Wood fence cost in Montana
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $3,000 – $7,500
- Per linear ft
- $19.50 – $49
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $5,350
- Metros covered
- 3
Across Montana, a wood fence costs about $3,000 to $7,500 for 150 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 2% below the US figure of $5,350. Carpenters earn a median $28.28 an hour in Montana (US: $29.12).
Inside Montana, the metros we cover range from $5,200 (Missoula) to $5,450 (Bozeman) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Montana (statewide), standard level
$4,350 to $6,150
About $28.50 to $40 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $3,450 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,550 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $4,350 | $6,150 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Montana
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,900 | $4,300 | 55% |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,250 | $3,000 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $3,000 | $5,250 | $7,500 | 100% |
Related projects, priced for Montana
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Montana wages and prices. Against national midpoints, chain-link fence comes out highest (level) and vinyl fence lowest (−3%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,400 – $8,900 | −3% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,500 – $6,150 | level |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,700 – $11,100 | −2% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,350 – $14,700 | −3% |
How Montana compares with nearby states
Montana ranks 26 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. Montana sits at $5,250. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 270 miles away | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,050 | −4% |
| Utah | 400 miles away | $2,850 – $7,250 | $5,050 | −4% |
| Wyoming | 460 miles away | $2,900 – $7,300 | $5,100 | −3% |
| Washington | 500 miles away | $3,450 – $8,550 | $6,000 | +14% |
| Colorado | 550 miles away | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,350 | +3% |
Extras that change the Montana total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Montana by the average of the local wage index (1.01) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.98. 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) | $150 – $790 |
What carpenters and the other trades earn in Montana
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 1.01 for Montana.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $28.28 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.84 and $32.47 an hour. BLS counts 4,030 of them working in the state, 78.8 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 $23.96 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.80 and $28.24 an hour. About 4,590 work in the state. That is 89.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($32.47 an hour) would add about $190 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.84) would take off about $210. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 511,580 jobs across Montana (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $23.84 | $28.28 | $32.47 | $29.12 | 0.97 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $20.80 | $23.96 | $28.24 | $22.66 | 1.06 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Wood fence cost by metro in Montana
1 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $5,250, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,450 | +4% |
| Billings, MT | $3,000 – $7,450 | $5,200 | level |
| Missoula, MT | $2,950 – $7,450 | $5,200 | −1% |
When Montana weather lets you install
Season matters for wood fence. For each Montana metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Billings has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Montana at 9 months (March through November); Missoula has the shortest at 8 (March through October). Rainfall runs from 14 inches a year in Missoula to 20 inches in Bozeman.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | 18 | 87 | 14 | 9: March through November |
| Bozeman | 15 | 82 | 20 | 8: March through October |
| Missoula | 18 | 85 | 14 | 8: March through October |
Wood fence: what moves the price in Montana
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).
Quality levels and sizes in Montana
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Montana wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$3,000 to $4,800
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,350 to $6,150
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,700 to $7,500
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,000 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,100 | $3,800 – $5,050 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,000 – $4,800 | $4,350 – $6,150 | $5,700 – $7,500 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,950 – $6,350 | $5,750 – $8,150 | $7,550 – $9,900 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,950 – $9,500 | $8,600 – $12,200 | $11,300 – $14,800 |
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Wood fence in Montana: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Montana?
$3,000 to $7,500 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Montana can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Montana is cheapest for wood fence?
Missoula at about $5,200 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Bozeman at $5,450.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Montana than the US average?
It is 2% cheaper: $5,250 against $5,350 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Montana?
About 43% ($2,250). Materials are 55%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.01x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Montana?
The BLS statewide median is $28.28 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.84 to $32.47.
+Where does Montana rank for wood fence costs?
26th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $5,250 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Montana?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,000 to $4,800 and premium work $5,700 to $7,500. 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 Montana?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Montana metros we cover, Billings has the most comfortable months (9 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 Montana?
$150 to $790, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence by city in Montana
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