Vinyl fences are slowly replacing more traditional options like wood and metal. This material is resistant, durable, and requires minimal maintenance. However, price is often a deciding factor for homeowners who need a new fence. You may have heard by now that PVC fencing is expensive, but how much does a vinyl fence cost?
Vinyl fencing typically costs between $15 and $40 per linear foot. Some high-end options are more expensive, sometimes running up to $60 per linear foot.
Including labor, most homeowners can expect to pay between $2,200 and $6,100 for a new vinyl fence. However, you could pay less than $1,500 or over $12,000, depending on the material quality, style, and other factors. Let’s break down these costs.
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Average Vinyl Fence Panel Costs
The average cost of vinyl fence panels is determined by the panel height and type, alongside other factors like the panel’s thickness and material quality. Most options will cost you about $15-$40 per linear foot, although high-end options can exceed $60. Let’s have a look at the average cost per foot based on the panel height.
| Panel height | Cost per foot |
| 4 feet | $15 – $25 |
| 6 feet | $25 – $40 |
| 8 feet | $30 – $45 |
| 10 feet | $35 – $50 |
| 12 feet | $40 – $60 |
Different Vinyl Fence Type Costs
Vinyl fencing is available in a number of types, including picket fences, rails, split-rail, and shadowboxes. Rail and split-rail fencing are generally the cheapest, with prices varying from about $15 to $25 per linear foot. A picket fence costs about $17.50 per linear foot on average – the lower cost is given by the standard 4-foot height, although taller picket fences are generally more expensive.
Privacy fences made of solid panels cost between $25 and $60, depending on the height and vinyl structure. Some panels feature a solid aluminum core that adds structural strength. As you can expect, these fences are on the more expensive side.
Another type of privacy fence is the shadowbox, consisting of translucent panels. This fencing type is preferred for smaller or shadowed spaces, as it allows natural light to pass through. While these panels aren’t see-thru, you can still make out the shadows of people and objects behind the panel; hence, the name.
Shadowbox panels cost about $35.83 per linear foot on average. Added features, such as lattice or picket decorations on top of the panels, will add about $6 per linear foot. A breakdown of the costs for the most popular vinyl fence types:
| Fence type | Cost per linear foot | Total average price |
| Picket | $15 – $20 | $1,500 – $4,500 |
| Privacy | $25 – $60 | $3,000 – $18,000 |
| Rail | $15 – $25 | $1,500 – $7,500 |
National Average Vinyl Fence Price by Color
Like vinyl siding, vinyl fencing comes in different colors, and it doesn’t come as a surprise that some shades are more expensive than others.
The most common color options are white, black (or dark gray), and wood grain – the latter comprising a variety of hues created to simulate real wood. Plain white is the cheapest color option, costing about $25 per linear foot.
Solid black is the most expensive, a foot of black fencing costing you about $60. Wood grain colors stand in-between, with an average cost of $40 per linear foot.
Most other colors run from about $30 to $60. Once again, the final price will be determined by the quality of the material.
| Vinyl fence color | National average price per linear foot |
| White | $25 |
| Wood grain | $40 |
| Black | $60 |
If you’d rather calculate the cost by the number of panels and posts you need to buy, you should know that the prices vary from about $110 to $369 for a panel and from $26 to $114 for a post on average.
| Vinyl fence color | National average price per panel | National average price per post |
| White | $110 | $26 |
| Wood grain | $235 | $87 |
| Black | $369 | $114 |
How Much Does a Vinyl Fence Gate Cost?
The prices above refer to the costs of vinyl fencing alone. If you wish to add a gate, you should add about $300 – $1,500 to the cost of your fence and labor, which is how much a gate costs to purchase and install. Larger, ornate gates can cost more than that, the average price running up to $2,500 for a double gate.
Vinyl Fence Installation Costs
The costs of installing your vinyl fence, without considering the cost of materials, run from $0, if you wish to install it yourself and don’t plan to secure the posts with cement, to about $50 per hour for professional installation.
Most vinyl fencing options have interlocking panels that are fairly easy to install without professional help. However, you have to keep in mind that this type of fence comes pre-cut, requiring more planning and a greater degree of precision to achieve a good result. For this reason, you shouldn’t install the fence yourself unless you’re an expert.
Labor costs can be calculated per hour or per linear foot. Per hour, you can expect to pay between $35 and $50. This translates to about $5 – $10 per linear foot.
Other Factors That Affect Installation Cost
The installation costs mentioned above are national average prices for the installation on flat ground. Other factors that can affect these costs include:
- The slope of land: Installing a fence on an incline takes more work and can sometimes require landscaping regrading. Plan to add about $900 to $3,000 to your budget, depending on how steep the slope is.
- Removing old fencing: If you want to install a vinyl fence in place of an old fence, you must also calculate old fencing removal costs. Most contractors can remove the old fence for you for about $3 – $5 per linear foot, or you could do it yourself to keep costs low.
- Removing other obstacles: Other obstacles such as trees, stumps, or bushes can represent an expensive affair if you can’t work around them. See the table below for national average costs.
| Obstacle type | Cost range |
| Tree | $385 – $1,070 |
| Stump | $175 – $516 |
| Bush | $75 – $125 |
Fencing Permit Costs
Most homeowners believe that vinyl fencing doesn’t require permits; however, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
While most municipalities don’t require permits for fences shorter than seven feet, you should consult the regulations in your area before installing a new fence – even if your property is already fenced, since some states require homeowners to obtain a permit for a fence replacement, too.
You can expect to pay between $20 and $60 for a fence permit, on average. Some regions charge a fixed fee, whereas others may charge fence permits per linear foot. You should always check with your local building department before installing your vinyl fence.
Vinyl Fencing FAQ
Is vinyl fencing cheaper than wood?
Vinyl fencing is more expensive than wood upfront but cheaper in the long run. Vinyl is a plastic material that isn’t vulnerable to water damage or pests. It needs little to no maintenance, and even if the material will become brittle in time, it generally takes decades before you’ll have to repair or replace it.
How long will a vinyl fence last?
Most vinyl fences last for about 30 years. A good life span indicator is the warranty. If your fence comes with a very long (20+ years) or lifetime warranty, you can expect it to last for a long time.
Is vinyl the same as PVC?
No, although most vinyl fences are made of PVC. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a type of vinyl generally used for fencing and siding.
Is vinyl fencing a good investment?
Vinyl fencing and resistant and aesthetically pleasing, boosting the curb appeal of a property. A vinyl fence tends to get about 60% return on investment (ROI) in case you want to sell the property, depending on the condition it’s in and the regional price differences. Vinyl fencing is an excellent investment if you’re looking for privacy with zero maintenance.
Conclusion
How much a vinyl fence costs depends on the type of fence, its color and height, any add-ons you might want, the area you live in, and whether you’re going to install it yourself or opt for professional installation. On average, you can expect to pay between $2,200 and $6,100 for a new fence.
Designer vinyl fences with ornate panels can cost much more than that, usually over $10,000. Likewise, a small picket fence around a flowerbed shouldn’t cost you more than $100 if you install it yourself.
So, how much do you expect to pay for a vinyl fence, or how much did it cost you? Leave a comment below; we’d love to hear from you.