Wood fence cost in North Dakota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $2,950 – $7,400
- Per linear ft
- $19.50 – $48.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $5,350
- Metros covered
- 2
North Dakota prices for wood fence: $2,950 to $7,400 for 150 linear ft, or $19.50 to $48.50 per linear ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 3% below the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $27.83 an hour.
Inside North Dakota, the metros we cover range from $5,150 (Bismarck) to $5,200 (Fargo) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in North Dakota (statewide), standard level
$4,300 to $6,050
About $28 to $40 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $3,450 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,500 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $100 |
| Total | $4,300 | $6,050 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in North Dakota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,850 | $4,300 | 55% |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,250 | $2,950 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $130 | 2% |
| Total | $2,950 | $5,200 | $7,400 | 100% |
If you are planning more than one job in North Dakota
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide North Dakota wages and prices. Against national midpoints, chain-link fence comes out highest (−1%) and wood deck lowest (−4%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,850 | −3% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,500 – $6,100 | −1% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,700 – $11,100 | −3% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,250 – $14,600 | −4% |
Quality levels and sizes in North Dakota
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide North Dakota wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$2,950 to $4,750
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,300 to $6,050
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,650 to $7,400
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,000 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,100 | $3,800 – $5,000 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $2,950 – $4,750 | $4,300 – $6,050 | $5,650 – $7,400 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,950 – $6,300 | $5,700 – $8,050 | $7,450 – $9,850 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,900 – $9,400 | $8,500 – $12,000 | $11,200 – $14,700 |
North Dakota seasons and wood fence
Season matters for wood fence. For each North Dakota metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Every North Dakota metro on the list has 7 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 19 inches a year in Bismarck to 24 in Fargo.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | 0 | 82 | 24 | 7: April through October |
| Bismarck | 2 | 85 | 19 | 7: April through October |
Add-ons priced for North Dakota
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to North Dakota by the average of the local wage index (0.99) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.97. 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 – $780 |
North Dakota metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $5,200, and the top-to-bottom gap is 2%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | $3,000 – $7,450 | $5,200 | +1% |
| Bismarck, ND | $2,900 – $7,350 | $5,150 | −1% |
Wood fence: what moves the price in North Dakota
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).
Wages behind the North Dakota number
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 0.99 for North Dakota.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $27.83 an hour, which is 4% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.47 and $30.55 an hour. BLS counts 2,360 of them working in the state, 55.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $23.59 an hour, 4% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.96 and $29.17 an hour. About 5,050 work in the state. That is 117.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($30.55 an hour) would add about $130 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.47) would take off about $200. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 429,430 jobs across North Dakota (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $23.47 | $27.83 | $30.55 | $29.12 | 0.96 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $21.96 | $23.59 | $29.17 | $22.66 | 1.04 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
How North Dakota compares with nearby states
North Dakota ranks 27 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. North Dakota sits at $5,200. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 220 miles away | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,900 | −6% |
| Minnesota | 270 miles away | $3,300 – $8,150 | $5,700 | +10% |
| Nebraska | 410 miles away | $2,800 – $7,050 | $4,950 | −5% |
| Iowa | 450 miles away | $2,900 – $7,300 | $5,100 | −1% |
| Wyoming | 500 miles away | $2,900 – $7,300 | $5,100 | −2% |
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Wood fence in North Dakota: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in North Dakota?
$2,950 to $7,400 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside North Dakota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in North Dakota is cheapest for wood fence?
Bismarck at about $5,150 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Fargo at $5,200.
+Is wood fence cheaper in North Dakota than the US average?
It is 3% cheaper: $5,200 against $5,350 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in North Dakota?
About 43% ($2,250). Materials are 55%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.99x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in North Dakota?
The BLS statewide median is $27.83 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.47 to $30.55.
+Where does North Dakota rank for wood fence costs?
27th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $5,200 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in North Dakota?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $2,950 to $4,750 and premium work $5,650 to $7,400. 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 North Dakota?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the North Dakota metros we cover, Fargo has the most comfortable months (7 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 North Dakota?
$150 to $780, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence by city in North Dakota
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