The average U.S. homeowner spends $6,500 on a cedar fence, but the cost ranges from $3,700 to $9,300, depending on the size, style, and more.
A cedar fence costs an average of $6,500 to install, though homeowners pay between $3,700 and $9,300 for a typical 200-linear-foot cedar fence. Prices depend on the size of the fence, labor, style, and project scope. Cedar fences can add dimension to yards, boost curb appeal, and create a natural-looking aesthetic. Use this guide to help budget for installing a cedar fence.
While fence installation may seem like a weekend DIY project, it requires careful preparation and planning. We recommend contacting a pro to ensure the job is done to your specifications and with the best materials.
While brainstorming different cedar fence ideas, you’ll come across several styles—each with its own average price range. From the different styles, you have single boards, picket fences, privacy fences, and split-rail. Here’s how each differs in material costs.
| Cedar fence style | Material cost (per linear foot) |
|---|---|
| Single Boards | $8.50–$9.25 |
| Split-Rail | $8.50–$13.50 |
| Picket | $9–$16.25 |
| Privacy | $10–$16.50 |
If you choose to purchase individual cedar boards, you’ll typically spend less per linear foot—somewhere between $8.50 and $9.25 per linear foot—than you would if you were to purchase a panel.
Keep in mind that you may need to pay more in labor fees if your installer charges by the hour. This is because individual boards are usually only half a foot wide, making them take longer to install than panels, which come ready-made in sizes ranging from six to eight feet wide on average.
Cedar split-rail fences cost between $8.50 and $13.50 per linear foot. If you’re looking for the perfect cedar fence for your ranch-style home, split-rail fences offer a rustic look with a budget-friendly price tag. The long rails connect to posts, giving you the ability to really customize the height of the rails. Because they’re installed horizontally, most homeowners use only three rails between each post, helping to save on fencing costs.
The average cost of a cedar picket fence is between $9 and $16.25 per linear foot. If you're looking for the quintessential American dream, then a picket fence will do the job. These fences are usually up to three or four feet tall, with ample space between the boards for a charming aesthetic. Because picket fences require less materials than privacy fences, you’ll spend less on your project.
Most cedar privacy fences range from $10 to $16.50 per linear foot for materials depending on the height. Four-foot-tall fences fall at the lower end of the price range, while eight-foot-tall fences come in toward the higher end.
Privacy fences offer minimal visibility, with boards closely spaced, and they’re often already stained and ready to go, making them easy to install. Even though material costs tend to run higher than other styles, you might spend less on labor costs for this reason.
The average material cost of a cedar fence is between $8.50 and $16.50 per linear foot. Labor adds another $10 to $30 per linear foot, meaning you’ll spend somewhere between $18.50 and $46.50 per linear foot in all. A typical residential backyard requires around 200 linear feet of cedar fencing, putting total costs between $3,700 and $9,300 or $6,500 on average.
Fence lengths range from 100 linear feet to upwards of 600 linear feet, making it important to know how long of a fence you want for your property. Below is a breakdown of different price ranges by the lot size.
| Fence Size Linear Feet | Average Fence Cost |
|---|---|
| 100 | $1,850–$4,700 |
| 220 | $4,100–$10,200 |
| 250 | $4,600–$11,600 |
| 420 | $7,800–$19,500 |
| 590 | $10,900–$27,400 |
Labor is another component of budgeting for wood fence installation costs. You’ll spend between $10 to $30 per linear foot in labor costs when you hire a local wood fence installer. Labor rates can greatly vary depending on your location and the scope of your project, making it important to shop around. Some professional contractors choose to charge by the hour. Anticipate paying between $25 and $60 per hour in such cases.
Pros may also offer any of the following services on top of your fence installation:
Fence painting: $750 to $4,250
Pressure washing: $100 to $350
Gate installation: $900 to $3,800
Other parts of your project, including prep work, demolition, and permits, can impact the cost. Let’s discuss these additional costs so that you’re prepared for anything that may come your way.
Land that isn’t prepared for a fence can require preparations to make it ready for installation. If you have obstacles in the way or very uneven land, investing in these extra expenses could be necessary:
Land clearing: $1,400 to $6,200
Tree removal: $200 to $2,000
Boulder removal: $650 to $1,200
Yard leveling: $1,000 to $3,300
If you have an existing fence, then you’ll need to remove it before you can install the new one. The cost to remove an old fence falls between $3 to $7 per linear foot, or around $600 to $1,400 for a standard 200-linear-foot fence. Check with your pro to see if fence removal costs are included in your estimate before you decide to work with them.
Most permits cost between $100 and $500, but prices can vary by location. Local laws dictate whether or not you need a permit for your fence. Most places won’t require a permit for backyard fences six feet and under. You may need a permit for shorter front yard fences, so check with your building department to ensure you’re within code.
Building a fence yourself is an intermediate project that can save you anywhere from $10 to $30 per linear foot in labor costs. This project requires precise measurements, strategic planning, and an armful of supplies—prior experience with building fences can make a big difference in how smoothly the project goes.
While you might save money upfront by doing it yourself, you also risk improperly installing the fence, which can cause structural problems later on that shorten the lifespan of your fence. Not to mention, this installation is a very labor-intensive one that requires at least one helping hand and a lot of arm power. Hiring a professional fence installer is by far the easiest and most efficient way to install a fence correctly the first time around.
The average cost to repair a fence is $600, but you could spend anywhere from $300 and $950 for most repairs. If your project exceeds more than 50% of the cost of simply replacing it, you’re better off replacing the fence entirely. It makes sense to repair a fence if the overall condition of the cedar fence is good but some boards need replacing.
Planning a cost-effective cedar fence installation can help anyone on a tight budget. Cedarwood already has a lower price tag than the cost of redwood fences, but there are still steps you can take to get that perfect natural wood fence without splurging. Here are a few tips on ways you can save:
Remove old fencing yourself.
Clear obstacles like boulders and any landscaping equipment.
If you need to hire a tree removal company to clear trees, trim them yourself first to shorten how long it takes your pro to handle the job.
Choose a picket or split-rail fence to save on material costs.
Avoid single boards and opt for a panel if you’re hiring a pro.
Stain or paint the wood yourself. Generally, you won’t need to learn how to paint wood paneling for cedar, as it’s usually stained.
Reduce the height of your fencing material.
Lower the perimeter and enclose less of your property.
Installing a cedar fence can increase a home's value by boosting curb appeal, providing better privacy, and making a yard more attractive. Since cedar is a low-maintenance material, homeowners may be drawn in by the installation. However, a cedar fence alone doesn’t guarantee a higher home value. Check with a real estate agent in your area to see which exterior home improvement projects offer the best ROI.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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When looking at natural wood fences, you have several options other than cedar, namely: pine and redwood. Compared to cedar, redwood fencing has a deeper, red-brown color, better durability, and a higher price tag. Pine, on the other hand, is one of the most affordable types of wood for fences, but it requires the most maintenance out of the three and has the shortest lifespan.
Installing a cedar fence includes the use of wood beams, boards, or pickets depending on the design, and posts to secure them in place. You might also want to use concrete to better secure the fence. Add-ons for a cedar fence include staining the wood and gate installations. If you’ve never had a fence on your property, be prepared to invest in land clearing costs.
A cedar fence can take anywhere from two to four days on average to complete. However, just how long it takes to install your fence will depend on the project scope. For example, if you have a lot of preparation work to complete beforehand, it can delay the process. Likewise, a longer fence, or a fence that doesn’t come premade into panels, can take longer to complete.
