On published national numbers for 2026, most installed fences cost $20 to $60 for each linear foot. For 100 feet that is $2,000 to $6,000, with gates on top.
Every dollar range on this page is a national figure that HomeGuide published for 2026. None of them is a quote from Fence Company San Jose. Wages in the South Bay, the cost of lumber and metal, and what we find on your lot all move the real price. Figures last checked October 2026.
What is the fence cost per foot?
- Chain link: from $9 up to $30 a foot, installed.
- Wood: $20 to $50 a foot, installed.
- Aluminum: $25 to $75 a foot, installed.
- Vinyl: $30 to $60 a foot, installed.
- Wrought iron: $50 to $85 a foot, installed.
Those are spreads, and they are wide on purpose. Height, grade of material and ground conditions decide where a given fence falls. We do not know of a published San Jose average, so we do not quote one.
What does a 6-foot wood privacy fence cost?
The national range for a privacy fence at that height is $25 to $60 a foot with labor included. Two examples show the arithmetic. A 60-foot back line comes to $1,500 to $3,600. A 140-foot fence around the sides and back of a tract lot comes to $3,500 to $8,400. In San Jose the choice between redwood grades, and between wood and steel posts, shifts the figure within that spread. Tear-out and gates are separate lines.
Which is the cheapest fence to have installed?
Chain link, by a clear margin. No other material starts as low as $9 a foot. When the fence has to block a view, the lowest-priced solid option is usually a plain dog-ear board fence on pressure-treated posts, with no cap or trim.
How do I keep a large dog in the yard on a budget?
Use 5-foot or 6-foot chain link with the bottom edge held down by a tension wire. It is the least expensive material that will hold a big dog, and slats or screen can be added later if you want privacy. Spend the savings on a gate that latches firmly.
Is aluminum cheaper than wrought iron, and where does vinyl fall?
| Material | National 2026 range, installed | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | $25 to $75 per foot | Iron look, no rust, will not burn |
| Vinyl | $30 to $60 per foot | Solid panels, no staining |
| Wrought iron | $50 to $85 per foot | Heaviest, highest price, needs paint over time |
Reading the table, aluminum is usually cheaper than wrought iron and overlaps with vinyl. The style and height you choose settle which is lower for your yard.
How much extra does a gate cost?
We price each gate as its own item, so there is no flat add-on. The width of the opening, the gate material, the hinge and latch hardware and any operator set the number. A 3-foot or 4-foot walk gate is the low end. Driveway pairs, slide gates and anything motorized are the high end. Because clay movement throws gates out of line here, we also include larger posts and deeper footings for them.
Do you charge extra for a slope, brush or taking out the old fence?
- Old fence: pulling it, breaking out the footings and hauling it off is labor plus a dump fee. Footings in dry adobe take real effort.
- Brush: ivy, bamboo, juniper and oleander grown into a fence have to be cut back before we can set a line.
- Slope: racking, stepping or cutting boards to grade adds time, and on foothill lots material is carried in.
- Hard digging: roots, old concrete and rock slow every hole.
We look at each of these on the visit and write them into the quote as separate lines.
I have three quotes and they are far apart. How do I compare them?
Check scope before price. Make a short grid with one column per bidder and fill in: feet of fence, height, wood species and grade or metal brand, post type and size, post depth, number and width of gates, removal and disposal, who handles any permit, and cleanup. Most large gaps come from one blank cell. Also look each company up at cslb.ca.gov. A bid from someone without a California licence is not comparable to the others.
Will a new fence add value to my house?
It helps a sale more than it raises a price. Families with children and pet owners look for an enclosed yard, and a new fence removes an item from a buyer's repair list. You should not count on recovering the full cost. As for property taxes, what counts as assessable new construction is decided by the Santa Clara County Assessor's Office, so ask there.
For a price on your own fence line, book the free site visit. We measure, then send the quote in writing. Call (408) 539-3039.