Wood fence cost in Pennsylvania
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $3,050 – $7,650
- Per linear ft
- $20 – $50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $5,350
- Metros covered
- 12
What does it cost to install a wood fence in Pennsylvania? Plan on $3,050 to $7,650 for 150 linear ft. Wages (1.01x the US blend), materials (price index 99.4) and permit costs (97.6) put the state below the national midpoint by 0%.
Inside Pennsylvania, the metros we cover range from $5,100 (Chambersburg) to $5,450 (Pittsburgh) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Pennsylvania (statewide), standard level
$4,400 to $6,250
About $29 to $41 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,600 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,550 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $4,400 | $6,250 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Pennsylvania
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,500 | $3,000 | $4,450 | 56% |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,250 | $3,000 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $3,050 | $5,350 | $7,650 | 100% |
Wood fence: what moves the price in Pennsylvania
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).
Quality levels and sizes in Pennsylvania
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Pennsylvania wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$3,050 to $4,900
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,400 to $6,250
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 | $2,950 – $4,200 | $3,900 – $5,150 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,050 – $4,900 | $4,400 – $6,250 | $5,800 – $7,650 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,050 – $6,500 | $5,850 – $8,300 | $7,700 – $10,100 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,050 – $9,700 | $8,750 – $12,400 | $11,500 – $15,100 |
Which Pennsylvania city is cheapest for wood fence?
6 of the 12 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $5,350, and the top-to-bottom gap is 7%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | +2% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,450 | +2% |
| York, PA | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,400 | +1% |
| Allentown, PA | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,400 | +1% |
| Scranton, PA | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,350 | +1% |
| State College, PA | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,350 | +1% |
| Harrisburg, PA | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | level |
| Lancaster, PA | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −1% |
| Reading, PA | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,250 | −1% |
| Erie, PA | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,250 | −1% |
| Altoona, PA | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,250 | −2% |
| Chambersburg, PA | $2,850 – $7,300 | $5,100 | −5% |
When Pennsylvania weather lets you install
Season matters for wood fence. For each Pennsylvania metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Philadelphia has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Pennsylvania at 11 months (February through December); Erie has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 39 inches a year in Scranton to 47 inches in Allentown.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 27 | 88 | 45 | 11: February through December |
| Pittsburgh | 22 | 83 | 41 | 9: March through November |
| Allentown | 22 | 86 | 47 | 9: March through November |
| Harrisburg | 22 | 85 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Scranton | 20 | 85 | 39 | 9: March through November |
| Lancaster | 22 | 87 | 44 | 9: March through November |
| York | 21 | 88 | 46 | 11: February through December |
| Reading | 23 | 87 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Erie | 21 | 81 | 43 | 8: April through November |
| State College | 21 | 81 | 42 | 9: March through November |
| Chambersburg | 23 | 85 | 44 | 9: March through November |
| Altoona | 19 | 81 | 45 | 9: March through November |
Wages behind the Pennsylvania 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 1.01 for Pennsylvania.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $28.54 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.01 and $35.92 an hour. BLS counts 30,630 of them working in the state, 50.5 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 $23.75 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.69 and $29.72 an hour. About 35,920 work in the state. That is 59.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($35.92 an hour) would add about $340 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.01) would take off about $260. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 6,064,600 jobs across Pennsylvania (May 2025), which is 3.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $23.01 | $28.54 | $35.92 | $29.12 | 0.98 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $21.69 | $23.75 | $29.72 | $22.66 | 1.05 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
If you are planning more than one job in Pennsylvania
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Pennsylvania wages and prices. Against national midpoints, chain-link fence comes out highest (+1%) and wood deck lowest (−1%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,550 – $9,150 | level |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,550 – $6,200 | +1% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,800 – $11,400 | level |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,500 – $15,100 | −1% |
Add-ons priced for Pennsylvania
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Pennsylvania by the average of the local wage index (1.01) and goods index (0.99), 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 |
Pennsylvania versus the states around it
Pennsylvania ranks 19 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. Pennsylvania sits at $5,350. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 70 miles away | $3,100 – $7,850 | $5,500 | +3% |
| Delaware | 100 miles away | $2,950 – $7,400 | $5,150 | −3% |
| New Jersey | 100 miles away | $3,400 – $8,500 | $5,950 | +12% |
| District of Columbia | 110 miles away | $3,200 – $8,050 | $5,650 | +5% |
| New York | 140 miles away | $3,450 – $8,550 | $6,000 | +12% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Wood fence in Pennsylvania: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Pennsylvania?
$3,050 to $7,650 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Pennsylvania can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Pennsylvania is cheapest for wood fence?
Chambersburg at about $5,100 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Pittsburgh at $5,450.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Pennsylvania than the US average?
It is 0% cheaper: $5,350 against $5,350 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Pennsylvania?
About 42% ($2,250). Materials are 56%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.01x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Pennsylvania?
The BLS statewide median is $28.54 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.01 to $35.92.
+Where does Pennsylvania rank for wood fence costs?
19th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $5,350 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Pennsylvania?
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.
+Does the season matter for wood fence in Pennsylvania?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Pennsylvania metros we cover, Philadelphia has the most comfortable months (11 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 Pennsylvania?
$150 to $800, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence by city in Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA$5,450 midpoint
- Philadelphia, PA$5,450 midpoint
- York, PA$5,400 midpoint
- Allentown, PA$5,400 midpoint
- Scranton, PA$5,350 midpoint
- State College, PA$5,350 midpoint
- Harrisburg, PA$5,350 midpoint
- Lancaster, PA$5,300 midpoint
- Reading, PA$5,250 midpoint
- Erie, PA$5,250 midpoint
- Altoona, PA$5,250 midpoint
- Chambersburg, PA$5,100 midpoint
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