Estimate your 2026 Seattle fence project — cedar or pressure-treated privacy, vinyl, chain link, aluminum, composite, or wrought iron. Set linear footage, height, gates, and terrain, and the calculator returns a total with posts set in concrete, hardware, and optional old-fence tear-off. A 150-ft, 6-ft cedar privacy fence with one walk gate comes to about $4,600.
Specify the linear footage and height of your fence
Total length of fence to install (minimum 10 linear feet)
Standard residential height options
Fence Material & Style
Choose your fence material type
Loading materials...
Select your preferred material type and style
Gates & Terrain
Configure gates and site conditions
Number of gates to include, in whole gates (up to 10)
Affects labor costs and installation difficulty
Installation Options
Additional installation features
Professional removal and disposal of existing fence
The concrete poured around each post. Posts are set either way; turning this off removes only the concrete.
Your Estimate
Configure your project and click Calculate
Enter your project details to get started
How Our Fence Cost Calculator Works
Professional fence installation estimates for Seattle and King County properties
Accurate Cost Estimation
Our fence cost calculator prices a new fence from Kolmo's own material catalog and per-unit labor rates. You enter the length in
linear feet, the height (3 to 8 feet), the material (pressure-treated pine, cedar, composite, vinyl, chain link, aluminum or wrought iron),
the number and width of gates, the terrain (flat, sloped or mixed), whether posts get concrete footings, and whether an old fence comes
out. Height is priced in three steps, up to 4 feet, up to 6 feet and over 6 feet, and applies to the fence material, the gates and the
installation labor. Posts are counted at one every 8 feet plus one at the end. Labor is billed per unit rather than by the hour:
installation per linear foot, post setting and concrete work per post, and gate installation per gate. The style you name, such as
privacy or picket, labels the installation line but does not change the price.
What The Calculator Includes
Every fence estimate is itemized: the fence material per linear foot at your height, the posts, concrete footing material at $8 a
post when footings are on, gate material by gate width, and a hardware and fasteners line at 3% of the fence material. Labor lines cover
installation per foot, post setting and concrete work per post, gate installation, and old fence removal at $2.84 a foot when you choose
it. Sloped terrain adds 15% to the installation labor, shown as its own line. Chain link and aluminum carry a lower post-setting rate than
the heavier materials. The calculator does not include utility locating, a property survey, a permit, stain or sealer, or equipment rental,
and it has no allowance for rocky or difficult soil, which is assessed on site.
Seattle-Specific Considerations
Seattle's regulations and conditions significantly impact fence installation. Front, side and rear yard fences have different height
limits that vary by zoning, so verify your lot's limits before choosing a height. Property line disputes are common in Seattle's dense
neighborhoods, and a professional survey before installation avoids most of them; the calculator does not include one. Underground
utilities are dense in Seattle, and hitting buried lines causes expensive repairs and liability, so call 811 at least two business days
before digging. Seattle's soil varies dramatically: rocky glacial till in North Seattle makes digging slow, heavy clay in South Seattle
drains poorly, and waterfront areas have sandy, unstable soil. Difficult digging is assessed on site. Our wet climate demands rot-resistant
materials: Western Red Cedar, harvested locally, naturally resists decay, and posts set in concrete hold up in wet ground far better than
posts set in gravel or dirt. The calculator prices every post with post setting and concrete work.
Using The Calculator Effectively
For accurate estimates, measure your fence line carefully in linear feet, walking the entire run and accounting for corners and
offsets. Choose the height you need; the price steps up past 4 feet and again past 6 feet. Then select the material. On a 150-foot,
6-foot fence on flat ground with concrete footings and no gates, the calculator comes to about $20.61 a linear foot for chain link, $23.63
for pressure-treated pine, $28.50 for cedar, $35.79 for vinyl, $37.91 for aluminum, $45.27 for composite and $52.83 for wrought iron. Add
your gates with their widths: on a 6-foot cedar fence a 4-foot walk gate adds about $340 and a 12-foot drive gate about $890. Set terrain
to sloped if the line runs across a grade; on the same 150-foot cedar fence that adds $170, 4.0% of the job. Turn on removal if an old fence
is coming out. The estimate lists every line and a time estimate in working days.
Fence Cost Calculator: common questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Seattle?
Most residential fences under 6 feet high do not require building permits in Seattle. However, fences over 6 feet, fences in front yards, fences in environmentally critical areas, or fences in designated view corridors require permits. Check with Seattle DCI for your specific property. Even without permits, you must comply with setback requirements and height restrictions. Homeowner associations may have additional requirements beyond city regulations.
How long do cedar fences last in Seattle?
Quality cedar fences with pressure-treated posts properly set in concrete last 20-30 years in Seattle's climate when maintained. Without maintenance (regular sealing), cedar weathers to gray and deteriorates in 15-20 years. The key is proper installation - posts set in concrete below frost line, boards with spacing allowing drainage, and initial sealing within 6 months of installation. Cedar's natural oils resist rot better than any softwood, making it ideal for Pacific Northwest fences.
What if my fence is partially on my neighbor's property?
Property line disputes are common in Seattle. If you build on your neighbor's property without permission, they can demand removal even if unintentional. Always get a professional survey before fence installation; the calculator does not include one. Consider building your fence 6-12 inches inside your property line to avoid any disputes. If sharing fence costs with neighbors, get written agreements before construction detailing who pays what and who maintains the fence. Verbal agreements often lead to disputes when neighbors move.
Why trust this fence installation estimate?
Kolmo LLC, established 2025, is a licensed, bonded and insured Washington general contractor (License #KOLMOL*753JS) working across Seattle and King County. This fence installation calculator prices from Kolmo's own material catalog and labor rates, not national averages. Every estimate returns an itemized breakdown of materials and labor, and the line items reconcile to the total so you can check the arithmetic yourself, and the cost of every option you switch on appears as its own line. Treat the result as a planning estimate rather than a quote: the final price is set after a walkthrough of the actual conditions, which is free and carries no obligation.
What this calculator captures
Installed price per linear foot from this calculator for a 150-ft, 6-ft fence on flat ground, with posts set in concrete and hardware. Gates, slope, and tear-off are extra. Chain link, vinyl, aluminum, and wrought iron are priced in the calculator above.
Pressure-treated pine privacy
About $23.63 / ft
The budget wood fence. Plan to stain or seal it every few years in our wet climate.
Cedar privacy
About $28.50 / ft
The Seattle standard: 6-ft cedar handles our wet climate well.
Cedar privacy with a walk gate
About $4,600
150 ft of 6-ft cedar with one 4-ft walk gate, installed. Composite, vinyl, chain link and metal fences are priced in the calculator above.
Using this calculator
Does this include old fence removal?
Toggle 'old fence removal' and the calculator adds $2.84 per linear foot to tear out and haul away the old fence.
Can I model different fence heights?
Yes — the height selector offers 3 to 8 ft. Seattle zoning typically allows 6 ft in rear/side yards and 42 in (3.5 ft) in front. 8 ft fences generally require a permit and neighbor notification. The calculator prices height in three steps. On 150 ft of cedar privacy fence with no gate on flat ground, 3-4 ft comes to about $3,561, 5-6 ft about $4,275 and 7-8 ft about $4,878.
Are gates included in the estimate?
Gate count and gate width are separate inputs. A 4-ft walk gate adds about $340 to a 6-ft cedar fence ($64.50 installation plus the $275 gate) and about $384 to a vinyl fence; a 12-ft drive gate adds about $890 to a cedar fence. Automated gate operators are a custom quote.
How does the calculator handle sloped yards?
Set terrain to 'sloped' and the calculator adds 15% to the fence installation labor, about $1.14 per foot on a 6-ft cedar fence; 'mixed' adds 8%. It doesn't choose between stepped and racked panels, and steep hillside lots get a site quote.
Does it include permit fees?
No — material and labor only. Fences up to 6 ft in rear/side yards typically don't need a permit in Seattle. Over 6 ft, within front setback, or on disputed property lines usually does. Use our Permit Assessment tool at /permits.
