Wood fence cost in Wisconsin
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $3,100 – $7,650
- Per linear ft
- $20.50 – $50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $5,350
- Metros covered
- 12
What does it cost to install a wood fence in Wisconsin? Plan on $3,100 to $7,650 for 150 linear ft. Wages (1.09x the US blend), materials (price index 94.3) and permit costs (94.1) put the state above the national midpoint by 0%.
Inside Wisconsin, the metros we cover range from $5,000 (Wausau) to $5,750 (Oshkosh) 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 Wisconsin (statewide), standard level
$4,450 to $6,300
About $29 to $41 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $3,400 |
| Labor | $2,100 | $2,750 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $4,450 | $6,300 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Wisconsin
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,400 | $2,850 | $4,250 | 53% |
| Labor | $1,650 | $2,450 | $3,250 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $3,100 | $5,350 | $7,650 | 100% |
Related projects, priced for Wisconsin
Each project weights the trades differently, so Wisconsin's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, chain-link fence is +5% and vinyl fence −2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,400 – $9,000 | −2% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,550 – $6,500 | +5% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,850 – $11,500 | +1% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,500 – $15,000 | −1% |
Why two Wisconsin quotes can differ
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).
Wages behind the Wisconsin number
Wisconsin's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.09 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $29.65 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.92 and $38.13 an hour. About 13,880 work in the state. That is 47.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $26.97 an hour, which is 19% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $34.68 an hour. BLS counts 20,330 of them working in the state, 69.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($38.13 an hour) would add about $390 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.92) would take off about $270. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,941,540 jobs across Wisconsin (May 2025), which is 1.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $23.92 | $29.65 | $38.13 | $29.12 | 1.02 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.14 | $26.97 | $34.68 | $22.66 | 1.19 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.09 | |||||
Weather windows across Wisconsin
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Wisconsin is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Kenosha has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Wisconsin at 9 months (March through November); Wausau has the shortest at 7 (April through October). Rainfall runs from 32 inches a year in Green Bay to 37 inches in La Crosse.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 14 | 83 | 34 | 8: April through November |
| Madison | 12 | 82 | 37 | 8: April through November |
| Green Bay | 11 | 81 | 32 | 7: April through October |
| Appleton | 10 | 82 | 33 | 7: April through October |
| Oshkosh | 10 | 82 | 33 | 7: April through October |
| Eau Claire | 6 | 83 | 33 | 7: April through October |
| La Crosse | 8 | 80 | 37 | 7: April through October |
| Racine | 16 | 81 | 32 | 8: April through November |
| Kenosha | 16 | 84 | 32 | 9: March through November |
| Janesville | 12 | 83 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Wausau | 7 | 80 | 34 | 7: April through October |
| Sheboygan | 15 | 82 | 35 | 8: April through November |
How Wisconsin compares with nearby states
Wisconsin ranks 18 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. Wisconsin sits at $5,350. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 120 miles away | $3,550 – $8,700 | $6,150 | +14% |
| Iowa | 230 miles away | $2,900 – $7,300 | $5,100 | −5% |
| Michigan | 230 miles away | $3,050 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −1% |
| Minnesota | 260 miles away | $3,300 – $8,150 | $5,700 | +6% |
| Indiana | 260 miles away | $3,050 – $7,600 | $5,300 | −1% |
Basic, standard or premium: Wisconsin prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from backyard (100 linear ft) to full lot (300 linear ft).
Basic
$3,100 to $4,900
Pine pickets or split rail, 4 ft
Standard
$4,450 to $6,300
6-ft cedar or treated privacy fence
Premium
$5,800 to $7,650
Premium hardwood or 8-ft privacy fence
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $2,050 – $3,300 | $3,000 – $4,200 | $3,900 – $5,150 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,100 – $4,900 | $4,450 – $6,300 | $5,800 – $7,650 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,100 – $6,500 | $5,900 – $8,350 | $7,750 – $10,100 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $6,150 – $9,750 | $8,850 – $12,400 | $11,500 – $15,200 |
Which Wisconsin city is cheapest for wood fence?
6 of the 12 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $5,350, and the top-to-bottom gap is 15%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh, WI | $3,350 – $8,150 | $5,750 | +7% |
| Janesville, WI | $3,250 – $8,000 | $5,650 | +5% |
| Kenosha, WI | $3,150 – $8,000 | $5,600 | +4% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $3,150 – $7,750 | $5,450 | +1% |
| Appleton, WI | $3,150 – $7,700 | $5,450 | +1% |
| Madison, WI | $3,100 – $7,700 | $5,400 | +1% |
| Sheboygan, WI | $3,100 – $7,650 | $5,400 | level |
| La Crosse, WI | $3,050 – $7,600 | $5,350 | level |
| Eau Claire, WI | $3,050 – $7,600 | $5,350 | −1% |
| Racine, WI | $3,050 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −1% |
| Green Bay, WI | $3,050 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −1% |
| Wausau, WI | $2,850 – $7,200 | $5,000 | −6% |
Add-ons priced for Wisconsin
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.02 for Wisconsin, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.09) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $150 – $810 |
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Wood fence in Wisconsin: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a wood fence in Wisconsin?
$3,100 to $7,650 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Wisconsin can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Wisconsin is cheapest for wood fence?
Wausau at about $5,000 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Oshkosh at $5,750.
+Is wood fence cheaper in Wisconsin than the US average?
It is 0% more expensive: $5,350 against $5,350 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Wisconsin?
About 46% ($2,450). Materials are 53%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.09x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Wisconsin?
The BLS statewide median is $29.65 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.92 to $38.13.
+Where does Wisconsin rank for wood fence costs?
18th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $5,350 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood fence work cost in Wisconsin?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,100 to $4,900 and premium work $5,800 to $7,650. 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 Wisconsin?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Wisconsin metros we cover, Kenosha 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 Wisconsin?
$150 to $810, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood fence by city in Wisconsin
- Oshkosh, WI$5,750 midpoint
- Janesville, WI$5,650 midpoint
- Kenosha, WI$5,600 midpoint
- Milwaukee, WI$5,450 midpoint
- Appleton, WI$5,450 midpoint
- Madison, WI$5,400 midpoint
- Sheboygan, WI$5,400 midpoint
- La Crosse, WI$5,350 midpoint
- Eau Claire, WI$5,350 midpoint
- Racine, WI$5,300 midpoint
- Green Bay, WI$5,300 midpoint
- Wausau, WI$5,000 midpoint
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