Say farewell to stubborn fence posts
Maybe your old fence is beyond repair, or it's time for a new look for your yard. As challenging as building a fence is, deconstructing one can be equally daunting. Use this guide on how to remove fence posts so you can get the task done as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Removing fence posts is a very particular project that makes sense in several situations. If you have old fence posts that have seen better days, they are rotting or otherwise damaged, removing them and starting fresh with new ones may be the best option. Another reason you may want to remove old fence posts is if you want to relocate your existing fence or remove it altogether.
Before removing fence posts, it’s important to consider a few safety precautions. There could be flying debris during this process, so wear safety goggles to protect your eyes. Additionally, wearing gloves, protective clothing, and boots is recommended to keep the rest of yourself safe.
Also, take some time to assess the current condition of your fence posts. Posts embedded in just soil will be easier to remove than fence posts embedded in concrete or foam. Choose a method that uses mechanical equipment to remove fence posts in concrete. If your fence posts are rotting, they may snap or break during removal. Consider cutting rotting posts off at ground level with a reciprocating saw and burying the remainder in the ground.
Fence post removal can be challenging, especially if they’ve been in the ground for a long time. However, with one of the techniques described below and a little bit of elbow grease, you’ll be well on your way to getting rid of your old fence. Here are three methods for how to pull fence posts.
Mechanical equipment such as a jack makes removing fence posts much easier. You will need a jack, also called a farm jack or fence post puller, to use this post removal method. Use these steps as follows.
Loosen the soil around the post: Start by digging out about 1 foot of soil around the fence post. Loosen up the remaining soil with a digging bar or another pointed tool. Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from any flying debris.
Place a support block for the jack: To use the jack, there must be a steady support foundation beneath it. Grab a concrete block at least 4 inches thick that the jack can rest on and place it next to the post but leave some space for the removal.
Set up the jack and chain: First, wrap a chain around the fence post at least a few times; the lower on the post, the better. Place the jack on the concrete support block and loop the chain onto the jack’s runner.
Pull the fence post with the jack: Put on a pair of working gloves to protect your hands while using the jack. With the chain looped around the jack, push down on the jack’s lever to pull the fence post up and out of the ground.
If your fence posts have some give when you try to move them, you can use a simple fulcrum and lever mechanism for removal. Create a fulcrum and lever by following these steps:
Dig around the fence post: Similar to the jack and chain method, start by digging out a 1-foot-deep trench around the post. Be sure to wear safety goggles since you could accidentally chip away any concrete or stones.
Loosen up the post with water and force: To make the post removal process a bit easier, you can pour water at the base of the post and allow it to infiltrate the soil and the post itself. Additionally, push the post back and forth with your weight. Wiggle it around in all directions.
Attach the stem to the fence post: The lever will press against a stem that sticks out from the fence post to lift it up and out of the ground. You can either attach a scrap piece of wood, such as a two-by-four, to the base of the fence post or drive in a sturdy nail. Alternatively, you can attach a nail on each side of the base of the post and thread a rope around the nails that will eventually attach to the lever.
Set up the fulcrum and lever: A fulcrum and lever are like a seesaw you would see at a playground. The fulcrum is centered underneath the lever, so when you apply force to one end of the lever the other end shoots up with the same force. Use a long two-by-four or two-by-six board for the lever and a four-by-four lumber post or a few concrete blocks for the fulcrum.
Use the lever to remove the fence post: Position the lever beneath the stem previously attached to the fence post. If you opted to thread rope around the post, place the lever in the downward position next to the base of the fence post, drive in a couple of nails, and attach the other end of the rope to the lever. With everything in place, step on the raised end of the lever to apply force; the force will work in the upward direction on the fence post.
When in doubt, dig it out. If the previous methods do not seem fit for your fence post removal project, get out your shovel and start digging. You will need lots of patience when digging out fence posts by hand, especially if you have a lot of posts to remove.
Use a post-hole digger in addition to a pointed shovel. If your fence post is set in concrete, you may need to use a pickaxe to help break it up. Take breaks, wear gloves, and work alongside a partner to avoid fatigue.
Once you’ve finished removing old fence posts—and any bits of other fence material still hanging on—learn about how to get rid of it properly. While you might be tempted to drop it into your usual trash bin and call it a day, most local trash removal programs won’t accept such yard waste as it is considered construction and demolition waste and can pose a hazard to those collecting it.
Instead, you have two options for removal: Either hire a local junk removal service to pick it up and drop it off at the correct facility for you, or rent a dumpster to do it yourself. Which option you choose will depend more on your needs than cost, because the prices for both don’t vary that much. Choose a junk removal service if you need to clear your space and get rid of fence posts ASAP. And opt for a dumpster if you need a more flexible timeline.
The cost to hire a junk removal service ranges from $60 to $600 depending on what and how much you need to throw out. Dumpster rental prices range from $290 and $480 and vary by dumpster size and length of rental.
Removing fence posts requires force, which can be the source of an accident if safety precautions aren’t taken. Use these safety tips to ensure your fence post removal project is successful.
Wear safety gear: Wear safety goggles when swinging tools or pressing levers to protect your eyes from flying debris. For this type of project, wear protective clothing and covered shoes or boots to avoid any cuts or bruises. Lastly, wearing gloves is a good idea—nobody wants to deal with blisters.
Use the proper tools: Cutting corners and trying to use the wrong tools for the job can be a costly mistake. Use the proper tools for each task as outlined in this guide and make sure each tool is in good working order.
Be patient: When working in a hurry, it's easy to make careless mistakes that could be dangerous. Take your time with each step of the plan and be sure to take breaks as needed to rest and rehydrate.
You can certainly DIY removing fence posts if you’ve got the time, patience, and a partner to work with. Once you have your fence-post-removal process down, you can rinse and repeat toward substantial progress. Especially if you only have a few fence posts to remove, DIYing this project may be worth your time.
If you need to remove dozens of fence posts or simply do not have the time, hiring a local fence company for the task is a great option. You could also hire a demolition company or a handyperson to take on the task. Fence installation labor costs about $50 per hour—you can expect a similar cost for fence post removal due to the intricacies of the work.
Audrey Bruno contributed to this article.
Removing a fence can be rather difficult. The fence posts are likely buried deep in the ground and may even be set in concrete. After removing the fence pickets and rails, allocate plenty of time for removing the fence posts. Depending on the condition and size of a fence, removing one could take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Yes, you can use a floor jack to remove fence posts. Attach a stem to the base of the fence post so you can position the floor jack underneath. The stem can be a scrap piece of wood attached with nails or a sturdy nail itself. Put the jack beneath the stem and push the lever to lift up on the fence post and remove it from the ground.
To replace old wooden fence posts, you will need to completely remove the old ones from the ground first. You can either use a jack and chain or a fulcrum and lever to remove them. Alternatively, you can simply dig the old fence posts out of the ground. With the old fence posts completely removed, place the new fence posts in the holes, level them, and pour new concrete to secure the new fence post in place. Attach the existing fence rails to the new fence post.
