Wood fence cost in Tennessee
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $2,800 – $7,150
- Per linear ft
- $18.50 – $46.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $5,350
- Metros covered
- 8
Across Tennessee, a wood fence costs about $2,800 to $7,150 for 150 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 7% below the US figure of $5,350. Carpenters earn a median $24.44 an hour in Tennessee (US: $29.12).
Inside Tennessee, the metros we cover range from $4,850 (Johnson City) to $5,100 (Nashville) 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 Tennessee (statewide), standard level
$4,100 to $5,850
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 | $1,750 | $2,250 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $110 |
| Total | $4,100 | $5,850 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Tennessee
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,900 | $4,350 | 58% |
| Labor | $1,350 | $2,000 | $2,650 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $2,800 | $4,950 | $7,150 | 100% |
Tennessee versus the states around it
Tennessee ranks 39 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. Tennessee sits at $4,950. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 170 miles away | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | +1% |
| Alabama | 190 miles away | $2,650 – $6,850 | $4,750 | −4% |
| Georgia | 210 miles away | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −1% |
| Indiana | 300 miles away | $3,050 – $7,600 | $5,300 | +7% |
| Mississippi | 330 miles away | $2,700 – $6,850 | $4,750 | −4% |
Wood fence: what moves the price in Tennessee
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).
Tennessee seasons and wood fence
Season matters for wood fence. For each Tennessee metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Knoxville has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Tennessee at 12 months; Jackson has the shortest at 10 (September through June). Rainfall runs from 44 inches a year in Johnson City to 57 inches in Jackson.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 30 | 91 | 51 | 10: September through June |
| Memphis | 33 | 92 | 55 | 10: September through June |
| Knoxville | 30 | 88 | 52 | 12: all year |
| Chattanooga | 32 | 91 | 55 | 10: September through June |
| Kingsport | 27 | 87 | 45 | 12: all year |
| Clarksville | 28 | 90 | 54 | 10: September through June |
| Jackson | 27 | 91 | 57 | 10: September through June |
| Johnson City | 26 | 86 | 44 | 12: all year |
Which Tennessee city is cheapest for wood fence?
1 of the 8 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $4,950, and the top-to-bottom gap is 6%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | $2,900 – $7,300 | $5,100 | +3% |
| Knoxville, TN | $2,800 – $7,150 | $5,000 | level |
| Memphis, TN | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | level |
| Chattanooga, TN | $2,800 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −1% |
| Kingsport, TN | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −1% |
| Jackson, TN | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,900 | −2% |
| Clarksville, TN | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,850 | −2% |
| Johnson City, TN | $2,700 – $6,950 | $4,850 | −3% |
Quality levels and sizes in Tennessee
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Tennessee wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$2,800 to $4,550
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,100 to $5,850
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,400 to $7,150
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,900 – $3,050 | $2,750 – $3,900 | $3,650 – $4,800 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $2,800 – $4,550 | $4,100 – $5,850 | $5,400 – $7,150 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,750 – $6,000 | $5,450 – $7,750 | $7,150 – $9,450 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,600 – $9,000 | $8,150 – $11,600 | $10,700 – $14,100 |
Related projects, priced for Tennessee
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Tennessee wages and prices. Against national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−5%) and wood deck lowest (−8%), because each job leans on different trades.
| 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 | $3,550 – $10,800 | −6% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,950 – $13,900 | −8% |
Tennessee labor market for wood fence
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 0.89 for Tennessee.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $24.44 an hour, which is 16% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.36 and $28.80 an hour. BLS counts 8,200 of them working in the state, 25.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $21.64 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.11 and $23.78 an hour. About 26,250 work in the state. That is 80.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($28.80 an hour) would add about $200 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.36) would take off about $95. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,278,760 jobs across Tennessee (May 2025), which is 2.1% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $22.36 | $24.44 | $28.80 | $29.12 | 0.84 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $18.11 | $21.64 | $23.78 | $22.66 | 0.95 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
Add-ons priced for Tennessee
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Tennessee by the average of the local wage index (0.89) 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 |
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Wood fence in Tennessee: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Tennessee?
$2,800 to $7,150 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Tennessee can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Tennessee is cheapest for wood fence?
Johnson City at about $4,850 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Nashville at $5,100.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Tennessee than the US average?
It is 7% cheaper: $4,950 against $5,350 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Tennessee?
About 40% ($2,000). Materials are 58%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.89x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Tennessee?
The BLS statewide median is $24.44 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.36 to $28.80.
+Where does Tennessee rank for wood fence costs?
39th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $4,950 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Tennessee?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $2,800 to $4,550 and premium work $5,400 to $7,150. 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 Tennessee?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Tennessee metros we cover, Knoxville has the most comfortable months (12 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 Tennessee?
$140 to $740, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence by city in Tennessee
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