Prices last reviewed: October 2026
How much does a privacy fence cost?
With the calculator's default prices, a 6 ft privacy fence costs about $16 to $28 per foot in materials if you build it yourself, and about $26 to $40 per foot with professional installation. Prebuilt wood panels are the cheapest option and vinyl is the most expensive. An 8 ft fence costs much more, because it needs longer posts, deeper holes, an extra rail and 8 ft pickets.
The table below shows a 150 ft fence in one straight run with one 4 ft walk gate.
| Privacy fence | Height | DIY total | DIY per ft | Installed total | Installed per ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prebuilt wood panels | 6 ft | $2,426 | $16.17 | $3,926 | $26.17 |
| Wood pickets, side by side | 6 ft | $2,639 | $17.59 | $4,739 | $31.59 |
| Wood board-on-board | 6 ft | $2,941 | $19.61 | $5,341 | $35.61 |
| Vinyl panels | 6 ft | $4,273 | $28.49 | $6,073 | $40.49 |
| Wood pickets, side by side | 8 ft | $4,338 | $28.92 | $6,438 | $42.92 |
| Wood board-on-board | 8 ft | $4,895 | $32.64 | $7,295 | $48.64 |
Prices vary a lot by region and season. Enter your local prices in the calculator for a better estimate.
Which type of privacy fence should you build?
Side-by-side wood pickets
The classic privacy fence. Pickets are nailed or screwed tight against each other on two or three rails. It is easy to build and to repair one board at a time. As the wood dries, small gaps can open between the boards.
Board-on-board
Pickets go on in two layers, and each front board overlaps the back boards by about an inch on each side. You get full privacy even after the wood shrinks. It needs about 22 percent more pickets than side by side, so it costs a little more.
Prebuilt wood panels
Ready-made 6x8 ft panels are the fastest and usually the cheapest way to build a wood privacy fence. The trade-offs: panel lumber is often thinner, panels are harder to fit on a slope, and you cannot easily change the post spacing. If your yard is flat and you want the job done in a weekend, panels are hard to beat.
Vinyl
Vinyl costs the most up front but never needs paint or stain and does not rot. Over 15 to 20 years, the lower upkeep can close part of the price gap with wood. The vinyl fence calculator covers vinyl privacy and picket fences in more detail.
6 ft or 8 ft?
Six feet is the most common height for a backyard privacy fence, and it is also the maximum many US towns allow without a permit. An 8 ft fence blocks more view and noise but costs far more:
- Posts go about 3 ft deep instead of 2 ft, so you need 12 ft posts instead of 8 ft.
- Each section needs a fourth rail.
- 8 ft pickets cost roughly twice as much as 6 ft pickets.
- Each post needs about 3.7 bags of concrete instead of 2.5.
Many towns also limit front yard fences to 3 or 4 ft. Check your local code and HOA rules before you buy anything.
How the privacy fence calculator counts materials
- Posts: one post every 8 ft, plus one at the end of the fence and one extra for each gate. Corner posts are shared between sides.
- Rails: three 2x4 rails per section for a 6 ft fence and four for an 8 ft fence.
- Pickets: fence length in inches divided by the width each picket covers. That is 5.5 in for side by side and about 4.5 in for board-on-board, plus 10 percent extra for waste.
- Panels: one panel per section.
- Concrete: a 10 in round hole filled to the buried depth, minus the post, at 0.375 cubic feet per 50 lb bag.
The fence cost calculator page explains each formula in more detail and also covers picket fences. For a cheaper see-through fence, try the chain link fence calculator.
Ways to lower the cost of a privacy fence
- Build it yourself. Labor is often a third or more of the total price.
- Use prebuilt panels on flat ground. They are usually the cheapest wood option per foot.
- Keep the layout simple. Every extra side and corner adds posts.
- Limit gates. A gate costs far more per foot than the fence around it.
- Share the cost. If the fence sits on a property line, ask your neighbor about splitting it.
- Buy off season. Lumber prices and contractor schedules are often better in late fall and winter.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 6 foot privacy fence cost per foot?
Using the calculator's default prices, about $16 to $28 per foot in materials, depending on whether you use prebuilt panels, pickets, board-on-board or vinyl. With professional installation, expect about $26 to $40 per foot.
What is the cheapest way to build a privacy fence?
Prebuilt wood panels set on 4x4 posts, built by yourself, are usually the cheapest. In our example, a 150 ft panel fence costs about $2,400 in materials, compared with about $2,600 for side-by-side pickets.
How many pickets do I need for a privacy fence?
For side-by-side 1x6 pickets, about 18 per 8 ft section, or about 2.2 per foot of fence. For board-on-board, about 22 per section. Add around 10 percent extra for cuts and bad boards.
How many posts do I need for a privacy fence?
One post every 8 ft, plus one to finish the run and one more for each gate. A straight 100 ft fence needs 14 posts. A 100 ft fence with one gate also needs 14, because the gate opening removes a section.
Is board-on-board worth the extra cost?
If full privacy matters to you, usually yes. It costs about 10 to 15 percent more than side-by-side pickets in total, but it leaves no gaps when the wood shrinks.
Do I need a permit for a privacy fence?
It depends on your town. Many places allow fences up to 6 ft in back yards without a permit but require one for taller fences or fences near streets. Check with your local building department and HOA, and call 811 before you dig.