Wood fence cost in Albany, NY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,100 – $7,800
- Per linear ft
- $20.50 – $51
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #72
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a wood fence in the Albany area: $3,100 to $7,800 for 150 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint lands close to the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $29.19 an hour in the Albany area, 0% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Albany, NY, standard level
$4,500 to $6,400
About $29.50 to $42 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,600 |
| Labor | $2,050 | $2,700 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $4,500 | $6,400 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Albany, NY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,500 | $3,000 | $4,500 | 55% |
| Labor | $1,600 | $2,350 | $3,150 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $3,100 | $5,450 | $7,800 | 100% |
Where the Albany 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 $29.19 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Albany is 1.05 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 43% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Albany is at 99.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,000 nationally becomes $3,000 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 99.6: $40 to $150.
How Albany compares
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Albany. Utica is the lowest at about $5,350 (midpoint, 150 linear ft), 75 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, NYthis page | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | |
| Pittsfield, MA45 miles | $3,100 – $7,700 | $5,400 | −1% |
| Kingston, NY60 miles | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,400 | −1% |
| Amherst, MA70 miles | $3,250 – $8,000 | $5,600 | +3% |
| Utica, NY75 miles | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −2% |
| Springfield, MA80 miles | $3,400 – $8,350 | $5,900 | +8% |
| New York (statewide) | $3,450 – $8,550 | $6,000 | +10% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Albany ranks #72 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Albany is 9% below the New York figure.
Elsewhere in New York
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $3,600 – $8,900 | $6,250 | +15% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | level |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −2% |
| Syracuse, NY | 300,130 jobs | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,400 | −1% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $3,350 – $8,400 | $5,850 | +7% |
| Utica, NY | 118,390 jobs | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Albany against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, OK | 458,730 jobs | $2,700 – $6,850 | $4,750 | −13% |
| Honolulu, HI | 446,380 jobs | $4,100 – $9,950 | $7,050 | +29% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $3,250 – $8,200 | $5,700 | +5% |
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $2,700 – $6,850 | $4,750 | −12% |
Who does the work: Albany trade wages
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 Albany the blend is 1.05.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $29.19 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.00 and $36.71 an hour. About 2,000 work in the metro. That is 44.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $25.45 an hour, which is 12% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.03 and $36.39 an hour. BLS counts 2,700 of them working in the area, 60.1 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 $350 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $190. That is a swing of roughly 3.6% to 6.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Albany-Schenectady-Troy has 449,410 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 55th 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% | $25.00 | $29.19 | $36.71 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.03 | $25.45 | $36.39 | $22.66 | 1.12 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
The best months for wood fence in Albany
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Albany 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 Albany are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, 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.
Albany gets about 41 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 59 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and October (4.5 inches in July). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 3.1 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 10 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 | 33 | 16 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 36 | 18 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 45 | 26 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 59 | 37 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 48 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 57 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 62 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 61 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 53 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 41 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 32 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 23 | 3.3 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Albany
Jobs that often go together with wood fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Albany wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, chain-link fence comes out highest (+4%) and wood deck lowest (+1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,600 – $9,250 | +1% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,600 – $6,450 | +4% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,900 – $11,600 | +2% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,600 – $15,300 | +1% |
Cost by quality level and size in Albany
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Albany. 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
$3,100 to $5,000
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,500 to $6,400
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,900 to $7,800
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,100 – $3,350 | $3,050 – $4,300 | $4,000 – $5,250 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,100 – $5,000 | $4,500 – $6,400 | $5,900 – $7,800 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,150 – $6,600 | $6,000 – $8,450 | $7,850 – $10,300 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,200 – $9,900 | $8,950 – $12,700 | $11,700 – $15,400 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Albany 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.
Optional extras in Albany
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.02 for Albany, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.05) and goods price index (1.00). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $150 – $820 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Wood fence in Albany: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Albany?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,100 to $7,800 in the Albany area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,500 to $6,400. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Albany?
About $20.50 to $51 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $150 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Albany or Pittsfield?
Pittsfield is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $5,400, which is 1% less than Albany ($5,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Albany?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $2,350 out of $5,450. Materials are 55% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Albany?
$4,150 to $10,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Albany?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $150 for fees in the Albany area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Albany expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of New York?
Albany is 9% below the New York statewide estimate ($6,000 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in New York; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Albany?
The BLS median is $29.19 an hour in the Albany area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.00 to $36.71.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Albany?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,100 to $5,000 and premium work $5,900 to $7,800. 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 Albany?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March and November 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 Albany?
$150 to $820, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Albany
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