Wood fence cost in New Orleans, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $2,700 – $6,850
- Per linear ft
- $17.50 – $44.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #255
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a wood fence in the New Orleans area: $2,700 to $6,850 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 11% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $24.10 an hour in the New Orleans area, 17% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in New Orleans, LA, standard level
$3,950 to $5,600
About $26 to $36.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $3,350 |
| Labor | $1,600 | $2,100 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $3,950 | $5,600 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in New Orleans, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,400 | $2,800 | $4,200 | 59% |
| Labor | $1,250 | $1,850 | $2,500 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $2,700 | $4,750 | $6,850 | 100% |
What is behind the New Orleans number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 60%, construction laborers at 40%. Weighted together, New Orleans wages are 0.83 times the national level. Labor makes up about 39% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. New Orleans is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,000 nationally becomes $2,800 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.6: $35 to $140.
Cost by quality level and size in New Orleans
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to New Orleans. 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
$2,700 to $4,350
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$3,950 to $5,600
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,200 to $6,850
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,800 – $2,950 | $2,650 – $3,750 | $3,500 – $4,600 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $2,700 – $4,350 | $3,950 – $5,600 | $5,200 – $6,850 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,550 – $5,800 | $5,250 – $7,450 | $6,900 – $9,100 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,350 – $8,650 | $7,800 – $11,100 | $10,300 – $13,600 |
How New Orleans compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 150 linear ft range from $4,650 to $4,900 across New Orleans and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LAthis page | $2,700 – $6,850 | $4,750 | |
| Houma, LA75 miles | $2,650 – $6,700 | $4,650 | −2% |
| Slidell, LA80 miles | $2,650 – $6,750 | $4,700 | −1% |
| Gulfport, MS90 miles | $2,700 – $6,900 | $4,800 | +1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA125 miles | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,900 | +2% |
| Mobile, AL125 miles | $2,650 – $6,850 | $4,750 | level |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $2,650 – $6,800 | $4,750 | −1% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, New Orleans ranks #255 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, New Orleans is 1% above the Louisiana figure.
Elsewhere in Louisiana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,900 | +2% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $2,650 – $6,750 | $4,700 | −2% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $2,650 – $6,700 | $4,650 | −2% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $2,700 – $6,850 | $4,800 | level |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $2,650 – $6,750 | $4,700 | −1% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $2,600 – $6,700 | $4,650 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is New Orleans against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | 446,380 jobs | $4,100 – $9,950 | $7,050 | +48% |
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | +4% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | +14% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $2,800 – $7,150 | $5,000 | +4% |
Why two New Orleans 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.
Add-ons priced for New Orleans
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.88 for New Orleans, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.83) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $130 – $710 |
Related projects, priced for New Orleans
Jobs that often go together with wood fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same New Orleans wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−9%) and chain-link fence lowest (−13%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,150 – $8,350 | −9% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,400 – $5,350 | −13% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,350 – $10,200 | −10% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,700 – $13,500 | −11% |
Who does the work: New Orleans 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 New Orleans the blend is 0.83.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $24.10 an hour, 17% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.55 and $29.75 an hour. About 1,390 work in the metro. That is 31.2 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 $18.98 an hour, which is 16% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.45 and $23.29 an hour. BLS counts 3,620 of them working in the area, 81.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $260 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $120. That is a swing of roughly 2.5% to 5.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
New Orleans-Metairie has 445,550 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 57th 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% | $21.55 | $24.10 | $29.75 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $17.45 | $18.98 | $23.29 | $22.66 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
The best months for wood fence in New Orleans
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, New Orleans Lakefront Ap (5 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 New Orleans are September through June: 10 of 12. Outside them, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
New Orleans gets about 60 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (6.5 inches in August). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 86 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 | 61 | 47 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Feb | 65 | 51 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Mar | 71 | 57 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 63 | 5.9 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 71 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 76 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 78 | 6.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 79 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 87 | 76 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 67 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 70 | 56 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 63 | 50 | 4.6 | Workable |
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Wood fence in New Orleans: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in New Orleans?
For 150 linear ft, expect $2,700 to $6,850 in the New Orleans area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,950 to $5,600. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in New Orleans?
About $17.50 to $44.50 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 New Orleans or Houma?
Houma is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,650, which is 2% less than New Orleans ($4,750). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in New Orleans?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $1,850 out of $4,750. Materials are 59% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in New Orleans?
$3,550 to $9,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in New Orleans?
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 New Orleans area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is New Orleans expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of Louisiana?
New Orleans is 1% above 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 New Orleans?
The BLS median is $24.10 an hour in the New Orleans area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.55 to $29.75.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in New Orleans?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $2,700 to $4,350 and premium work $5,200 to $6,850. 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 New Orleans?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. October 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 New Orleans?
$130 to $710, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near New Orleans
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