Most installed fences cost $20 to $60 per linear foot in 2026, which is $3,000 to $9,000 for 150 feet. Those figures are national. A San Francisco rear yard is short, often 25 feet across the back, so the total is driven less by length and more by access, the old fence that has to come out and the ground the posts go into.
Price ranges are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026, not our own quotes. San Francisco labor, material prices, access to the yard and the ground on your lot all move the real number. Last checked October 2026.
How much does a fence cost per foot?
| Material | Installed cost per foot |
|---|---|
| Chain link | $9 to $30 |
| Wood | $20 to $50 |
| Vinyl | $30 to $60 |
| Aluminum | $25 to $75 |
| Wrought iron | $50 to $85 |
How much does a 6-foot wood privacy fence cost?
The national range for a 6-foot privacy fence is $25 to $60 per foot installed. The table below shows totals by length for a typical fence at $20 to $60 per foot, and a tall solid fence belongs near the upper figure in each row. Most city yards need far less than 150 feet. Redwood is the common fence wood here, and its price changes with the grade you choose.
| Fence length | Typical installed cost |
|---|---|
| 50 feet | $1,000 to $3,000 |
| 100 feet | $2,000 to $6,000 |
| 150 feet | $3,000 to $9,000 |
| 200 feet | $4,000 to $12,000 |
What is the cheapest fence to have installed?
Chain link, from about $9 per foot in the national figures. For privacy, the least expensive solid fence is a simple dog-ear board fence on pressure-treated posts. If you only need to keep a large dog in the yard on a budget, chain link at 5 or 6 feet does it, and privacy slats can go in later.
Is black aluminum cheaper than wrought iron or vinyl?
Aluminum at $25 to $75 per foot is cheaper than wrought iron at $50 to $85, and its range overlaps vinyl at $30 to $60. In this city aluminum has another point in its favor: it does not rust in fog and salt air, and an open picket design is allowed to be taller in a front setback than a solid fence.
How much extra does a gate cost?
Each gate is its own line on the estimate, because gates are priced by the piece. The width, the material and the hinges, latch and lock set the price. A side-passage walk gate is the least. A driveway gate, or any gate with an operator and keypad, is the most.
How much extra for a slope, brush or an old fence?
We can only price these after seeing the yard. In San Francisco the common extras are taking down and hauling away the old fence, carrying everything through the garage or the house when there is no side access, clearing ivy and bamboo off the line, stepping the fence down a steep lot, and slow digging where the hills are rock.
I got three quotes and they are far apart. Which one is realistic?
Compare what each one promises to build before you compare prices. Check the footage, the height, the wood species and grade, the post size and how deep it goes, the type of fasteners, the gates, haul-away of the old fence, permits and cleanup. The low bid has often left out the haul-away or the hard access. Confirm that each bidder holds a California contractor licence, because a bid from an unlicensed crew is not comparable.
Does a fence add value to my home?
It helps a house present well, and buyers with dogs or young children notice it, but a fence rarely pays back its whole cost at sale. For property taxes, the county assessor decides what counts as new construction. In the city that is the San Francisco Office of the Assessor-Recorder.
We measure the line and give you a written quote at no charge. Call (415) 888-9244 or text us a photo of the fence.