 2% more than Houma ($4,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Houma?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $1,800 out of $4,650. Materials are 60% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Houma?
$3,500 to $8,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Houma?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $130 for fees in the Houma area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Houma expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Houma is 1% below the Louisiana statewide estimate ($4,750 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Houma?
The BLS median is $23.18 an hour in the Houma area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.76 to $28.31.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Houma?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $2,650 to $4,250 and premium work $5,100 to $6,700. 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 Houma?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. April and December 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 Houma?
$130 to $690, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Houma
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