It's the first question almost every homeowner asks, and it's a fair one. The trouble is that "how much does a fence cost?" has about as many answers as there are yards in St. Louis. A short stretch of chain link around a small city lot is a very different project than a tall cedar privacy fence wrapping a sloped County backyard with two gates. Rather than quote you a misleading number, we'd rather show you exactly what goes into the price — so when you do get an estimate, you'll understand every line of it.
What Drives the Cost of a Fence
Fence pricing comes down to a handful of factors that stack together. Understanding them helps you make smart choices and spot the difference between a fair quote and a bid that's either cutting corners or padding the total.
Material
The material you choose is usually the single biggest factor. Each one carries a different price per foot and a different lifespan, so the cheapest material isn't automatically the cheapest fence over time. We'll cover the rough ordering of materials below.
Linear Footage
Fences are priced largely by the foot, so the perimeter you need to enclose matters more than almost anything else. A bigger yard simply means more posts, more rails, more pickets and more labor. It's why two neighbors can choose the identical fence and still get very different totals.
Height
A six-foot privacy fence uses noticeably more material than a four-foot version of the same style, and taller fences often need beefier posts and more bracing to stay solid in St. Louis wind. Height also affects whether a permit is required, which we'll get to shortly.
Gates
Gates are one of the most underestimated cost drivers. Each gate needs its own posts, hardware, hinges and latch, plus the labor to hang it so it swings true and stays level for years. A double drive-gate wide enough for a mower or vehicle costs more than a single walk-gate. The number and size of gates you need can move a quote meaningfully.
Terrain and Slope
Flat, open ground is the easiest and most affordable to fence. Sloped yards — common across the St. Louis hills — require either stepping or racking the fence to follow the grade, which adds labor. Rocky soil, tree roots, and tight access where a crew can't bring equipment close all add time, too. The more challenging your terrain, the more the install reflects it.
Removal of an Old Fence
If there's an existing fence in the way, someone has to tear it out and haul it off before the new one goes in. Old posts set in concrete are especially labor-intensive to remove. That demolition and disposal is real work, and it belongs on the estimate as its own line rather than buried or ignored.
Permits and HOA Requirements
Many municipalities in St. Louis City and County require a fence permit, and subdivisions or HOAs often have their own rules on height, style, setback and placement. Permit fees and the time to pull them are part of the real cost of doing a project the right way. We help homeowners navigate these requirements so there are no surprises after the fact.
Roughly How Materials Compare
While we won't pin a guaranteed dollar figure to any project sight unseen — every yard is different — the general ordering of materials by cost is fairly consistent. From most budget-friendly to most premium, it usually looks like this:
- Chain link is typically the most affordable option. It's durable, low-maintenance and great for security or simply keeping a yard and pets contained, though it offers little privacy.
- Wood sits in the popular middle ground — privacy, warmth and curb appeal at a price most homeowners can work with. Treated pine generally runs more affordable than cedar.
- Vinyl and ornamental fences generally carry a higher up-front cost. In return, vinyl never needs paint or stain, and ornamental aluminum or steel delivers an upscale, long-lasting look.
Keep in mind that a higher up-front material can be the better long-term value when you factor in maintenance and lifespan. The cheapest fence to install isn't always the cheapest to own.
💡 Why we won't quote a price over the phone
Anyone who throws out a firm number before seeing your yard is guessing — and guesses tend to climb once the crew shows up. A quick, free on-site visit lets us measure the actual footage, check the terrain, account for gates and removal, and give you a written quote you can count on.
Repair Versus Replace: Where You Can Save
Not every fence problem calls for a full replacement. If your fence is leaning, missing a few boards, or has a couple of rotted posts but is otherwise sound, a targeted fence repair can restore it for a fraction of what a new fence would cost. Replacing two posts and a section beats replacing an entire run. We'll always tell you honestly whether repair makes sense or whether you'd be throwing good money after bad — because a repair that won't hold isn't a bargain.
Why the Cheapest Bid Isn't Always the Best Value
It's tempting to simply hire whoever comes in lowest, but the rock-bottom bid often hides costs you'll pay later. The savings usually come from somewhere: thinner posts, shallow holes that heave in our freeze-thaw winters, cheaper hardware that rusts, skipping the permit, or a vague quote that grows with "extras" mid-project. A fence that leans or sags in a few years isn't cheap — it's expensive twice.
At St. Louis Fence Co., we'd rather earn your trust with a clear, honest quote than win it with a lowball we can't deliver on. That means quality posts and hardware, proper depth and bracing for our soil, and a written estimate that spells out exactly what you're getting. Sometimes we're the lowest bid and sometimes we're not — but we aim to be the best value, which is the number that actually matters.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
The only way to know what your fence will truly cost is a free, on-site estimate. Here's how to make yours as accurate and useful as possible:
- Know your property lines, or let us help you locate them, so the fence goes where it should.
- Think through how many gates you want and how wide — especially if you need vehicle or equipment access.
- Mention any existing fence that needs removal, and any HOA or subdivision rules you're aware of.
- Have a rough idea of your priorities — privacy, security, looks, low maintenance, budget — so we can steer you to the right material.
We'll come out, measure, walk the yard with you, talk through materials and styles, and leave you with a transparent written quote and no pressure to sign anything.
Get Your Free Fence Estimate
Ready to find out what your project actually costs? Request a free estimate or call (314) 200-0529. We'll give you an honest, itemized quote for your specific yard — so you can budget with confidence and know exactly what you're paying for.