Wood fence cost in Memphis, TN
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
- #193
- 1 = most expensive
Memphis homeowners pay roughly $2,800 to $7,100 to install a wood fence at 150 linear ft, or $18.50 to $46.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Memphis is 7% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $24.34 an hour in the Memphis area, 16% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Memphis, TN, 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 | $65 | $110 |
| Total | $4,100 | $5,800 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Memphis, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,900 | $4,350 | 58% |
| Labor | $1,300 | $2,000 | $2,650 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $2,800 | $4,950 | $7,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Memphis number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $24.34 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Memphis is 0.88 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 40% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Memphis metro is 96.2 (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 (92.2) and land at $35 to $140.
Why two Memphis quotes can differ
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).
When to schedule wood fence in Memphis
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Memphis Intl Ap (5 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 Memphis (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Memphis gets about 55 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and December (5.9 inches in April). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.0 and 4.0 inches. The station averages about 72 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 | 51 | 33 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 56 | 37 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 44 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 53 | 5.9 | Workable |
| May | 82 | 62 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 70 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 92 | 74 | 4.8 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 86 | 66 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 75 | 54 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 43 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 36 | 5.5 | Workable |
Add-ons priced for Memphis
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Memphis by the average of the local wage index (0.88) 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 |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Memphis is 0.88 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $24.34 an hour, which is 16% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.58 and $28.26 an hour. BLS counts 1,240 of them working in the area, 20.3 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 $21.54 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.31 and $24.40 an hour. About 3,940 work in the metro. That is 64.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.26 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $180. At the 25th percentile ($22.58) it shrinks by about $80. The total moves by 3.7% or 1.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 611,670 jobs in the Memphis area. That makes it the 46th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.39% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $22.58 | $24.34 | $28.26 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $18.31 | $21.54 | $24.40 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Is Memphis 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 $4,600 to $4,950 across Memphis and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TNthis page | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | |
| Jonesboro, AR65 miles | $2,550 – $6,600 | $4,600 | −7% |
| Jackson, TN75 miles | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,900 | −1% |
| Little Rock, AR145 miles | $2,650 – $6,700 | $4,650 | −6% |
| Decatur, AL160 miles | $2,700 – $6,950 | $4,850 | −3% |
| Clarksville, TN170 miles | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,850 | −2% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $2,800 – $7,150 | $4,950 | level |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,650 | $5,350 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Memphis comes in at #193 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $7,050; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $4,350 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Memphis is 0% below the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $2,900 – $7,300 | $5,100 | +3% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $2,800 – $7,150 | $5,000 | level |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $2,800 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −1% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $2,750 – $7,050 | $4,900 | −1% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,850 | −2% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $2,750 – $7,000 | $4,900 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Memphis's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Memphis against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $2,800 – $7,100 | $4,950 | level |
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $3,200 – $7,900 | $5,550 | +12% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $2,650 – $6,800 | $4,750 | −4% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $2,950 – $7,350 | $5,150 | +3% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: wood fence pricing in Memphis
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Memphis 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 $4,550
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 | $3,650 – $4,800 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $2,800 – $4,550 | $4,100 – $5,800 | $5,400 – $7,100 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $3,700 – $6,000 | $5,450 – $7,700 | $7,150 – $9,450 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $5,550 – $9,000 | $8,100 – $11,500 | $10,700 – $14,100 |
Planning more than one job in Memphis?
Because every project leans on different trades, Memphis's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl fence runs −5% and wood deck −8%.
| 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 | $6,900 – $13,900 | −8% |
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 Memphis, TN is attached.
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Multi-page report for Memphis, TN: 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 Memphis: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Memphis?
For 150 linear ft, expect $2,800 to $7,100 in the Memphis 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 Memphis?
About $18.50 to $46.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $20 to $50.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Memphis or Jonesboro?
Jonesboro is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,600, which is 7% less than Memphis ($4,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Memphis?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $2,000 out of $4,950. Materials are 58% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Memphis?
$3,700 to $9,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood fence need a permit in Memphis?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $140 for fees in the Memphis area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Memphis expensive for wood fence compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Memphis is 0% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($4,950 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Memphis?
The BLS median is $24.34 an hour in the Memphis area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.58 to $28.26.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Memphis?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $2,800 to $4,550 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 Memphis?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. September and October 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 Memphis?
$140 to $740, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence near Memphis
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