Wood fence cost in Rhode Island
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $3,150 – $7,800
- Per linear ft
- $20.50 – $51
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $5,350
- Metros covered
- 1
Rhode Island prices for wood fence: $3,150 to $7,800 for 150 linear ft, or $20.50 to $51 per linear ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 2% above the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $29.25 an hour.
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Rhode Island (statewide), standard level
$4,550 to $6,400
About $29.50 to $42 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,350 | $3,500 |
| Labor | $2,100 | $2,800 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $4,550 | $6,400 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Rhode Island
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,900 | $4,350 | 53% |
| Labor | $1,650 | $2,450 | $3,250 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $3,150 | $5,450 | $7,800 | 100% |
Wood fence: what moves the price in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Rhode Island wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$3,150 to $5,000
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,550 to $6,400
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,950 to $7,800
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,100 – $3,350 | $3,050 – $4,300 | $4,000 – $5,250 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,150 – $5,000 | $4,550 – $6,400 | $5,950 – $7,800 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,150 – $6,650 | $6,000 – $8,500 | $7,850 – $10,300 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,200 – $9,900 | $9,000 – $12,700 | $11,700 – $15,400 |
Rhode Island against its neighbors
Rhode Island ranks 14 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. Rhode Island sits at $5,450. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 50 miles away | $3,450 – $8,450 | $5,950 | +9% |
| Connecticut | 80 miles away | $3,200 – $7,900 | $5,550 | +2% |
| New Hampshire | 90 miles away | $3,050 – $7,700 | $5,350 | −2% |
| New York | 160 miles away | $3,450 – $8,550 | $6,000 | +10% |
| Maine | 170 miles away | $3,000 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −3% |
Rhode Island metro-by-metro prices
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | $3,150 – $7,850 | $5,500 | +1% |
Add-ons priced for Rhode Island
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Rhode Island by the average of the local wage index (1.09) and goods index (0.97), a factor of 1.03. 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 – $820 |
What carpenters and the other trades earn in Rhode Island
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 1.09 for Rhode Island.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $29.25 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.14 and $36.42 an hour. BLS counts 2,580 of them working in the state, 51.5 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 $27.52 an hour, 21% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.51 and $37.25 an hour. About 2,110 work in the state. That is 42.1 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 ($36.42 an hour) would add about $330 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($25.14) would take off about $190. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 501,340 jobs across Rhode Island (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% | $25.14 | $29.25 | $36.42 | $29.12 | 1.00 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.51 | $27.52 | $37.25 | $22.66 | 1.21 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.09 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Rhode Island
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Rhode Island wages and prices. Against national midpoints, chain-link fence comes out highest (+7%) and vinyl fence lowest (level), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,500 – $9,200 | level |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,600 – $6,650 | +7% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,850 – $11,600 | +2% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,600 – $15,200 | level |
Rhode Island seasons and wood fence
Season matters for wood fence. For each Rhode Island metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Providence has 9 comfortable months (March through November), with about 48 inches of precipitation a year.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | 22 | 84 | 48 | 9: March through November |
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Wood fence in Rhode Island: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Rhode Island?
$3,150 to $7,800 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Rhode Island can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Rhode Island is cheapest for wood fence?
Providence at about $5,500 (midpoint, 150 linear ft).
+Is wood fence cheaper in Rhode Island than the US average?
It is 2% more expensive: $5,450 against $5,350 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Rhode Island?
About 45% ($2,450). Materials are 53%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.09x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Rhode Island?
The BLS statewide median is $29.25 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.14 to $36.42.
+Where does Rhode Island rank for wood fence costs?
14th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $5,450 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Rhode Island?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,150 to $5,000 and premium work $5,950 to $7,800. 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 Rhode Island?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Rhode Island metros we cover, Providence has the most comfortable months (9 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 Rhode Island?
$150 to $820, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence by city in Rhode Island
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