How the privacy fence cost calculator works
A privacy fence is a solid fence, usually 6 feet tall, and the question is almost always which material to build it in. The calculator prices your fence line in wood, shadow box, vinyl or composite, each from its own published installed range, and draws all of them side by side so the choice is visible at a glance.
Installed cost = fenced length (ft) × privacy price per ft for the material + gates × price per gate + removal + permit
The length that gets priced is your fence line minus the gate openings. Gates are priced to match the material: wood gates for wood, vinyl gates for vinyl and composite.
A worked example
A 150 foot back yard line with two corners and one 4 foot gate leaves 146 feet of fence.
| Privacy fence | Per foot | 146 ft of fence | Gate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood privacy | $17 to $50 | $2,482 to $7,300 | $200 to $600 | $2,682 to $7,900 |
| Wood shadow box | $19 to $39 | $2,774 to $5,694 | $200 to $600 | $2,974 to $6,294 |
| Vinyl privacy | $25 to $60 | $3,650 to $8,760 | $300 to $1,500 | $3,950 to $10,260 |
| Composite | $22 to $85 | $3,212 to $12,410 | $300 to $1,500 | $3,512 to $13,910 |
If you build the wood fence yourself, the materials run $730 to $2,190 at $5 to $15 per foot, before the gate and concrete. For vinyl the materials are $1,460 to $4,380 and for composite $1,314 to $3,650.
Wood, vinyl or composite: what the sources say
| Material | HomeAdvisor | Fixr (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Wood privacy | $25 to $50 (2025 data) | $17 to $37; dog-ear $18 to $35 |
| Shadow box | not given | $19 to $39 |
| Vinyl privacy | $25 to $60 (2025 data) | $15 to $40 for any 6 ft vinyl |
| Composite | $55 to $85 (2025 data) | $22 to $40 |
The biggest disagreement is composite: HomeAdvisor's low end is above Fixr's high end. That is why the composite bar in the chart is the longest; the true price for your area is somewhere in that span, and a local quote tells you where. Airtasker's August 2026 guide gives $13 to $55 per foot for a wood privacy fence, close to the combined wood range here.
Is a vinyl privacy fence worth the extra cost over wood?
On the same 146 feet, vinyl privacy starts $1,268 higher than wood privacy at the low end and $2,360 higher at the top, gate included. Wood carries a running cost vinyl does not: HomeAdvisor puts staining or painting a wood fence at $2 to $14 per foot. Price that over the years you expect to keep the fence and compare it with the difference above.
How much do privacy fence gates cost?
HomeAdvisor gives $200 to $600 for a wood gate and $300 to $1,500 for a vinyl gate. A double drive gate costs more; the vinyl fence cost calculator lists vinyl gates by type. Add gates in the calculator and the chart prices each material with its matching gate.
Removal and permits
Replacing an old fence adds $3 to $5 per foot for tear-out and haul-away, $450 to $750 on this 150 foot line. The permit switch adds $20 to $400. Privacy fences are tall, so check your town's height limit before you get quotes; the building department sets both the rule and the fee.
Board on board and horizontal
The chart also shows board on board and horizontal privacy fences. The sources don't price them separately, so both use the wood privacy range; the extra boards in board on board show up in the material list, not in the per foot price. For board counts, see the privacy fence calculator, which lists every post, rail and board for your line, or the wood fence cost calculator to price the wood by species. Every material is on the fence cost calculator.