Wood fence cost in Hickory, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $2,750 – $7,050
- Per linear ft
- $18 – $46
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #218
- 1 = most expensive
A wood fence in Hickory, NC usually costs $2,750 to $7,050 for 150 linear ft. That works out to about $18 to $46 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $440 less. Carpenters earn a median of $23.20 an hour in the Hickory area, 20% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Hickory, NC, standard level
$4,050 to $5,750
About $26.50 to $37.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $3,500 |
| Labor | $1,650 | $2,200 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $100 |
| Total | $4,050 | $5,750 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Hickory, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,900 | $4,350 | 59% |
| Labor | $1,300 | $1,950 | $2,550 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $130 | 2% |
| Total | $2,750 | $4,900 | $7,050 | 100% |
What is behind the Hickory number
Labor is 39% 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 Hickory the blended ratio comes out at 0.86.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Hickory 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 88.5: $35 to $130.
Hickory 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, Hickory Faa Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Hickory: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Hickory gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.6 inches in August). The station averages about 33 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 | 49 | 30 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 53 | 33 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 61 | 40 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 70 | 48 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 64 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 68 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 67 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 39 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 52 | 33 | 3.9 | Workable |
Extras that change the Hickory total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.91 for Hickory, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.86) and goods price index (0.97). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $140 – $730 |
Pick a size, pick a tier: wood fence pricing in Hickory
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Hickory. 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
$2,750 to $4,500
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,050 to $5,750
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,350 to $7,050
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,850 – $3,000 | $2,700 – $3,900 | $3,600 – $4,750 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $2,750 – $4,500 | $4,050 – $5,750 | $5,350 – $7,050 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,700 – $5,950 | $5,400 – $7,650 | $7,100 – $9,350 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,500 – $8,900 | $8,050 – $11,400 | $10,600 – $14,000 |
Related projects, priced for Hickory
Jobs that often go together with wood fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Hickory wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−6%) and wood deck lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $8,600 | −6% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,450 – $5,600 | −8% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,500 – $10,600 | −8% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,850 – $13,700 | −10% |
Why two Hickory 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.
Hickory against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Hickory. Johnson City is the lowest at about $4,850 (midpoint, 150 linear ft), 60 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | |
| Johnson City, TN60 miles | $2,700 – $6,950 | $4,850 | −2% |
| Charlotte, NC60 miles | $2,850 – $7,150 | $5,000 | +2% |
| Asheville, NC65 miles | $2,850 – $7,250 | $5,050 | +3% |
| Winston, NC65 miles | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | +1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | +1% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Hickory ranks #218 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Hickory is 1% below 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 | +2% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $2,800 – $7,150 | $5,000 | +2% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,850 | −1% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,050 | +2% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | level |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hickory against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $2,400 – $6,300 | $4,350 | −11% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $2,650 – $6,850 | $4,750 | −3% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $3,150 – $7,950 | $5,550 | +13% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $2,750 – $6,950 | $4,850 | −1% |
What local crews earn in Hickory
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 Hickory the blend is 0.86.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $23.20 an hour, 20% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.63 and $27.52 an hour. About 250 work in the metro. That is 16.2 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 $21.42 an hour, which is 5% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.03 and $24.58 an hour. BLS counts 800 of them working in the area, 51.9 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 $120. That is a swing of roughly 2.4% to 4.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has 154,090 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 152nd 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% | $20.63 | $23.20 | $27.52 | $29.12 | 0.80 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $17.03 | $21.42 | $24.58 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
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Multi-page report for Hickory, 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 Hickory: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Hickory?
For 150 linear ft, expect $2,750 to $7,050 in the Hickory area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,050 to $5,750. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Hickory?
About $18 to $46 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $130 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Hickory or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,850, which is 2% less than Hickory ($4,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hickory?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $1,950 out of $4,900. Materials are 59% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Hickory?
$3,700 to $9,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Hickory?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $130 for fees in the Hickory area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hickory expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Hickory is 1% below 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 Hickory?
The BLS median is $23.20 an hour in the Hickory area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.63 to $27.52.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Hickory?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $2,750 to $4,500 and premium work $5,350 to $7,050. Basic means: pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft. Premium means: premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence.
+Is there a bad season to install a wood fence in Hickory?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
+What does "add one gate" add in Hickory?
$140 to $730, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Hickory
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