Wood fence cost in Baltimore, MD
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,100 – $7,800
- Per linear ft
- $20.50 – $51
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #73
- 1 = most expensive
A wood fence in Baltimore, MD usually costs $3,100 to $7,800 for 150 linear ft. That works out to about $20.50 to $51 per linear ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 2% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 102.4).
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Baltimore, MD, standard level
$4,500 to $6,400
About $29.50 to $42 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,450 | $3,700 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,600 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $4,500 | $6,400 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Baltimore, MD
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,550 | $3,050 | $4,600 | 56% |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,300 | $3,050 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $100 | $160 | 2% |
| Total | $3,100 | $5,450 | $7,800 | 100% |
What is behind the Baltimore number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 60%, construction laborers at 40%. Weighted together, Baltimore wages are 1.01 times the national level. Labor makes up about 42% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Baltimore is at 102.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,000 nationally becomes $3,050 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 104.5: $40 to $160.
Related projects, priced for Baltimore
Jobs that often go together with wood fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Baltimore wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, wood deck comes out highest (+2%) and chain-link fence lowest (+1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,650 – $9,350 | +2% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,550 – $6,200 | +1% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,850 – $11,600 | +2% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,700 – $15,500 | +2% |
Baltimore against nearby metros and the rest of Maryland
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Washington is the priciest of the group at $5,500. Dover is the cheapest at $5,000.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MDthis page | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | |
| York, PA45 miles | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,400 | −1% |
| Lancaster, PA55 miles | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −3% |
| Dover, DE60 miles | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | −8% |
| Washington, DC60 miles | $3,100 – $7,900 | $5,500 | +1% |
| Lexington Park, MD70 miles | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −2% |
| Maryland (statewide) | $3,100 – $7,850 | $5,500 | +1% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Baltimore ranks #73 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Baltimore is 1% below the Maryland figure.
Elsewhere in Maryland
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hagerstown, MD | 107,170 jobs | $2,850 – $7,250 | $5,050 | −7% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Baltimore against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $2,850 – $7,150 | $5,000 | −8% |
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $3,400 – $8,400 | $5,900 | +8% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,850 | −11% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,850 | −11% |
Cost by quality level and size in Baltimore
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Baltimore. 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
$3,100 to $5,000
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,500 to $6,400
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,900 to $7,800
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,100 – $3,350 | $3,050 – $4,300 | $4,000 – $5,250 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,100 – $5,000 | $4,500 – $6,400 | $5,900 – $7,800 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,100 – $6,600 | $6,000 – $8,500 | $7,850 – $10,300 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,150 – $9,850 | $8,950 – $12,700 | $11,700 – $15,400 |
Baltimore weather and the wood fence calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Md Sci Ctr Baltimore (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Baltimore are February through June and August through December: 10 of 12. Outside them, January has an average daytime high under 45°F, and July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
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.
Baltimore gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (4.7 inches in July). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 43 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 | 44 | 30 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 32 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 55 | 39 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 67 | 48 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 76 | 58 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 85 | 68 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 73 | 4.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 87 | 71 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 65 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 53 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 58 | 43 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 48 | 35 | 3.7 | Workable |
Specs and site conditions that change a Baltimore bid
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.
What local crews earn in Baltimore
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 Baltimore the blend is 1.01.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $29.99 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.96 and $36.06 an hour. About 3,870 work in the metro. That is 28.5 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 $22.34 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.72 and $26.66 an hour. BLS counts 10,520 of them working in the area, 77.5 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 $280 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $230. That is a swing of roughly 4.3% to 5.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has 1,356,680 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 22nd 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% | $24.96 | $29.99 | $36.06 | $29.12 | 1.03 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $18.72 | $22.34 | $26.66 | $22.66 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Optional extras in Baltimore
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.02 for Baltimore, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.01) and goods price index (1.02). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $150 – $810 |
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Wood fence in Baltimore: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Baltimore?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,100 to $7,800 in the Baltimore area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,500 to $6,400. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Baltimore?
About $20.50 to $51 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $160 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Baltimore or York?
York is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $5,400, which is 1% less than Baltimore ($5,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Baltimore?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $2,300 out of $5,450. Materials are 56% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Baltimore?
$4,100 to $10,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Baltimore?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $160 for fees in the Baltimore area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Baltimore expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of Maryland?
Baltimore is 1% below the Maryland statewide estimate ($5,500 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Maryland; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Baltimore?
The BLS median is $29.99 an hour in the Baltimore area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.96 to $36.06.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Baltimore?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,100 to $5,000 and premium work $5,900 to $7,800. 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 Baltimore?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through June and August through December. February 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 Baltimore?
$150 to $810, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Baltimore
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