How Much Does a Split Rail Fence Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $2,250 - $5,500
The average cost to install a split rail fence is $3,500, but it may cost between $2,250 and $5,500, depending on fence length, materials, labor, and prep work.
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The average split rail fence cost runs about $3,500, but the price varies wildly depending on the fence's length, material, and your location. You can pay as little as $1,000 if you install a short, wood fence on your property, but if you need a split-rail fence around your entire property made of vinyl or aluminum, you could pay up to $7,500.
- Average
- $3,500
- Low end
- $1,000
- high end
- $7,500
Split Rail Fence Cost Breakdown
When breaking down split rail fence costs, your money mostly goes toward materials and labor, but you might also need to budget for permits and planning.
Fence Length
The length of the fence you want to install will be the largest factor in your overall project cost. The longer the perimeter of the area you wish to fence in, the more materials and installation labor you'll need to pay for.
For particularly large fencing projects, you may see some minimal savings on the material side if you purchase your materials in bulk, but your project total will still be higher overall as a result of the increased labor costs.
Fence Height
The height of your fence will affect your material costs as well. Standard split rail fence posts are 3 or 4 feet tall and only require two horizontal rails. Taller 6-foot posts are best if you plan on using your fence to contain livestock, horses, or large pets. However, these taller posts require three rails, which adds about 25% to your overall material budget.
Number of Rails
The average rail in a split rail fence is 10 feet long, and two, three, or sometimes four horizontal rails are needed per section. Based on that, a 50-foot-long fence with two rails per section will need 10 total rails. Naturally, more rails means more money.
Materials
You can build split rail fences out of various materials. Budget woods like cedar or pine tend to be the most affordable options. Longer-lasting premium materials include vinyl, composite, premium woods like black locust, and metals like aluminum and steel.
The price point for metal fencing can be double that of the most affordable wood. Vinyl and luxury wood species tend to fall somewhere in the middle.
Cost of Planning and Permitting
Before you start your project, a professional fence installer will need to measure the perimeter of the area you want fenced in. If you’re installing a fence yourself, you’ll need to purchase any necessary tools.
You will also need a land survey, which costs between $250 and $1,000 and averages around $525. These prices include pulling property records. You may also need to pay $75 to $100 if your utility company has to mark any buried lines.
Installation
If you choose to have your split rail fence installed by a professional, expect installation labor to make up about 50% of your total project cost. Labor alone costs about $4 to $8 per linear foot of fencing, and you may need to pay more than that for any or all of the following reasons:
The soil on your property is rocky (requiring more labor hours to dig holes).
You're having your fence built on a steep incline.
Your fence requires customization, such as shorter rails or curves around trees.
You have an irregular boundary that requires additional turns or bump outs
Split Rail Fence Cost by Material
Split rail fence prices differ depending on the type of material you choose. Different materials vary in durability and their availability in certain areas. The table below breaks down average per-foot costs for the most commonly used split rail fencing materials.
| Material Type | Average Cost (per Linear Foot) |
|---|---|
| Cedar | $11.50–$18 |
| Pine | $11.50–$18.50 |
| Black locust | $20–$30 |
| Composite | $12–$23 |
| Vinyl | $18.50–$26.50 |
| Steel | $20–$26 |
| Aluminum | $24–$31 |
Wood
Wood split rail fences are an affordable way to fence in a small area like a garden, and they’re an affordable way to add some natural charm to your property. You’ll pay around $800 for labor and materials, plus an extra $500 to $3,000 for the coating of paint or stain that’s necessary to protect natural wood fencing from pests, rot, warping, and natural weathering.
Different types of wood grow naturally in different regions, meaning you may need to have certain types imported to your area. The cost of transportation will inflate the cost you pay for those types of lumber based on where you live. Talk to your contractor or lumber supplier about which wood species are the most affordable near you.
Below are some average split rail fence costs based on the type of wood you want. Keep in mind that these prices don’t include the cost of installation, which shouldn’t vary much based on the type of wood fence you want.
Cedar wood fencing costs: $11.50 to $18 per linear foot
Pine wood fencing costs: $4 to $10 per linear foot
Black locust wood fencing costs: $20 to $40 per linear foot
Composite
Composite fencing costs $12 to $23 per linear foot. Composite material combines recycled wood shavings and other wood processing byproducts with plastic materials. This combination is used to manufacture boards that mimic the look and feel of a natural wood grain but provide better durability. The plastic content helps composite resist rot, pests, fading, and warping.
Vinyl
A split rail vinyl fence costs $18.50 to $26.50 per linear foot. Vinyl consists of smooth plastic molded into panels. It comes in many different colors and is invulnerable to rot, pests, and warping. However, it has a tendency to turn brittle in colder temperatures, so you may not want to install vinyl if you live in a northern state with extreme winters. Vinyl also doesn’t provide the same rustic warmth that a wood split rail fence does.
Metal
Metal split rail fencing is not as popular for large projects as other materials. This is due to its higher per-foot price, which can really add up when it comes to long fences for large yards. However, some homeowners choose metal split rail fencing for its durability and lower maintenance compared to other materials.
Steel fencing costs: $20 to $26 per linear foot
Aluminum fencing costs: $24 to $31 per linear foot
Metal has a more industrial look to it, so it’s not the best option if you want a natural-looking decorative fence around your property.
Additional Costs to Consider
In addition to the usual cost factors, your split rail fence project may involve additional costs like wire mesh or gate installation, fence or tree removal, yard grading, and paint or stains. These factors can all significantly drive up your fence installation costs.
Gates: If you want to add gates to your split rail fence, budget an additional $200 per gate. This is an average price that will vary based on the size of your gate openings.
Wire Mesh: Wire mesh for a split rail fence costs about $1.66 per linear foot. While split rail fencing can contain or keep out large animals, smaller animals like your household pet or coyotes can slip between the spaced-out rails. Adding mesh makes it similar to a hog wire fence with added durability, and the wire gives your yard extra security.
Old Fence Removal: If you're replacing an existing fence, your installer will need to tear down the old fence first at a price of $3 to $5 per linear foot. Tall fences or those anchored in the ground with concrete will be more costly to remove. Dumping fees to get rid of the old material will cost between $100 and $500.
Tree, Bush, or Stump Removal: You'll need to remove any trees, bushes, or stumps that sit in the path of your new split rail fence installation. Removal costs between $385 and $1,070 per plant, or $10 to $14 per foot of plant height. Pricing for this type of work can be hard to predict, so gather multiple quotes from tree removal services near you.
Yard Grading: Grading is the process of excavating and re-sloping land that is too steep or uneven for split-rail fence installation. Depending on the extent of the grading you need, it can add $900 to $3,000 to your budget. Thankfully, you can install split rail fences on slopes more easily than you can other types of fences, so you may not need grading. This means a split rail fence might be the best fence for your property if it’s uneven.
Painting or Staining: Painting or staining a split rail fence costs $500 to $3,000 depending on the size of the fence and the quality of the coating you choose. Wooden split rail fencing needs paint or stain to protect it from pests, rot, warping, and natural weathering.
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Split Rail Fence Yourself?
When you take on the job of DIYing a split rail fence, you’ll save an average of $1,700 on professional installation costs. Your actual savings could be a bit lower if you have to rent machinery or tools to complete the installation, like an auger or post-hole digger. You might also still need to get a professional survey completed to ensure you’re building on the right spot, and that could eat into your savings as well.
Additionally, some professionals include the delivery fees for the fencing materials in their totals, and if you DIY, you’ll need to transport the materials yourself or pay for the delivery. This can cost between $150 and $500, depending on how long your fence needs to be.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Including all tools and materials needed for the job, it costs about $1,600 to DIY an average size split rail fence compared to $3,500 for professional installation.
Split rail fencing installation is simple compared to other fencing types. However, the work is still hard: materials are heavy, and installation requires quite a bit of manual labor. Additionally, you need to take additional time to pull your own permits and take extra care not to install your fence in the wrong spot, as that could warrant removal and reinstallation if a neighbor complains.
If you want to skip the hassle and ensure a quality result, contact a fence company near you. It will cost you more to go with a pro, but you’re guaranteed a high-quality installation that looks like it was done by a professional. Hiring a pro is especially a good idea if you need your fence installed near your property line, around trees or outbuildings, or on uneven terrain.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long a fence lasts, including a split rail fence, will depend on the material from which it’s made. The average life span of a wood fence is about 15 to 20 years. However, split rail fences made out of premium materials, like composite, vinyl, steel, or aluminum, can last for 25 to 30 years or more, especially if you take good care of the material and carry out necessary maintenance.
A split rail fence is not typically considered among types of dog fencing. Many dogs are small enough to slip out between or under rails, and dangerous pests like coyotes can slip in. However, adding wire mesh to a split rail fence can add the security needed for dog safety without compromising the timeless look that makes the split rail style appealing.
Depending on the issue, repairing a fence doesn’t have to be a headache. For example, if a gate latch has rusted, it should only take minutes to remove it and install a new one. On the other hand, if a post has given way and caused part of your fence to fall over, it may require a lot of work to fix the issue. Thankfully, you can usually easily pull the rail on a split rail fence out to carry out repairs, making this one of the easiest types of fences to repair.