Installing an invisible fence costs between $1,000 and $3,400, but most homeowners pay around $1,325 on the project.
Installing an invisible electric fence can be an effective way to keep your dog in your yard without needing to keep them on a tight leash—literally. The average invisible fence costs around $1,325, or between $3 to $9 per linear foot. You can expect to budget between $1,000 and $3,400—the price you pay will depend mostly on the length, size, and type of fence.
Some people believe invisible fences aren’t safe for dogs. If you want to consider an invisible fence, you should talk to your veterinarian about your specific pup. Additionally, some states and counties may not allow this type of fencing to be installed, so always check local ordinances.
Amelia Weiber, PDT-KA, CCBC, fear-free certified, who runs Caring Behavior Animal Behavior Consulting and sits on the advisory board for Daily Paws, noted that “electric fences can result in behavioral side effects and may not be able to keep a dog safely in the yard so they should be avoided as a containment option.”
Invisible fence costs range from about $3 to $9 per linear foot. Invisible fence costs for a half-acre yard average between $1,000 and $1,500, whereas a full acre can run between $1,500 and $2,100 on average.
You’ll likely spend less per foot for enclosures that are rectangular in shape, while any challenges, like rough soil or an irregularly shaped enclosure, will fall on the higher end of the cost range.
| Invisible Fence Length (Linear Feet) | Average Cost, Installed |
|---|---|
| 50 | $150–$450 |
| 100 | $300–$900 |
| 200 | $600–$1,800 |
| 300 | $900–$2,700 |
| 400 | $1,200–$3,600 |
| 500 | $1,500–$4,500 |
| 600 | $1,800–$5,400 |
| 700 | $2,100–$6,300 |
| 800 | $2,400–$7,200 |
| 900 | $2,700–$8,100 |
While there may be many different types of conventional fences, there are three types of invisible electric fences to choose from to keep your furry friend from wandering away. The underground invisible fence involves hooking up to electricity through wires and setting a physical perimeter in the ground. Or you can opt for a wireless option that is either a radio signal or a GPS-based fence that uses satellite location rather than radio signals.
| Type of Invisible Fence | Average Cost, Installed | Fence Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Underground | $900–$3,000 | Best for large properties |
| GPS | $500–$1,500 | Best for on-the-go families |
| Wireless | $100–$500 | Best for smaller yards |
Your standard invisible fence consists of a transmitter, receiver, and wires to hook up to your property's electrical pane and set up the perimeter underground. This type of fence will net you a price of around $1,325 for installation. Pricing for an invisible fence also often includes a collar and a charger for the collar.
These types of fences are perfect for individuals who own their homes and don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. If you have a relatively large property, it’s also best to consider in-ground as wireless may not have the range necessary for your dog to fully enjoy your land. You may also want to consider installing an aboveground electric fence if you have livestock or want to keep animals from entering your property.
A GPS invisible fence relies on satellite data to keep your dog within a set boundary of the home, compared to radio signals to check to see where the dog is in the yard like a traditional invisible fence. These collars may also double as tracking devices if the collar stops producing stimulation and your dog wanders away. The cost to install a GPS invisible fence is around $850 but may range from $500 to $1,500, depending on the brand.
GPS invisible fences are great for those on the move who don’t want the limitations of a wireless or in-ground invisible fence. If you have a property over five acres or someone with an RV exploring the country, you can quickly set new boundaries for a pup.
Wireless invisible fences work similarly to GPS-based invisible fences, in that there’s a set perimeter your dog needs to stay in. These fences use a transmitter that creates a dome play area the dog can play and do business in and relies on radio signals to direct the pooch if they go outside the set area. The cost of wireless invisible fences averages around $300 but will range from $100 to $500 depending on brand and required range.
For those renting or with half an acre or less, you might want to consider a wireless invisible fence. These invisible fences are easy to pick up and install in a new location, as they only require an outlet to work. The range is often limited to, at most, an acre, so it’s not ideal for those with a large lot.
In-ground invisible fences require several hours to complete and require specialized tools for specific brands. Professionals have to dig up the yard's perimeter and run wire throughout. From there, the dug-up area then needs to be filled in.
The labor costs of installing an in-ground invisible fence are around 50% to 75% of the total cost of the project, so make sure you carefully choose who builds your fence. Broadly, the cost goes into two portions of the installation:
Boundary mapping and wire installation: This involves laying the wire underground, which amounts to about $500 to $1,000 of the labor cost.
Transmitter and collar setup: The transmitter powers the invisible fence, and your pet's collar works with it. Setting this up accounts for $100 to $500 of the bill.
On the bright side, these labor costs also often include training sessions with the pooch to get them accustomed to the invisible fence.
For those opting for a wireless or GPS invisible fence, your labor costs will largely come in the form of a flat fee of $100 to $200 for installation.
Factors like the materials and the number of dogs you’ll need to be contained will also affect the price you pay for a new invisible fence.
While it’s a job that involves relatively few materials, the higher the quality of the wire installed, the more expensive the overall materials will be. Installing perimeter flags to alert yourself to where the invisible fence resides may tack on an extra $15 or so if the company does not provide them or you need to replace them.
If your household is home to multiple dogs, you must purchase a few collars for every pup. The cost of each individual collar will range from $100 to $200, depending on the brand. Each animal will likely need training on the invisible fence as well, which will incur extra labor costs if the training isn’t included in the initial quote.
Invisible fences are at the mercy of the power grid. So when a storm blows through town and knocks out the power, your fence could be off for several hours to several days. While your pets will likely stay within the fence's boundaries after training, there is still a chance they can escape.
You’ll want to protect the fence against sudden power outages using a generator, solar charger, or surge protector. These elements will add to the project cost but can keep your beloved animals from running off during a power interruption.
Solar charger cost: $100–$300
Portable generator cost: $500–$2,000
Invisible fence surge protector cost: $15–$45
Invisible fence boundaries are adaptable, so you can choose to route them around your prized veggie garden or beloved rose bushes. But if your landscaping or hardscaping is in the way of your ideal fence boundary, you’ll spend about $4 to $40 per square foot on landscaping costs.
Over time, you may need to replace wires, batteries, or parts of the system. While these aren’t initial costs, they’re worth considering as they’ll add to your overall investment in the long run. Some common repairs include:
| Repair | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Collar battery replacement | $10–$50 |
| Wire repairs | $100–$300 |
| Collar replacement | $100–$200 |
| Transmitter replacement | $150–$400 |
Many wireless and GPS-based options are perfect for DIY invisible dog fence installation. They don’t require any digging and often only require you to plug it in, put on a collar, and at most, download an app onto a smartphone or tablet.
| Pro Invisible Fence Installation | DIY Invisible Fence Installation |
|---|---|
| Average cost: $1,000–$3,400 | Average cost: $300–$450 |
| Install can support multiple pets | Will need to ensure the system can support the number of pets you have |
| Pros can offer appropriate training tips | Can potentially injure pets if not installed correctly |
The cost of installing an invisible fence yourself will run you around $300 to $450 on average (kits are for one pet). If you have multiple pets you plan to put on the invisible fence system, you’re going to need to ensure the system supports it.
Labor makes up the largest portion of the cost to install an invisible fence, totaling up to 75% of the project cost for underground invisible fences or adding about $100 to $200. Installing a fence yourself saves you that additional cost.
However, it can certainly be worth it to hire an invisible fence installer near you. Underground fences require digging up the land around your property and burying the wires, which can be difficult. That’s why it’s important to trust the pros.
Before adding an invisible fence to your yard to contain your pooches, you might need to do a little work to get prepared. Some additional tasks you may need to take on at the same time as your invisible fence installation are:
Tree removal costs: $200–$2,000
Tree stump removal: $175–$550
Sod installation costs: $1,100–$3,000
Lawn seeding costs: $450–$1,800
Pool fence costs: $1,500–$10,000
An invisible fence might not be for everyone. There are many pros and cons to consider before you schedule an installation and pet training session.
| Pros of Invisible Fence | Cons of Invisible Fence |
|---|---|
| Affordable price | Power dependent |
| Easy installation | Not as secure as a traditional fence |
| Aesthetically pleasing | Requires pet training |
| Dogs cannot dig under, unlike traditional fences | Can cause pet discomfort |
| Highly customizable | Has greater potential for pets to escape |
| Ideal for variable yards, including hills | No physical barrier to keep other animals or people out |
Some of the benefits of invisible pet fences are they are lower priced than installing a traditional fence, can be easy to install, and won’t change the look of your property. For this reason, many pet owners install invisible fences only in their front yards where they may not have a fence. Invisible fences are easy to customize if later you decide to expand or change the shape of the pet’s area.
However, invisible fences aren’t perfect. They don’t offer privacy from nosy neighbors—or those with darker motives—like a traditional fence might, and they can fail with no warning during power outages. You must train your pet well to avoid them experiencing discomfort or even pain. Sometimes, even with proper training, headstrong pets will run right through the discomfort and escape the property.
If you’re unsure about installing an invisible electric fence, here’s how the cost stacks up to its alternatives:
| Type of Fence | Average Cost, Installed | Fence Qualities |
|---|---|---|
| Invisible | $1,000–$3,400 | Affordable price but not as secure as other fence options |
| Chain link | $1,300–$3,600 | Low maintenance and quick installation |
| Wood | $1,800–$4,600 | Highly versatile with colors but requires yearly maintenance |
| Vinyl | $2,300–$5,900 | Won’t splinter but can be damaged by severe weather |
| Aluminum | $2,400–$6,500 | Durable and easy to clean but does not offer visual privacy |
One way to save money when installing an invisible fence is by handling the pet training yourself. If you don’t have any experience training an animal, it’s best to have a dog fence installation company near you walk you through what you need to know.
If you want to save money on installation, opting for a wireless setup will cost about $875 less than an in-ground system and is easier to DIY.
Either way, invisible fences can be a budget-friendly option compared to other fence types. Fence installation costs about $1,750 to $4,450 on average for materials like wood, metal, or vinyl.
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An invisible fence does need to form a complete loop to work properly. Allowing gaps in the invisible loop will cause issues with radio signaling and create opportunities and ways for your pet to wander without their collar alerting you or them.
How close a dog can get to the invisible fence will depend solely on your preferences. You can set the dog collar to alert them about 10 feet away, a foot away, or to only alert them when they’ve crossed past the designated play area.
All types of invisible fences work by creating a boundary that your pet can safely play in without leaving the home. When your pet comes close to the boundary, the collar plays a high-pitched tone to alert them that they are close to the area. If your pet continues toward or past the specified boundary, they receive an uncomfortable static correction.
Invisible fences are considered safe for pets when used under the correct conditions. Invisible fences work with a collar to produce low-voltage static corrections to deter them from leaving the specified area. These corrections often feel more like a muscle twitch rather than an electrical shock.
Invisible fences can go anywhere on your property, with one important exception: you can’t install an invisible fence near water, as it poses a safety hazard. Another stipulation to keep in mind—you must also make sure your invisible fence forms a closed loop to work properly.
