Wood fence cost in Hilton Head, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $2,800 – $7,100
- Per linear ft
- $18.50 – $46.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $5,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #196
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a wood fence in Hilton Head, plan on $2,800 to $7,100 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $18.50 to $46.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 7% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $23.59 an hour in the Hilton Head area, 19% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Hilton Head, SC, standard level
$4,100 to $5,800
About $27 to $38 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $3,450 |
| Labor | $1,700 | $2,250 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $4,100 | $5,800 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Hilton Head, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,900 | $4,350 | 58% |
| Labor | $1,300 | $1,950 | $2,600 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $2,800 | $4,950 | $7,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Hilton Head number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $23.59 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Hilton Head is 0.87 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 40% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Hilton Head metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $2,900, compared with $3,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.0) and land at $40 to $150.
Is Hilton Head cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 150 linear ft range from $4,700 to $5,050 across Hilton Head and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head, SCthis page | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | |
| Savannah, GA30 miles | $2,650 – $6,750 | $4,700 | −5% |
| Charleston, SC65 miles | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | level |
| Augusta, GA100 miles | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,050 | +2% |
| Columbia, SC115 miles | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,850 | −2% |
| Florence, SC135 miles | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | level |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | level |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Hilton Head comes in at #196 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $7,050; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $4,350 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Hilton Head is 0% above the South Carolina figure.
Other South Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | level |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,850 | −2% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | level |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $2,700 – $6,850 | $4,750 | −4% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Hilton Head's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hilton Head against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | level |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 81,840 jobs | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | +1% |
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $2,650 – $6,700 | $4,650 | −6% |
| Johnson City, TN | 81,690 jobs | $2,700 – $6,950 | $4,850 | −3% |
Add-ons priced for Hilton Head
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Hilton Head by the average of the local wage index (0.87) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.92. 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) | $140 – $740 |
Climate in Hilton Head: timing your wood fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Beaufort Mcas (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Hilton Head (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Hilton Head gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (6.5 inches in August). Inside the workable window, May and November are the driest, at 2.5 and 2.5 inches. The station averages about 73 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 | 60 | 40 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 64 | 43 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 49 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 77 | 56 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 64 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 71 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 92 | 75 | 5.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 74 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 86 | 70 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 78 | 59 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 69 | 48 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 63 | 43 | 3.2 | Workable |
Pick a size, pick a tier: wood fence pricing in Hilton Head
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Hilton Head 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
$2,800 to $4,500
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,100 to $5,800
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,400 to $7,100
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,900 – $3,050 | $2,750 – $3,900 | $3,600 – $4,800 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $2,800 – $4,500 | $4,100 – $5,800 | $5,400 – $7,100 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,700 – $6,000 | $5,450 – $7,700 | $7,150 – $9,400 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,550 – $8,950 | $8,100 – $11,500 | $10,700 – $14,100 |
Hilton Head 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 Hilton Head is 0.87 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $23.59 an hour, which is 19% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.25 and $29.40 an hour. BLS counts 440 of them working in the area, 53.7 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 $21.99 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.13 and $25.12 an hour. About 910 work in the metro. That is 111.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.40 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $270. At the 25th percentile ($21.25) it shrinks by about $110. The total moves by 5.4% or 2.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 81,920 jobs in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal area. That makes it the 232nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $21.25 | $23.59 | $29.40 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $18.13 | $21.99 | $25.12 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Wood fence: what moves the price in Hilton Head
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).
What nearby projects cost in Hilton Head
Because every project leans on different trades, Hilton Head's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl fence runs −5% and wood deck −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $8,650 | −5% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,450 – $5,700 | −7% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,500 – $10,600 | −7% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,850 – $13,800 | −9% |
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 $4,100 to $5,800 for Hilton Head, SC is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
The report lays out the wood fence numbers for Hilton Head, SC line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Hilton Head: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Hilton Head?
For 150 linear ft, expect $2,800 to $7,100 in the Hilton Head area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,100 to $5,800. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for wood fence in Hilton Head?
About $18.50 to $46.50 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 Hilton Head or Savannah?
Savannah is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,700, which is 5% less than Hilton Head ($4,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hilton Head?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $1,950 out of $4,950. Materials are 58% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Hilton Head?
$3,700 to $9,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Hilton Head?
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 Hilton Head area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hilton Head expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Hilton Head is 0% above the South Carolina statewide estimate ($4,950 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Hilton Head?
The BLS median is $23.59 an hour in the Hilton Head area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.25 to $29.40.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Hilton Head?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $2,800 to $4,500 and premium work $5,400 to $7,100. 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 Hilton Head?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. May 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 Hilton Head?
$140 to $740, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Hilton Head
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