Wood fence cost in Massachusetts
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $3,450 – $8,450
- Per linear ft
- $22.50 – $55.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $5,350
- Metros covered
- 6
Across Massachusetts, a wood fence costs about $3,450 to $8,450 for 150 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 11% above the US figure of $5,350. Carpenters earn a median $36.16 an hour in Massachusetts (US: $29.12).
Inside Massachusetts, the metros we cover range from $5,400 (Pittsfield) to $6,000 (Boston) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
Estimate your wood fence cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Massachusetts (statewide), standard level
$4,950 to $6,950
About $32.50 to $45.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,350 | $3,550 |
| Labor | $2,500 | $3,250 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $4,950 | $6,950 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Massachusetts
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,500 | $2,950 | $4,450 | 50% |
| Labor | $1,900 | $2,900 | $3,850 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $100 | $160 | 2% |
| Total | $3,450 | $5,950 | $8,450 | 100% |
Add-ons priced for Massachusetts
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Massachusetts by the average of the local wage index (1.28) and goods index (0.99), a factor of 1.14. 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) | $170 – $910 |
Weather windows across Massachusetts
Season matters for wood fence. For each Massachusetts metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Barnstable has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Massachusetts at 10 months (March through December); Pittsfield has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 44 inches a year in Boston to 48 inches in Worcester.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 23 | 82 | 44 | 9: March through November |
| Worcester | 17 | 80 | 48 | 8: April through November |
| Springfield | 16 | 85 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Barnstable | 24 | 81 | 45 | 10: March through December |
| Amherst | 16 | 85 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Pittsfield | 14 | 79 | 44 | 8: April through November |
Wood fence: what moves the price in Massachusetts
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).
Other Massachusetts jobs that often go with wood fence
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Massachusetts wages and prices. Against national midpoints, chain-link fence comes out highest (+18%) and vinyl fence lowest (+6%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,700 – $9,750 | +6% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,700 – $7,350 | +18% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,200 – $12,400 | +10% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,350 – $16,800 | +11% |
Quality levels and sizes in Massachusetts
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Massachusetts wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$3,450 to $5,450
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,950 to $6,950
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$6,450 to $8,450
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,300 – $3,650 | $3,350 – $4,700 | $4,350 – $5,700 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,450 – $5,450 | $4,950 – $6,950 | $6,450 – $8,450 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,600 – $7,250 | $6,600 – $9,250 | $8,550 – $11,200 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,850 – $10,800 | $9,800 – $13,800 | $12,800 – $16,800 |
Massachusetts metro-by-metro prices
0 of the 6 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $5,950, and the top-to-bottom gap is 11%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $3,450 – $8,500 | $6,000 | level |
| Springfield, MA | $3,400 – $8,350 | $5,900 | −1% |
| Worcester, MA | $3,350 – $8,250 | $5,800 | −2% |
| Barnstable, MA | $3,300 – $8,150 | $5,700 | −4% |
| Amherst, MA | $3,250 – $8,000 | $5,600 | −6% |
| Pittsfield, MA | $3,100 – $7,700 | $5,400 | −9% |
Massachusetts 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 1.28 for Massachusetts.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $36.16 an hour, which is 24% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $29.21 and $46.88 an hour. BLS counts 18,540 of them working in the state, 51.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $30.48 an hour, 35% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $25.16 and $42.46 an hour. About 16,210 work in the state. That is 44.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($46.88 an hour) would add about $500 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($29.21) would take off about $320. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,637,650 jobs across Massachusetts (May 2025), which is 2.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $29.21 | $36.16 | $46.88 | $29.12 | 1.24 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $25.16 | $30.48 | $42.46 | $22.66 | 1.35 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.28 | |||||
Massachusetts versus the states around it
Massachusetts ranks 8 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. Massachusetts sits at $5,950. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 40 miles away | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,350 | −10% |
| Rhode Island | 50 miles away | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,450 | −8% |
| Connecticut | 110 miles away | $3,200 – $7,900 | $5,550 | −7% |
| Maine | 120 miles away | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −11% |
| Vermont | 180 miles away | $3,050 – $7,600 | $5,350 | −10% |
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 $4,950 to $6,950 for Massachusetts is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the wood fence numbers for Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Massachusetts?
$3,450 to $8,450 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Massachusetts can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Massachusetts is cheapest for wood fence?
Pittsfield at about $5,400 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Boston at $6,000.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Massachusetts than the US average?
It is 11% more expensive: $5,950 against $5,350 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Massachusetts?
About 49% ($2,900). Materials are 50%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.28x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Massachusetts?
The BLS statewide median is $36.16 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.21 to $46.88.
+Where does Massachusetts rank for wood fence costs?
8th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $5,950 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Massachusetts?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,450 to $5,450 and premium work $6,450 to $8,450. 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 Massachusetts?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Massachusetts metros we cover, Barnstable has the most comfortable months (10 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 Massachusetts?
$170 to $910, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence by city in Massachusetts
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