Wood fence cost in Missoula, MT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $2,950 – $7,450
- Per linear ft
- $19.50 – $48.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #135
- 1 = most expensive
A wood fence in Missoula, MT usually costs $2,950 to $7,450 for 150 linear ft. That works out to about $19.50 to $48.50 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 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.0).
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Missoula, MT, standard level
$4,300 to $6,100
About $28 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 | $2,500 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $4,300 | $6,100 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Missoula, MT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,900 | $4,300 | 55% |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,250 | $2,950 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $2,950 | $5,200 | $7,450 | 100% |
Why Missoula prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $27.48 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Missoula is 0.99 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 43% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Missoula is at 96.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,000 nationally becomes $2,900 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 96.4: $40 to $140.
Why two Missoula quotes can differ
Composite
A composite wood-look privacy fence is $55-$85 per linear foot installed (HomeGuide).
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.
What local crews earn in Missoula
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 Missoula the blend is 0.99.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $27.48 an hour, 6% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.35 and $30.07 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 59.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $24.00 an hour, which is 6% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.41 and $26.36 an hour. BLS counts 510 of them working in the area, 76.0 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 $120 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $190. That is a swing of roughly 3.7% to 2.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Missoula has 67,070 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 270th 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% | $23.35 | $27.48 | $30.07 | $29.12 | 0.94 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $21.41 | $24.00 | $26.36 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: wood fence pricing in Missoula
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Missoula. 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
$2,950 to $4,750
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,300 to $6,100
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,650 to $7,450
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 – $5,000 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $2,950 – $4,750 | $4,300 – $6,100 | $5,650 – $7,450 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,950 – $6,300 | $5,700 – $8,100 | $7,500 – $9,850 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,900 – $9,400 | $8,550 – $12,100 | $11,200 – $14,700 |
Planning more than one job in Missoula?
Jobs that often go together with wood fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Missoula wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, chain-link fence comes out highest (−1%) and wood deck lowest (−4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,400 – $8,900 | −3% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,500 – $6,100 | −1% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,700 – $11,100 | −3% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,250 – $14,600 | −4% |
Extras that change the Missoula total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.97 for Missoula, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.99) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $150 – $780 |
Missoula 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, Missoula Intl 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 Missoula are March through October: 8 of 12. Outside them, January, February, November and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, November 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.
Missoula gets about 14 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 43 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (2.1 inches in June). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 0.8 and 0.8 inches. The station averages about 27 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 | 32 | 18 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 21 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 27 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 56 | 32 | 1.4 | Workable |
| May | 66 | 40 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 73 | 46 | 2.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 52 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 50 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 42 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 56 | 32 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 40 | 25 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 31 | 18 | 1.1 | Cold |
How Missoula 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 $5,000 to $5,700 across Missoula and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula, MTthis page | $2,950 – $7,450 | $5,200 | |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID120 miles | $2,950 – $7,450 | $5,200 | level |
| Spokane, WA175 miles | $3,200 – $8,000 | $5,600 | +8% |
| Bozeman, MT185 miles | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,450 | +4% |
| Kennewick, WA240 miles | $3,250 – $8,200 | $5,700 | +10% |
| Idaho Falls, ID255 miles | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | −4% |
| Montana (statewide) | $3,000 – $7,500 | $5,250 | +1% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Missoula ranks #135 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Missoula is 1% below the Montana figure.
Elsewhere in Montana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $3,000 – $7,450 | $5,200 | level |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,450 | +4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Missoula against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $2,950 – $7,400 | $5,150 | −1% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $2,800 – $7,150 | $4,950 | −4% |
| Morgantown, WV | 67,370 jobs | $2,800 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −5% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $2,900 – $7,350 | $5,100 | −2% |
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 $4,300 to $6,100 for Missoula, MT is attached.
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Wood fence in Missoula: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Missoula?
For 150 linear ft, expect $2,950 to $7,450 in the Missoula area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,300 to $6,100. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Missoula?
About $19.50 to $48.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Missoula or Coeur d'Alene?
Coeur d'Alene is 120 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $5,200, which is 0% more than Missoula ($5,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Missoula?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $2,250 out of $5,200. Materials are 55% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Missoula?
$3,950 to $9,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Missoula?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $140 for fees in the Missoula area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Missoula expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of Montana?
Missoula is 1% below the Montana statewide estimate ($5,250 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Montana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Missoula?
The BLS median is $27.48 an hour in the Missoula area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.35 to $30.07.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Missoula?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $2,950 to $4,750 and premium work $5,650 to $7,450. 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 Missoula?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through October. July 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 Missoula?
$150 to $780, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Missoula
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