Wood fence cost in Allentown, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,050 – $7,700
- Per linear ft
- $20 – $50.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #89
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a wood fence in Allentown, plan on $3,050 to $7,700 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $20 to $50.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $28.63 an hour in the Allentown area, 2% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Allentown, PA, standard level
$4,450 to $6,300
About $29 to $41.50 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 | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $4,450 | $6,300 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Allentown, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,500 | $3,000 | $4,550 | 56% |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,250 | $3,000 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $3,050 | $5,400 | $7,700 | 100% |
What is behind the Allentown number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $28.63 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Allentown is 1.01 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 42% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Allentown metro is 100.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $3,000, compared with $3,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (100.0) and land at $40 to $150.
Allentown against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Trenton is the priciest of the group at $5,950. Reading is the cheapest at $5,250.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown, PAthis page | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,400 | |
| Reading, PA40 miles | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,250 | −2% |
| Scranton, PA45 miles | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,350 | level |
| Trenton, NJ50 miles | $3,450 – $8,450 | $5,950 | +10% |
| Philadelphia, PA60 miles | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,450 | +1% |
| Lancaster, PA70 miles | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −2% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −1% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −1% |
Across 300 US metros, Allentown comes in at #89 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $7,050; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $4,350 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Allentown is 1% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,450 | +1% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | +1% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −1% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,350 | level |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −2% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,400 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Allentown's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Allentown against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | −8% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $3,000 – $7,450 | $5,200 | −3% |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | −7% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,850 | −10% |
What nearby projects cost in Allentown
Because every project leans on different trades, Allentown's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, chain-link fence runs +1% and wood deck level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,550 – $9,200 | +1% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,550 – $6,250 | +1% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,850 – $11,500 | +1% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,550 – $15,200 | level |
Climate in Allentown: timing your wood fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Allentown Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Allentown (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February and December the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Allentown gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 33 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (5.3 inches in July). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 18 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 | 38 | 22 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 42 | 23 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 51 | 31 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 40 | 3.7 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 51 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 60 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 65 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 63 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 55 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 54 | 34 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 43 | 27 | 3.9 | Cold |
Allentown: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Allentown 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
$3,050 to $4,900
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,450 to $6,300
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,850 to $7,700
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,050 – $3,300 | $3,000 – $4,250 | $3,950 – $5,200 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,050 – $4,900 | $4,450 – $6,300 | $5,850 – $7,700 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,050 – $6,550 | $5,900 – $8,350 | $7,750 – $10,200 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,100 – $9,750 | $8,850 – $12,500 | $11,600 – $15,300 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Allentown bid
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).
Add-ons priced for Allentown
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Allentown by the average of the local wage index (1.01) and goods index (1.01), a factor of 1.01. 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 – $810 |
Allentown labor market for wood fence
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 Allentown is 1.01 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $28.63 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.31 and $32.64 an hour. BLS counts 1,390 of them working in the area, 36.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $23.70 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.27 and $30.00 an hour. About 1,670 work in the metro. That is 44.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($32.64 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $190. At the 25th percentile ($23.31) it shrinks by about $250. The total moves by 3.5% or 4.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 377,180 jobs in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton area. That makes it the 69th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.24% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $23.31 | $28.63 | $32.64 | $29.12 | 0.98 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.27 | $23.70 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
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Wood fence in Allentown: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Allentown?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,050 to $7,700 in the Allentown area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,450 to $6,300. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Allentown?
About $20 to $50.50 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 Allentown or Reading?
Reading is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $5,250, which is 2% less than Allentown ($5,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Allentown?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $2,250 out of $5,400. Materials are 56% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Allentown?
$4,050 to $10,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Allentown?
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 Allentown area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Allentown expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Allentown is 1% above the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($5,350 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Allentown?
The BLS median is $28.63 an hour in the Allentown area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.31 to $32.64.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Allentown?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,050 to $4,900 and premium work $5,850 to $7,700. 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 Allentown?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March 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 Allentown?
$150 to $810, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Allentown
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