Wood fence cost in Portland, OR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,400 – $8,450
- Per linear ft
- $22.50 – $55.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #26
- 1 = most expensive
Portland homeowners pay roughly $3,400 to $8,450 to install a wood fence at 150 linear ft, or $22.50 to $55.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Portland is 11% higher. Carpenters earn a median of $35.44 an hour in the Portland area, 22% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Portland, OR, standard level
$4,900 to $6,950
About $32.50 to $45.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,550 | $3,800 |
| Labor | $2,300 | $3,050 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $4,900 | $6,950 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Portland, OR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $3,150 | $4,750 | 53% |
| Labor | $1,800 | $2,700 | $3,550 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $100 | $160 | 2% |
| Total | $3,400 | $5,950 | $8,450 | 100% |
Where the Portland price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 60%, construction laborers at 40%. Weighted together, Portland wages are 1.19 times the national level. Labor makes up about 45% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Portland metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $3,150, compared with $3,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (105.4) and land at $40 to $160.
Is Portland cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Portland is the priciest of the group. Eugene is the cheapest at $5,550.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ORthis page | $3,400 – $8,450 | $5,950 | |
| Salem, OR50 miles | $3,200 – $8,050 | $5,650 | −5% |
| Olympia, WA95 miles | $3,250 – $8,100 | $5,650 | −4% |
| Yakima, WA100 miles | $3,200 – $8,000 | $5,600 | −6% |
| Eugene, OR115 miles | $3,150 – $7,950 | $5,550 | −6% |
| Bend, OR125 miles | $3,200 – $8,050 | $5,650 | −5% |
| Oregon (statewide) | $3,200 – $8,050 | $5,650 | −5% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −10% |
Across 300 US metros, Portland comes in at #26 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $7,050; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $4,350 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Portland is 5% above the Oregon figure.
Other Oregon metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $3,200 – $8,050 | $5,650 | −5% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $3,150 – $7,950 | $5,550 | −6% |
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $3,200 – $8,050 | $5,650 | −5% |
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $3,100 – $7,850 | $5,500 | −8% |
Cities with a workforce like Portland's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Portland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,850 | −18% |
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $3,050 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −11% |
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $3,400 – $8,400 | $5,900 | −1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $3,700 – $9,000 | $6,350 | +7% |
Extras that change the Portland total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Portland by the average of the local wage index (1.19) and goods index (1.05), a factor of 1.12. 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) | $170 – $900 |
Why two Portland quotes can differ
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).
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).
Portland: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Portland 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
$3,400 to $5,450
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,900 to $6,950
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$6,450 to $8,450
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,300 – $3,650 | $3,300 – $4,650 | $4,350 – $5,700 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,400 – $5,450 | $4,900 – $6,950 | $6,450 – $8,450 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,550 – $7,200 | $6,550 – $9,200 | $8,550 – $11,200 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,750 – $10,800 | $9,750 – $13,800 | $12,800 – $16,800 |
Related projects, priced for Portland
Because every project leans on different trades, Portland's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, chain-link fence runs +13% and vinyl fence +8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,900 – $9,900 | +8% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,700 – $7,000 | +13% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,200 – $12,600 | +10% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,450 – $16,900 | +12% |
When to schedule wood fence in Portland
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Portland Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Portland: 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.
Portland gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, November and December (5.8 inches in December). The station averages about 15 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 | 48 | 36 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 52 | 37 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 57 | 40 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 62 | 44 | 2.9 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 49 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 54 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 59 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 59 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 54 | 1.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 47 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 54 | 41 | 5.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 36 | 5.8 | Workable |
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 Portland is 1.19 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $35.44 an hour, which is 22% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.53 and $49.78 an hour. BLS counts 9,210 of them working in the area, 76.2 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 $26.08 an hour, 15% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.45 and $31.65 an hour. About 7,950 work in the metro. That is 65.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($49.78 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $660. At the 25th percentile ($28.53) it shrinks by about $320. The total moves by 11.2% or 5.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,208,410 jobs in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro area. That makes it the 25th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.78% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $28.53 | $35.44 | $49.78 | $29.12 | 1.22 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $21.45 | $26.08 | $31.65 | $22.66 | 1.15 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.19 | |||||
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 $4,900 to $6,950 for Portland, OR is attached.
Detailed wood fence report for Portland, OR, $9
Multi-page report for Portland, OR: 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 Portland: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Portland?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,400 to $8,450 in the Portland area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,900 to $6,950. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Portland?
About $22.50 to $55.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $160 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Portland or Salem?
Salem is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $5,650, which is 5% less than Portland ($5,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Portland?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $2,700 out of $5,950. Materials are 53% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Portland?
$4,550 to $11,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Portland?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $160 for fees in the Portland area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Portland expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of Oregon?
Portland is 5% above the Oregon statewide estimate ($5,650 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Oregon; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Portland?
The BLS median is $35.44 an hour in the Portland area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.53 to $49.78.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Portland?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,400 to $5,450 and premium work $6,450 to $8,450. 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 Portland?
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 Portland?
$170 to $900, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Portland
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