Most fence repairs cost $300 to $900 in 2026, going by national figures. Replacing a board, a latch or adjusting a gate is a minor job at $100 to $300. Several posts or a whole section lying flat is a major one at $900 to $2,500.
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.
| Repair | Typical cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | $100 to $300 | One board, loose hardware, small gate adjustment |
| Standard | $300 to $900 | A panel, one or two posts, gate hinges |
| Major | $900 to $2,500 | Several posts, a fallen section, structural damage |
How much does it cost to fix a leaning fence?
The price tracks the number of posts that have failed, since a fence leans when its posts give way. A post or two is a standard repair. If nearly every post along the back line is gone, it is cheaper to rebuild that line once than to keep replacing posts.
Why is my fence leaning, and can it be fixed without replacing it?
It can usually be fixed. In San Francisco the causes are rot at the soil line from months of fog, rusted fasteners letting rails pull away, steady west wind pushing on a solid fence, and in the Sunset and Richmond, shallow footings working loose in sand. If the boards and rails are still good, we set new posts and hang the existing fence on them.
How much does it cost to replace a rotted fence post?
By the national figures, one or two posts come to $300 to $900. We remove the old post and its footing, set a new post in concrete that slopes away from the wood, and reattach the rails with coated or stainless fasteners. A post against a neighbor's shed, in rock, or reachable only through the house takes longer.
My gate sags and will not latch. Repair or replace?
Most of the time it is a repair. Check the post the hinges hang on, because a gate drops when that post tips. Rusted hinges and a frame that has gone out of square are the other usual reasons. We straighten or replace the post, brace the frame and reset the latch. If the frame itself is rotten, a new gate is the answer.
How much does a contractor charge to fix a broken gate latch?
National 2026 figures put it with other minor repairs at $100 to $300. A visit normally carries a minimum charge, so have the loose boards and the sticking gate seen to on the same trip.
My fence posts shifted over the winter and the gate will not close. Can they be reset?
They can, but they have to be set again properly. Frost is not the cause here, because the ground in San Francisco does not freeze. Winter rain softens the soil, sand settles, and on a hill the ground creeps a little. A post that moved is pulled out with its footing and replaced with a deeper one.
My fence line goes wavy every winter. Is it the soil or a bad installation?
It is normally some of each. Dune sand on the west side holds a shallow post poorly once it is saturated, and fill near the bay settles unevenly. Deeper footings with enough concrete around them stay put in the same ground. Rebuild at the old depth and the wave comes back.
A branch bent my aluminum fence. Do I need a whole new panel?
Not always. Some aluminum fences are assembled from separate rails and pickets, and those parts can be changed. Others are made as complete panels, so the damaged panel is replaced whole. A photo is usually enough for us to say which type it is.
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.