Wood fence cost in York, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,100 – $7,750
- Per linear ft
- $20.50 – $50.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #82
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a wood fence in the York area: $3,100 to $7,750 for 150 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint lands close to the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $29.40 an hour in the York area, 1% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in York, PA, standard level
$4,500 to $6,350
About $29.50 to $41.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,600 |
| Labor | $2,000 | $2,600 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $4,500 | $6,350 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in York, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,500 | $3,000 | $4,550 | 56% |
| Labor | $1,550 | $2,300 | $3,050 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $3,100 | $5,400 | $7,750 | 100% |
What is behind the York number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.40 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for York is 1.02 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 43% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. York is at 100.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,000 nationally becomes $3,000 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 96.0: $40 to $140.
Pick a size, pick a tier: wood fence pricing in York
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to York. 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
$3,100 to $4,950
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,500 to $6,350
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,900 to $7,750
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,050 – $3,350 | $3,000 – $4,250 | $3,950 – $5,200 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,100 – $4,950 | $4,500 – $6,350 | $5,900 – $7,750 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,100 – $6,550 | $5,950 – $8,450 | $7,800 – $10,300 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,150 – $9,800 | $8,900 – $12,600 | $11,700 – $15,400 |
Add-ons priced for York
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.02 for York, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.02) and goods price index (1.01). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $150 – $810 |
Specs and site conditions that change a York bid
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.
Who does the work: York trade wages
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 York the blend is 1.02.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $29.40 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.63 and $38.86 an hour. About 1,190 work in the metro. That is 64.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $23.72 an hour, which is 5% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.34 and $28.97 an hour. BLS counts 1,250 of them working in the area, 68.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $440 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $270. That is a swing of roughly 4.9% to 8.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
York-Hanover has 183,590 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 125th 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% | $23.63 | $29.40 | $38.86 | $29.12 | 1.01 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.34 | $23.72 | $28.97 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Is York cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Baltimore is the priciest of the group at $5,450. Chambersburg is the cheapest at $5,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| York, PAthis page | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,400 | |
| Lancaster, PA25 miles | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −2% |
| Harrisburg, PA35 miles | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −1% |
| Baltimore, MD45 miles | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | +1% |
| Chambersburg, PA55 miles | $2,850 – $7,300 | $5,100 | −6% |
| Reading, PA55 miles | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,250 | −3% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −1% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, York ranks #82 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, York is 1% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $3,100 – $7,750 | $5,450 | level |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $3,100 – $7,800 | $5,450 | level |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,400 | −1% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −1% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,350 | −1% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is York against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tallahassee, FL | 186,160 jobs | $2,650 – $6,850 | $4,750 | −12% |
| Lincoln, NE | 182,620 jobs | $2,800 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −9% |
| Salinas, CA | 186,430 jobs | $3,400 – $8,450 | $5,950 | +10% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $2,850 – $7,250 | $5,050 | −7% |
The best months for wood fence in York
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, York 3 Ssw Pump Stn (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in York are February through December: 11 of 12. Outside them, January has an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January 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.
York gets about 46 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 25 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and September (5.1 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 28 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 | 41 | 21 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 45 | 23 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 55 | 30 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 67 | 40 | 3.6 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 50 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 59 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 63 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 62 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 55 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 68 | 43 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 56 | 33 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 45 | 26 | 3.5 | Workable |
Planning more than one job in York?
Jobs that often go together with wood fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same York wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, chain-link fence comes out highest (+2%) and aluminum fence lowest (+1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,600 – $9,250 | +1% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,550 – $6,300 | +2% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,850 – $11,500 | +1% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,650 – $15,300 | +1% |
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 $4,500 to $6,350 for York, PA is attached.
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Multi-page report for York, PA: 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 York: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in York?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,100 to $7,750 in the York area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,500 to $6,350. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in York?
About $20.50 to $50.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in York or Lancaster?
Lancaster is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $5,300, which is 2% less than York ($5,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in York?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $2,300 out of $5,400. Materials are 56% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in York?
$4,100 to $10,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in York?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $140 for fees in the York area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is York expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
York 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 York?
The BLS median is $29.40 an hour in the York area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.63 to $38.86.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in York?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,100 to $4,950 and premium work $5,900 to $7,750. 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 York?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through December. February 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 York?
$150 to $810, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near York
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