Wood fence cost in Durham, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $2,850 – $7,200
- Per linear ft
- $18.50 – $47
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #169
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a wood fence in the Durham area: $2,850 to $7,200 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 runs 6% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $24.78 an hour in the Durham area, 15% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Durham, NC, standard level
$4,150 to $5,900
About $27 to $38.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $3,500 |
| Labor | $1,750 | $2,300 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $4,150 | $5,900 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Durham, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,900 | $4,350 | 58% |
| Labor | $1,350 | $2,050 | $2,700 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $2,850 | $5,050 | $7,200 | 100% |
Why Durham prices look the way they do
Labor is 41% 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 Durham the blended ratio comes out at 0.91.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Durham is at 96.6 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 97.6: $40 to $150.
Who does the work: Durham 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 Durham the blend is 0.91.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $24.78 an hour, 15% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.40 and $29.03 an hour. About 520 work in the metro. That is 15.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $22.38 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.03 and $25.15 an hour. BLS counts 1,120 of them working in the area, 32.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $200 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $160. That is a swing of roughly 3.1% to 3.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Durham-Chapel Hill has 344,020 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 74th 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% | $21.40 | $24.78 | $29.03 | $29.12 | 0.85 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $19.03 | $22.38 | $25.15 | $22.66 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Durham 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.
How Durham 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 $4,850 to $5,050 across Durham and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NCthis page | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,050 | |
| Burlington, NC15 miles | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −3% |
| Greensboro, NC40 miles | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,850 | −3% |
| Raleigh, NC40 miles | $2,800 – $7,150 | $5,000 | −1% |
| Fayetteville, NC65 miles | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,850 | −3% |
| Winston, NC70 miles | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −2% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | −2% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Durham ranks #169 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Durham is 2% above the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $2,850 – $7,150 | $5,000 | −1% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $2,800 – $7,150 | $5,000 | −1% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,850 | −3% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −2% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | −1% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $2,850 – $7,250 | $5,050 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Durham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $3,350 – $8,250 | $5,800 | +15% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | level |
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $2,650 – $6,700 | $4,650 | −7% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $2,550 – $6,500 | $4,550 | −10% |
Add-ons priced for Durham
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.94 for Durham, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.91) and goods price index (0.97). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $140 – $750 |
The best months for wood fence in Durham
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Raleigh Durham Intl Ap (10 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 Durham are August through June: 11 of 12. Outside them, July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Durham gets about 46 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 5 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (5.2 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 52 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 | 52 | 32 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 56 | 34 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 63 | 40 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 58 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 66 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 5.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 69 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 63 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 73 | 50 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 55 | 34 | 3.4 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Durham
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Durham. 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
$2,850 to $4,600
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,150 to $5,900
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,450 to $7,200
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,900 – $3,100 | $2,800 – $3,950 | $3,700 – $4,850 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $2,850 – $4,600 | $4,150 – $5,900 | $5,450 – $7,200 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,800 – $6,100 | $5,500 – $7,850 | $7,250 – $9,550 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,650 – $9,100 | $8,250 – $11,700 | $10,800 – $14,300 |
Related projects, priced for Durham
Jobs that often go together with wood fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Durham wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−4%) and wood deck lowest (−7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,750 | −4% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,450 – $5,800 | −5% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,550 – $10,700 | −6% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,000 – $14,100 | −7% |
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 $4,150 to $5,900 for Durham, NC is attached.
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Multi-page report for Durham, NC: 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 Durham: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Durham?
For 150 linear ft, expect $2,850 to $7,200 in the Durham area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,150 to $5,900. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Durham?
About $18.50 to $47 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 Durham or Burlington?
Burlington is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,900, which is 3% less than Durham ($5,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Durham?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $2,050 out of $5,050. Materials are 58% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Durham?
$3,800 to $9,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Durham?
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 Durham area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Durham expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Durham is 2% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($4,950 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Durham?
The BLS median is $24.78 an hour in the Durham area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.40 to $29.03.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Durham?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $2,850 to $4,600 and premium work $5,450 to $7,200. 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 Durham?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. February 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 Durham?
$140 to $750, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Durham
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