How the split rail fence cost calculator works
Split rail is one of the lowest priced wood fences in the cost guides: two or three heavy rails between round posts, with no boards. It is priced by the linear foot. The calculator takes your fence line, subtracts the gate openings, and multiplies the fenced length by the installed range for wood or vinyl split rail. Gates, removal and a permit are separate lines.
Installed cost = fenced length (ft) × split rail price per ft + gates × price per gate + removal + permit
The result shows the price per foot twice: the fence alone, and all in with the gates spread over the length. The second is the figure to hold a quote against.
A worked example
A 150 foot line with two corners and one 4 foot gate leaves 146 feet of rails.
| Split rail | Per foot | 146 ft of fence | Gate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | $8 to $18.50 | $1,168 to $2,701 | $200 to $600 | $1,368 to $3,301 |
| Vinyl | $11 to $25 | $1,606 to $3,650 | $300 to $1,500 | $1,906 to $5,150 |
All in, the wood fence works out to $9.37 to $22.61 per foot. Built yourself, the wood fence takes $438 to $876 in materials at Fixr's $3 to $6 per foot; labor is the other $4 to $8 per foot on HomeAdvisor, or $584 to $1,168.
Split rail price per foot: what the sources say
| Split rail | HomeAdvisor | Fixr (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | cedar or pine $11.50 to $18.50 (2026) | $8 to $16 |
| Vinyl | $18.50 to $25 (2026) | $11 to $18 |
| Any | not given | $6 to $11 |
The calculator's wood range runs from Fixr's $8 low to HomeAdvisor's $18.50 high, and the vinyl range from $11 to $25 the same way. HomeAdvisor's wood fence page lists wood split rail at $15 to $35 per foot, far above its own split rail guide, so we don't use that figure. Fixr's $6 to $11 for split rail in general sits at the bottom of the wood range.
Wood or vinyl split rail?
On the same 146 feet, vinyl costs $538 more at the low end and $1,849 more at the top, gate included. About half of the top-end gap is the gate: a vinyl gate runs $300 to $1,500 on HomeAdvisor against $200 to $600 for wood. Without a gate, the two fences are $438 to $949 apart.
Two rails or three?
The per foot ranges in the sources don't separate two and three rail fences, so the calculator doesn't either. A third rail adds one rail per section to the material list; for a DIY build, the split rail fence calculator counts the posts and rails for either, so you can price the difference with your store's rail price.
How does split rail compare with wire and picket?
The chart below the calculator prices the same line in woven wire, chain link and wood picket. Woven wire is cheaper still per foot, at $1.50 to $6 installed, but it is a farm fence rather than a yard fence. For wire fences on a larger property, the farm fence calculator works out posts, wire and bracing.
Removal and permits
Removing an old fence runs $3 to $5 per foot (HomeAdvisor), $450 to $750 for this 150 foot line. HomeAdvisor's split rail guide lists a fence permit at $20 to $60; Fixr gives up to $400. The permit switch adds $20 to $400. For every other material side by side, see the fence cost calculator.