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.
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.
The length of the fence you want to install will be the largest factor in your overall project cost. Materials cost between $11.50 and $30, with labor accounting for an additional $4 to $8 per linear foot, making your total cost per linear foot somewhere between $15.50 and $39. 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 Size by Acre | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 1/4 | $3,200–$8,200 |
| 1 | $12,900–$32,600 |
| 10 | $129,000–$325,700 |
The linear feet of split rail fencing you need to enclose one acre of land is 835, meaning you’ll spend anywhere between $12,900 and $32,600—or $22,800 on average—to fence in a square acre of land. Longer fences require more material and labor, bumping prices up accordingly, so plan your expenses by the number of acres you need to enclose.
Split rail fence prices differ depending on the type of material you choose. There are several types of farm fencing materials available—each of which varies in durability and 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–$25 |
| Vinyl | $18.50–$25 |
| Steel | $20–$25 |
| Aluminum | $25–$30 |
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 fencing costs $12 to $25 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 natural wood grain but provide better durability. The plastic content helps composite resist rot, pests, fading, and warping.
A split rail vinyl fence costs $18.50 to $25 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 split rail fencing is not as popular for large projects as other materials due to its higher per-foot price. However, some homeowners choose metal split rail fencing for its durability and lower maintenance compared to other materials.
Steel fencing costs: $20 to $25 per linear foot
Aluminum fencing costs: $25 to $30 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.
The primary contractor for installing a split-rail fence is a fencing pro. Labor adds an extra $4 to $8 per linear foot to your project or around 50% of the total cost. Most contractors charge $50 per hour, and most fences take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours to install, which is approximately $1,200 to $3,600.
Installing a fence on undeveloped land quickly becomes a multifaceted project that requires several types of contractors. Here are a few common pros needed for a split-rail fence installation to help you know exactly who to hire to build a fence.
Hiring a land surveyor is especially important if you’ve recently purchased land, have undeveloped land, or aren’t sure where your boundaries lie. A land survey costs between $800 and $5,500 on average, depending on the scope, accessibility, terrain, and size. Land surveyors help to determine property lines and identify the natural topography of the land, which can help you prepare for any difficulties or additional services you may need to install a fence.
Land surveyors offer several surveying services, including:
Fence land survey: $1,000 to $3,200
Boundary surveys: $1,200 to $5,500
Topographic survey: $2,000 to $6,500
As-built survey: $1,600 to $3,800
You might also want a landscaper to help design and construct your yard. Landscaping costs range from $1,200 to $6,100. This is around $4.50 to $12 per square foot. As with many pros, professional landscapers may prefer to charge by the hour. Rates vary from $50 to $100 per hour.
A landscape designer or architect may charge more, but they can help you design a stunning landscaping project that compliments your split-rail fence. Landscape designers charge between $50 and $150 per hour, while landscape architects charge between $70 and $100 per hour.
Common landscaping services include installing plants, pools, patios, decks, and more. Your local landscaping company might offer other intensive services, like the following:
Hardscape installation: $5,000 to $18,000
Tree trimming: $270 to $1,800
Yard leveling: $1,000 to $3,300
Your location can impact the cost of a split rail fence. Generally speaking, rural areas may cost less per linear foot to install fences than urban areas due to a lower cost of living, but you likely won’t see lower prices as a whole if your rural property requires more materials to fence in the area. Likewise, properties in some regions—like New England—are larger than properties in, say, New York or New Jersey.
We’ve broken down different cost points in cities across the U.S. to help you estimate how cost of living and lot size could affect your split-rail fence cost.
| City | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Austin, Texas | $2,100–$4,700 |
| Boston, Massachussettes | $2,400–$5,700 |
| Chicago, Illinois | $2,100–$4,700 |
| Denver, Colorado | $1,900–$4,300 |
| Miami, Florida | $2,200–$5,100 |
| Minneapolis, Minnesota | $2,200–$4,500 |
| Nashville, Tennessee | $2,200–$4,800 |
| New York City, New York | $2,200–$5,100 |
| Portland, Maine | $3,700–$7,800 |
| San Francisco, California | $2,300–$6,700 |
| Seattle, Washington | $2,300–$5,400 |
| St. Louis, Missouri | $2,900–$6,700 |
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.
The number of rails on your split rail fence impacts the height and cost. Standard fence posts of 3 to 4 feet in height usually use just two horizontal rails, which can save money on material and labor costs. Additional rails increase your total cost by 25% per rail, or $875 per additional rail for an average fence.
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 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.
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.
Most fences don’t require a permit unless they’re taller than six to eight feet, but it’s location-dependent. Check with your local building department to see if you need one to get started. Permits typically cost between $20 and $60 for an average-sized fence.
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.
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.
DIYing a split rail fence costs about $1,600 on average compared to $3,500 for professional installation, so you’ll save an average of $1,700 if you install the fence yourself. Actual savings could be lower if you have to rent machinery or tools like an auger or post-hole digger to complete the installation. You might also need 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. 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.
Split rail fencing installations are simple compared to installing other fencing types. However, it’s still hard work: you’ll need to handle heavy materials and put in lots of manual labor. You may also need to invest more time to acquire permits yourself and take extra care not to install your fence in the wrong spot, as that could warrant fence removal costs ranging from $300 to $750.
If you want to skip the hassle and ensure a quality result, contact a fence company near you. It costs more to go with a pro, but you’re guaranteed a high-quality installation.
If you can repair vs. replace a fence, it will save on the cost of your project. There are two types of damage that can impact fencing: acute and chronic. Fences with acute damage only have an isolated section that was damaged. This can occur from a broken branch, tornado, animals, and more. You can usually repair acute damage without incurring high costs.
Chronic damage, on the other hand, is widespread and may have a larger underlying issue such as rot or insect damage. If left untreated for too long, you’ll have a major problem on hand. In this case, you should replace the entire fence to ensure the disease or infestation doesn’t spread.
When evaluating whether or not to replace your split rail fence, an easy way to determine the best financial decision is to see if the cost to repair the fence exceeds 50% of the cost to replace it entirely. It’s generally not worth it to repair something that costs more than 50% of the replacement cost.
Making wise financial choices can help offset the cost of a split rail fence installation. We have a few tricks up our sleeves that you can use to help lower costs and save for your next big project.
Choose a lower, two- or three-rail split fence height to avoid extra material costs and labor spent installing a taller fence.
Decrease the size of the perimeter to decrease material costs and shorten the installation time.
Avoid fancy add-ons like gates.
Remove your old fence yourself.
Clear the path for your installers ahead of time to speed up the process.
Consider painting or staining your split rail fence yourself.
Choose a cedar, pine, composite, or vinyl material instead of a metal or less common type of wood fence.
Compare quotes from several contractors to hire the best fence contractor.
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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The standard height for a split rail fence is three or four feet. This height requires two to three horizontal rails, making it ideal for homeowners wanting a budget-friendly split rail fence. If you’re hoping to contain agile livestock or animals like dogs, geese, or goats, you may prefer to install a six-foot tall fence with four or five rails or a four-foot-tall fence with three horizontal rails. This will help prevent animals from climbing, crawling, or jumping through the rails.
How long a fence lasts, including a split rail fence, will depend on the material from which it’s made. The average lifespan 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.
