Seattle Fence Cost Guide
Fence cost in Seattle varies because no two sites are identical. Material matters, but so do total length, height, slope, access, removal of an old fence, the number of gates and how much custom work the job needs.
This guide gives the starting installed price per foot for each material and explains what moves it up or down, using the same figures as the fence cost calculator above. The calculator gives you a range for your own fence in about a minute; the firm number comes after a free on-site measure, when you request a fence quote.
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What Affects Fence Cost in Greater Seattle
The most important cost drivers are total footage, material, height, demolition, site access, slope, soil or post conditions, gates, and custom details. Two fences of the same length can price very differently when these variables change.
Fence Length and Height
Length sets the base: most of a fence's cost is priced per linear foot. Height changes that rate — a 4-foot fence runs about 80 percent of the 6-foot price, a 5-foot about 90 percent and an 8-foot about 135 percent. Short fences reach a $3,500 minimum, because the crew day, truck and concrete cost the same whatever the length.
Material Choice
Starting installed prices for a 6-foot fence on level ground with standard posts, before tax: chain link about $28 a foot, cedar picket $45, vinyl $55, cedar privacy $58, ornamental iron $62, horizontal cedar $78 and composite $85. The least and most expensive differ by a factor of three.
Access, Slope, and Site Conditions
A rolling slope adds about 8 percent to the fence line because panels have to be stepped or racked; steep, rocky or root-filled ground where holes are dug by hand adds about 20 percent. When the truck cannot reach the line and everything is carried in, add about 10 percent more.
Cost Differences by Fence Material
Material price is only part of installed cost. Different systems use different posts, labor steps, hardware, finishing, and gate construction, so the complete assembly should be compared.
Cedar and Wood Costs
Cedar picket fences start around $45 a foot, 6-foot cedar privacy around $58 and horizontal cedar around $78. Upgrades add per foot: steel posts behind a cedar face about $11, heavier 6×6 posts about $7, two coats of stain and sealer about $7, and post caps with top trim about $6.
Vinyl Fence Costs
A 6-foot vinyl privacy fence starts around $55 a foot installed — slightly less than cedar at the same height, with no staining afterward. Composite, a wood-and-plastic board system that never needs finishing, is the premium alternative at around $85.
Chain Link and Metal Fence Costs
Chain link is the least expensive fence at about $28 a foot for 6 feet, galvanized or black vinyl-coated. Ornamental iron — powder-coated steel or aluminum — starts around $62 a foot and rises with heavier pickets, decorative tops and custom colors.
Installation vs Repair vs Replacement Costs
New installation is priced around a clean layout; repair depends on diagnosis and matching existing work; replacement adds demolition and disposal before the new fence is built.
New Fence Build Costs
A new fence is the per-foot price times the length, plus gates, any upgrades and a $450 mobilization charge covering the truck, layout and 811 utility locate. Example: 140 feet of 6-foot cedar privacy on level ground, with one walk gate and the old fence removed, comes to roughly $11,500 to $14,400 including Seattle sales tax, most likely about $12,500.
Typical Repair Cost Drivers
Repairs are priced by the job rather than the foot: how many posts need resetting or replacing, how many boards, rails or panels, whether gate hardware is involved, and whether matching material is available. Replacing one rotted post is a small job; resetting a leaning run of posts is a larger one. Photos let us give a first idea before visiting.
Replacement and Removal Considerations
Replacement is priced like a new fence plus removal: taking out the old fence, pulling posts with their concrete and hauling it all away typically adds about $15 a foot. Occasionally old footings can stay and new posts go beside them, which saves some of that cost.
Gate Costs and Project Add-Ons
Every gate creates additional posts, hardware, fabrication, alignment, and installation work. Wider gates, unusual openings, demolition, or custom trim can add more complexity than the linear fence alone suggests.
Walk Gates and Driveway Access
Built with a new fence, a walk gate of 3 to 4 feet starts around $650 and a double drive gate of 10 to 16 feet around $1,900. The price includes the heavier gate posts, bracing and hardware that stop a gate from sagging — which is why a gate costs far more than the same width of fence.
Hardware Upgrades
Self-closing hinges, lockable or pool-code latches, drop rods and heavy-duty hinges for wide gates add to the base gate price. They are worth it on gates used every day, around pools and on anything wider than about 5 feet.
Site Prep and Custom Features
Clearing brush along the line, digging out a slope where a gate would scrape, arched or lattice tops, decorative caps and custom stain colors all add cost. So does working around retaining walls, large roots or tight side yards where machines cannot go.
Getting an Accurate Fence Estimate
Photos, approximate footage, material preferences, height, gate count, and access information help create a better starting point. Use the quote request page to provide those details.
What Information Helps
The address, approximate length, preferred material and height, the number and width of gates, and whether an old fence has to come out. Photos of the whole line, the ground along it and any tight access points are the most useful single thing to send.
Why Site Visits Matter
A measure on site confirms the real footage, the slope, where the property line is, what is underground and how materials will reach the line. Those are exactly the things that move a price by 10 or 20 percent, and they cannot be seen in a photo.
What to Expect in a Quote
A written quote should itemize the fence line by footage and height, material and posts, each gate, removal and haul-away, upgrades such as stain or caps, and tax. If any of those is missing from a quote you are comparing, ask — it is usually where the difference between two prices is hiding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What affects fence cost in Seattle the most?
Material and length first, then height, gates and removal of an old fence. Site conditions — slope, rocky ground and difficult access — can add 10 to 30 percent on top.
Which fence materials cost more and which cost less?
From least to most per foot at 6 feet: chain link (about $28), cedar picket ($45), vinyl ($55), cedar privacy ($58), ornamental iron ($62), horizontal cedar ($78) and composite ($85).
How does repair pricing compare with replacement pricing?
A repair is priced by the posts, sections and hardware involved and usually costs a fraction of a new fence; a replacement costs the full new-fence price plus about $15 a foot for removal. When repairs would touch much of the fence, replacement is often the better value — see the repair vs replacement guide.
Does adding a gate increase fence cost a lot?
Noticeably. A walk gate starts around $650 and a double drive gate around $1,900, because each needs heavier posts, bracing and hardware. On a short fence, one gate can be a large share of the total.
How can I get a realistic quote for my property?
Run your numbers through the fence cost calculator for a range, then request a quote with photos. The written quote after the on-site measure itemizes every line, so you can compare it fairly with others.