Wood fence cost in Utica, NY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,050 – $7,650
- Per linear ft
- $20 – $50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #98
- 1 = most expensive
Utica homeowners pay roughly $3,050 to $7,650 to install a wood fence at 150 linear ft, or $20 to $50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Utica is almost level. Carpenters earn a median of $28.62 an hour in the Utica area, 2% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Utica, NY, standard level
$4,450 to $6,300
About $29 to $41 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,600 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,600 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $4,450 | $6,300 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Utica, NY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,500 | $3,000 | $4,500 | 56% |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,300 | $3,050 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $3,050 | $5,350 | $7,650 | 100% |
Why Utica prices look the way they do
Labor is 43% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (60%), construction laborers (40%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Utica the blended ratio comes out at 1.01.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Utica 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 (92.7) and land at $35 to $140.
When to schedule wood fence in Utica
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Utica Oneida Co Ap (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Utica (8 of 12 months). January, February, March and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March 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.
Utica gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, August and October (4.7 inches in August). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 5 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 | 30 | 14 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 32 | 15 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 23 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Apr | 55 | 35 | 3.9 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 46 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 55 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 60 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 58 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 51 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 41 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 31 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 35 | 21 | 3.6 | Cold |
Is Utica cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $5,350 to $5,450 across Utica and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utica, NYthis page | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | |
| Syracuse, NY55 miles | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,400 | +1% |
| Albany, NY75 miles | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | +2% |
| Binghamton, NY90 miles | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,450 | +1% |
| Kingston, NY105 miles | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,400 | +1% |
| Pittsfield, MA120 miles | $3,100 – $7,700 | $5,400 | +1% |
| New York (statewide) | $3,450 – $8,550 | $6,000 | +12% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | level |
Across 300 US metros, Utica comes in at #98 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $7,050; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $4,350 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Utica is 11% below the New York figure.
Other New York metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $3,600 – $8,900 | $6,250 | +17% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | +2% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | level |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | +2% |
| Syracuse, NY | 300,130 jobs | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,400 | +1% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $3,350 – $8,400 | $5,850 | +9% |
Cities with a workforce like Utica's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Utica against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $2,950 – $7,350 | $5,150 | −4% |
| Longview, TX | 118,060 jobs | $2,600 – $6,700 | $4,650 | −13% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −8% |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $2,600 – $6,700 | $4,650 | −13% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Utica is 1.01 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $28.62 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.07 and $34.34 an hour. BLS counts 380 of them working in the area, 32.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $23.90 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.66 and $30.48 an hour. About 550 work in the metro. That is 46.5 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 ($34.34 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $270. At the 25th percentile ($24.07) it shrinks by about $210. The total moves by 5.0% or 3.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 118,390 jobs in the Utica-Rome area. That makes it the 185th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $24.07 | $28.62 | $34.34 | $29.12 | 0.98 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $21.66 | $23.90 | $30.48 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Utica
Because every project leans on different trades, Utica's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, chain-link fence runs +1% and aluminum fence level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,550 – $9,150 | level |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,550 – $6,250 | +1% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,800 – $11,400 | level |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,500 – $15,100 | level |
Cost by quality level and size in Utica
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Utica 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
$3,050 to $4,900
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,450 to $6,300
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,800 to $7,650
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,050 – $3,300 | $3,000 – $4,200 | $3,900 – $5,150 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,050 – $4,900 | $4,450 – $6,300 | $5,800 – $7,650 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,050 – $6,500 | $5,900 – $8,350 | $7,700 – $10,200 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,050 – $9,700 | $8,800 – $12,400 | $11,500 – $15,200 |
Wood fence: what moves the price in Utica
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.
Extras that change the Utica total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Utica by the average of the local wage index (1.01) and goods index (1.00), a factor of 1.00. 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 – $800 |
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 $4,450 to $6,300 for Utica, NY is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Utica, NY: 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 Utica: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Utica?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,050 to $7,650 in the Utica area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,450 to $6,300. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Utica?
About $20 to $50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Utica or Syracuse?
Syracuse is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $5,400, which is 1% more than Utica ($5,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Utica?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $2,300 out of $5,350. Materials are 56% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Utica?
$4,050 to $10,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Utica?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $140 for fees in the Utica area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Utica expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of New York?
Utica is 11% 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 Utica?
The BLS median is $28.62 an hour in the Utica area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.07 to $34.34.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Utica?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,050 to $4,900 and premium work $5,800 to $7,650. 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 Utica?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. September 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 Utica?
$150 to $800, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Utica
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