Fence Cost Calculator

As typical 2026 US installed estimates: chain link $11–$30/ft, wood privacy $17–$45/ft, aluminum ornamental $26–$62/ft, composite $35–$85/ft, and vinyl privacy $37–$70/ft. These ranges include materials and standard labor for a 6-foot fence on flat ground with normal soil. Slopes, rocky soil, difficult access, old-fence removal, and permits push costs toward the high end. In Waukegan and Lake County, IL, most residential projects land in the middle of their material's range.

Chain link is the cheapest installed fence by a wide margin — roughly a third the cost of vinyl per linear foot — which is why it dominates large lots and side yards where looks matter less. Wood privacy is the cheapest option that actually gives you privacy. But "cheapest to install" and "cheapest to own" differ: wood needs restaining every 2–4 years, while vinyl and aluminum cost more up front and then almost nothing for decades. For a 150-foot run, the 10-year cost of wood and vinyl end up closer than the install quotes suggest.

A standard 4-foot walk gate typically adds $150–$600 installed depending on material — chain link gates are cheapest, composite and ornamental aluminum most expensive — because the gate needs its own heavy posts, hinges, latch, and hanging labor regardless of the fence around it. Double-drive gates (10–12 feet wide) can run $500–$1,500+ since they need larger posts set deeper and often a drop rod or cane bolt. If your quote seems high, check how many gates are on it; each one is a mini-project.

Most Lake County municipalities, including Waukegan, require a fence permit, and many cap residential fence height at 6 feet in side and rear yards and 4 feet (sometimes 3) in front yards, with extra restrictions on corner lots for driver visibility. Permit fees are usually modest — often $50–$150 — but building without one can mean fines or a forced teardown. Always confirm your specific city's rules and call JULIE (811) for a free utility locate at least 48 hours before any contractor digs post holes.

A professional crew typically installs 100–200 linear feet of wood or vinyl fence in 1–3 days, and chain link goes even faster. The timeline stretches with rocky soil, slopes, old-fence removal, concrete cure time in cold weather, and permit inspections. DIY installations take most homeowners 2–4 weekends for the same footage — the digging is the slow part. Around Waukegan, spring and fall are the busiest booking seasons, so schedule a few weeks out for the best availability.

Wood wins on upfront cost and natural looks; a cedar privacy fence is the classic suburban choice and the cheapest way to get full privacy. Vinyl wins on lifetime cost and maintenance — no staining, no rot, no splinters, and it shrugs off Lake County's wet springs and freeze-thaw winters for 25–30 years. The honest math: wood costs less to install but $500–$1,500 every few years to maintain, so vinyl often breaks even within 8–12 years. Choose wood for budget and character, vinyl for set-and-forget.

A cedar fence typically lasts 15–20 years and a pressure-treated pine fence 10–15 years, assuming the posts are set in concrete below the frost line and the wood is restained or sealed every 2–4 years. The Chicago area's wet springs and freeze-thaw winters are hard on wood — the failure point is almost always the posts rotting at grade level, not the pickets or panels. Vinyl and aluminum fences last 25–30+ years with essentially no maintenance. Whatever the material, keeping soil and mulch from piling against the fence bottom adds years.

It is common courtesy — and common practice — to discuss a shared fence with the adjoining neighbor before building, especially when the fence sits on or near the property line. Many neighbors happily split the cost of a side-yard fence they both benefit from. Get any agreement in writing: who pays what, who maintains it, and exactly where it sits (a survey, typically $300–$700, settles boundary questions permanently). Never assume a neighbor will pay after the fact — talk first, build second, and keep the fence a few inches inside your line if there is any doubt.