Wood fence cost in New York
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $3,450 – $8,550
- Per linear ft
- $22.50 – $56
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $5,350
- Metros covered
- 9
Across New York, a wood fence costs about $3,450 to $8,550 for 150 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 12% above the US figure of $5,350. Carpenters earn a median $34.77 an hour in New York (US: $29.12).
Inside New York, the metros we cover range from $5,350 (Rochester) to $6,250 (New York) 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 New York (statewide), standard level
$5,000 to $7,000
About $32.50 to $46 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,550 | $3,850 |
| Labor | $2,300 | $3,050 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $130 |
| Total | $5,000 | $7,000 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in New York
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $3,200 | $4,850 | 54% |
| Labor | $1,800 | $2,700 | $3,550 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $100 | $160 | 2% |
| Total | $3,450 | $6,000 | $8,550 | 100% |
Weather windows across New York
Season matters for wood fence. For each New York metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
New York has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in New York at 9 months (March through November); Binghamton has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 35 inches a year in Rochester to 51 inches in Kingston.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 28 | 85 | 50 | 9: March through November |
| Buffalo | 19 | 80 | 41 | 8: April through November |
| Rochester | 19 | 83 | 35 | 8: April through November |
| Albany | 16 | 84 | 41 | 9: March through November |
| Syracuse | 17 | 82 | 40 | 8: April through November |
| Poughkeepsie | 19 | 83 | 47 | 9: March through November |
| Utica | 14 | 81 | 44 | 8: April through November |
| Binghamton | 16 | 78 | 42 | 8: April through November |
| Kingston | 11 | 86 | 51 | 9: March through November |
What carpenters and the other trades earn in New York
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 1.19 for New York.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $34.77 an hour, which is 19% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.56 and $43.18 an hour. BLS counts 40,630 of them working in the state, 41.9 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 $26.89 an hour, 19% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.13 and $38.18 an hour. About 52,090 work in the state. That is 53.8 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 ($43.18 an hour) would add about $390 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($27.56) would take off about $330. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 9,688,000 jobs across New York (May 2025), which is 6.2% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $27.56 | $34.77 | $43.18 | $29.12 | 1.19 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $21.13 | $26.89 | $38.18 | $22.66 | 1.19 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.19 | |||||
Which New York city is cheapest for wood fence?
1 of the 9 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $6,000, and the top-to-bottom gap is 17%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $3,600 – $8,900 | $6,250 | +4% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | $3,350 – $8,400 | $5,850 | −2% |
| Buffalo, NY | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | −9% |
| Albany, NY | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | −9% |
| Binghamton, NY | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,450 | −9% |
| Syracuse, NY | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,400 | −10% |
| Kingston, NY | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,400 | −10% |
| Utica, NY | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −11% |
| Rochester, NY | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −11% |
New York against its neighbors
New York ranks 5 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. New York sits at $6,000. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 80 miles away | $3,200 – $7,900 | $5,550 | −7% |
| New Jersey | 100 miles away | $3,400 – $8,500 | $5,950 | −1% |
| Pennsylvania | 140 miles away | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −11% |
| Delaware | 150 miles away | $2,950 – $7,400 | $5,150 | −14% |
| Rhode Island | 160 miles away | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,450 | −9% |
Quality levels and sizes in New York
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide New York wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$3,450 to $5,500
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$5,000 to $7,000
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$6,500 to $8,550
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,300 – $3,700 | $3,350 – $4,750 | $4,400 – $5,750 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,450 – $5,500 | $5,000 – $7,000 | $6,500 – $8,550 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,550 – $7,300 | $6,600 – $9,300 | $8,650 – $11,400 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,850 – $10,900 | $9,850 – $13,900 | $12,900 – $17,000 |
Wood fence: what moves the price in New York
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).
If you are planning more than one job in New York
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide New York wages and prices. Against national midpoints, chain-link fence comes out highest (+14%) and vinyl fence lowest (+10%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,950 – $10,100 | +10% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,700 – $7,050 | +14% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,250 – $12,700 | +11% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,500 – $17,000 | +12% |
Add-ons priced for New York
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to New York by the average of the local wage index (1.19) and goods index (1.07), a factor of 1.13. 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 |
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Wood fence in New York: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in New York?
$3,450 to $8,550 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside New York can sit above or below that.
+Which city in New York is cheapest for wood fence?
Rochester at about $5,350 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is New York at $6,250.
+Is wood fence cheaper in New York than the US average?
It is 12% more expensive: $6,000 against $5,350 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in New York?
About 45% ($2,700). Materials are 54%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.19x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in New York?
The BLS statewide median is $34.77 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.56 to $43.18.
+Where does New York rank for wood fence costs?
5th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $6,000 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in New York?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,450 to $5,500 and premium work $6,500 to $8,550. 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 New York?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the New York metros we cover, New York 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 New York?
$170 to $910, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence by city in New York
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