Fence and deck prices in 2026: pickets, posts, and boards
A cedar fence picket costs $3.35 to $5.20 at the yard in 2026, a pressure treated 4x4 post runs $11 to $17, and a bag of post concrete is $6.50 to $10. Figure posts every 8 feet, two to three bags each, and material for a 6 foot cedar privacy fence lands near $12 to $20 per linear foot before labor. Deck lumber follows below along with what installed fences and decks actually sell for.
fencing material costs, national average
| Item | Unit | Typical range | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar fence picket | ea | $3.35 to $5.20 | 6 ft dog-ear |
| Pressure treated 4x4 post | ea | $11 to $17 | 8 ft |
| Pressure treated 6x6 post | ea | $25 to $38 | |
| Fence rail, 2x4 | ea | $5.50 to $8.50 | 8 ft, treated |
| Vinyl fence panel | ea | $128 to $195 | 6x8 privacy panel |
| Aluminum fence panel | ea | $145 to $225 | |
| Chain link fabric | lf | $3.75 to $5.80 | 4 ft galvanized |
| Chain link post | ea | $16 to $25 | |
| Fence gate kit | ea | $68 to $105 | hardware and frame |
| Post concrete | ea | $6.50 to $10 | per 50 lb fast-set bag |
| Pressure treated deck board | lf | $1.45 to $2.25 | 5/4x6 |
| Composite deck board | lf | $3.35 to $5.20 | |
| Deck joist, 2x8 PT | lf | $1.60 to $2.50 | |
| Composite railing | lf | $28 to $43 | rail kit with balusters |
| Galvanized joist hanger | ea | $1.35 to $2.10 |
The material prices above are national-average lumberyard and supply-house costs from the dataset inside Staxen, serving as the defaults its AI estimator prices from until a builder replaces them with local yard numbers. They are material-only figures without labor, equipment, or markup. Installed ranges are typical 2026 contractor totals including labor for common US residential fence and deck scopes. Lumber pricing moves seasonally and by region, so requote material on jobs that sit unsold past 30 days.
What typical fencing jobs run installed
Cedar privacy fence, 150 lf: $5,000 to $10,500
Gate count, grade changes that force stepping or racking, and tear-out of the old fence. Rocky digging or caliche can double post-setting time.
Vinyl privacy fence, 150 lf: $6,500 to $12,500
Panel grade and color, plus the same digging realities. Vinyl saves the client painting forever, which supports the higher price.
Chain link fence, 150 lf: $2,200 to $5,200
Fabric height and gauge, top rail versus tension wire, and gates. Black vinyl-coated product runs meaningfully above galvanized.
Pressure treated deck, 12x16: $6,000 to $12,000
Height off grade, stair runs, and railing footage. Anything past waist height adds guardrail code requirements and inspection.
Composite deck, 12x16: $10,000 to $20,000
Board line and railing system dominate; composite railing alone at $28 to $43 per foot in material can exceed the decking. Hidden fasteners and picture-frame borders add labor.
Gate replacement: $350 to $900
Sagging posts are usually the real problem. Resetting a post in concrete turns a hardware swap into a two-visit job while the footing cures.
Lumber pricing varies regionally with freight from producing regions, and cedar in particular costs more the farther you get from the Northwest. Labor and digging conditions set the installed spread, with rocky and coastal markets both pushing the top of the ranges.
Cost factors in fencing work
Digging conditions
Post holes are the job. Sandy loam augers in minutes; rock, roots, and caliche fight for every inch and can force rented hydraulic equipment. Utility locates are legally required before digging, and a cut line is a very expensive shortcut.
Wind load and depth
A 6 foot privacy fence is a sail. Standard practice is burying a third of the post, so 8 foot posts for 6 foot fence with 2 to 3 bags of concrete each; high-wind regions call for closer spacing or 6x6 posts at $25 to $38 apiece.
Code thresholds on decks
Most jurisdictions require permits for decks, guardrails above 30 inches, and specific ledger attachment with lags or structural screws, flashing, and joist hangers. Post-2018 code cycles tightened ledger and guard details, and inspectors look there first.
Material trajectory
Treated lumber has settled from its spike years but still runs well above pre-2020 levels, while composite pricing has been comparatively steady. The gap between a PT deck and a composite deck is mostly material, and clients deserve the maintenance-cost half of that comparison.
Line clearing and tear-out
Old fence removal, haul-off, and brush along the fence line are commonly underquoted. A fence line choked with vines and volunteer trees can add a full crew day before the first hole is dug.
Frequently asked questions
Can I price a fence job from this table alone?
No, the table is your material floor. A real fence price adds digging and setting labor, equipment, tear-out and haul-off, drive time, overhead, and profit. Most builders quote per linear foot installed, and on a cedar privacy fence the material from this table is usually only 35 to 45 percent of that number.
How many pickets and posts does 100 feet of privacy fence take?
With 5-1/2 inch pickets side by side, figure about 220 pickets per 100 feet, plus 13 posts at 8 foot spacing, 26 rails for two-rail construction or 39 for three, and 2 to 3 bags of concrete per post. At 2026 prices that is roughly $1,200 to $2,000 in material per 100 feet for cedar.
Is composite decking worth the higher price?
For clients who plan to keep the home, usually yes. Composite boards at $3.35 to $5.20 per foot cost more than double treated lumber, but they skip the staining cycle that runs hundreds of dollars every few years and they do not splinter. The honest downside: composite gets hot in full sun and still needs a code-compliant treated frame underneath.
How do fence builders use Staxen day to day?
Talk the job into Eddie, the AI estimator, and it drafts a priced estimate from these same national-average material costs, with your own yard pricing taking over as you edit. Josie handles scheduling with SMS reminders and Ivy chases the invoice after the build. Staxen is $59 per month per AI employee, or $149 per month for all three, and the first job is free, no card required.
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