How much does it cost to build a fence yourself?
About $1,870 in materials for 100 ft of 6 ft privacy (dog ear or flat top) fence with 1 gate, against roughly $2,000 to $3,500 to hire it out.
Estimate only, computed from the fence calculator's default inputs and prices. Your sizes and local prices will change it.
Do it yourself (materials)
$1,870
Hire it out
$2,000 to $3,500
Worked example: 100 ft of 6 ft privacy (dog ear or flat top) fence with 1 gate
| Item | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Posts, 4x4 x 8 ft (14) | $250 |
| Concrete, 50 lb bags (56 (4 per post)) | $390 |
| Gravel for hole bottoms (7 bags) | $35 |
| 2x4 rails, 8 ft (36) | $250 |
| Pickets, 5.5 in (232 (210 + 22 waste)) | $810 |
| Picket nails or screws (1392) | $70 |
| Rail screws or brackets (144) | $15 |
| Gate hardware kits (1) | $45 |
| Total | $1,870 |
Assumptions
- Posts every 8 ft set in concrete, 14 posts in all
- 10% extra pickets for culls and cuts
- Unit prices from the calculator: $18 per 8 ft post, $3.5 per picket, $7 per rail
- Installed range is the calculator's per-foot range for this fence type; post-hole digger and tools not included
What changes the price
- Call 811 before you dig. Utility locating is free and required in every US state.
- Rocky or clay soil makes the post holes most of the work. An auger rental pays for itself on a long run.
- Check the property line and any HOA height and style rules before buying materials.
Price your own project
Enter your measurements and local prices in the free fence calculator for a full materials list and cost.
Open the fence calculatorAlso useful: Fence building cheat sheet, Fence picket spacing calculator
FAQ
How much does it cost to build a fence yourself?
About $1,870 in materials for 100 ft of 6 ft privacy (dog ear or flat top) fence with 1 gate, against roughly $2,000 to $3,500 to hire it out. These are estimates from the fence calculator's default prices; enter your own sizes and prices there for your project.
How much do you save if you build a fence yourself?
On this example, doing it yourself saves roughly $130 to $1,630, before tools you would need to buy or rent.
Where do these numbers come from?
From the same math the fence calculator runs, fed its default inputs and unit prices. They are rough US averages, not quotes, and local prices vary.
More DIY cost estimates: cost to install gutters yourself, cost to paint a room yourself, cost to drywall a room yourself, cost to tile a floor yourself, cost to build a deck yourself.