Wood fence cost in Boston, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,450 – $8,500
- Per linear ft
- $23 – $55.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #23
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a wood fence in Boston, plan on $3,450 to $8,500 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $23 to $55.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 12% higher than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $36.16 an hour in the Boston area, 24% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Boston, MA, standard level
$4,950 to $7,000
About $32.50 to $45.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,600 |
| Labor | $2,500 | $3,250 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $130 |
| Total | $4,950 | $7,000 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Boston, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,500 | $3,000 | $4,500 | 50% |
| Labor | $1,900 | $2,900 | $3,850 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $100 | $160 | 2% |
| Total | $3,450 | $6,000 | $8,500 | 100% |
Where the Boston price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $36.16 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Boston is 1.28 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 48% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Boston metro is 99.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $3,000, compared with $3,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (108.3) and land at $45 to $160.
Climate in Boston: timing your wood fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Boston Logan Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Boston (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February and December 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.
Boston gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 49 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, October and December (4.3 inches in December). Inside the workable window, May and August are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 14 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 | 37 | 23 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 25 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 31 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 56 | 41 | 3.6 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 50 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 60 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 66 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 65 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 58 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 48 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 52 | 38 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 42 | 29 | 4.3 | Cold |
Boston labor market for wood fence
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 Boston is 1.28 times the national level.
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 $29.26 and $47.47 an hour. BLS counts 12,720 of them working in the area, 47.0 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 $30.49 an hour, 35% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $26.22 and $45.11 an hour. About 11,580 work in the metro. That is 42.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($47.47 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $520. At the 25th percentile ($29.26) it shrinks by about $320. The total moves by 8.8% or 5.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,703,890 jobs in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area. That makes it the 10th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.74% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $29.26 | $36.16 | $47.47 | $29.12 | 1.24 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $26.22 | $30.49 | $45.11 | $22.66 | 1.35 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.28 | |||||
Extras that change the Boston total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Boston by the average of the local wage index (1.28) and goods index (1.00), 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 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Boston 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.
What nearby projects cost in Boston
Because every project leans on different trades, Boston's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, chain-link fence runs +18% and vinyl fence +6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,750 – $9,800 | +6% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,700 – $7,400 | +18% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,250 – $12,500 | +10% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,400 – $16,900 | +11% |
Boston: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Boston 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
$3,450 to $5,500
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,950 to $7,000
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$6,500 to $8,500
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,300 – $3,700 | $3,350 – $4,700 | $4,350 – $5,700 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,450 – $5,500 | $4,950 – $7,000 | $6,500 – $8,500 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,600 – $7,250 | $6,600 – $9,250 | $8,600 – $11,300 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,900 – $10,900 | $9,850 – $13,800 | $12,900 – $16,800 |
Boston against nearby metros and the rest of Massachusetts
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Boston. Manchester is the lowest at about $5,300 (midpoint, 150 linear ft), 45 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MAthis page | $3,450 – $8,500 | $6,000 | |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $3,000 – $7,600 | $5,300 | −11% |
| Worcester, MA50 miles | $3,350 – $8,250 | $5,800 | −3% |
| Providence, RI60 miles | $3,150 – $7,850 | $5,500 | −8% |
| Barnstable, MA70 miles | $3,300 – $8,150 | $5,700 | −4% |
| Portland, ME85 miles | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −10% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $3,450 – $8,450 | $5,950 | level |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −11% |
Across 300 US metros, Boston comes in at #23 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $7,050; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $4,350 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Boston is 0% above the Massachusetts figure.
Other Massachusetts metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $3,350 – $8,250 | $5,800 | −3% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $3,400 – $8,350 | $5,900 | −2% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $3,300 – $8,150 | $5,700 | −4% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $3,250 – $8,000 | $5,600 | −6% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $3,100 – $7,700 | $5,400 | −10% |
Cities with a workforce like Boston's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $2,950 – $7,500 | $5,250 | −12% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $2,950 – $7,400 | $5,200 | −13% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $2,850 – $7,250 | $5,050 | −16% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $3,900 – $9,550 | $6,750 | +13% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Multi-page report for Boston, MA: 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 Boston: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Boston?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,450 to $8,500 in the Boston area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,950 to $7,000. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Boston?
About $23 to $55.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $160 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Boston or Manchester?
Manchester is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $5,300, which is 11% less than Boston ($6,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boston?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $2,900 out of $6,000. Materials are 50% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Boston?
$4,600 to $11,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Boston?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $160 for fees in the Boston area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boston expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Boston is 0% above the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($5,950 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Boston?
The BLS median is $36.16 an hour in the Boston area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.26 to $47.47.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Boston?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,450 to $5,500 and premium work $6,500 to $8,500. 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 Boston?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. May and August 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 Boston?
$170 to $910, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Boston
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