Fencing quotes usually come as a single all-in number per linear foot — but that simplicity hides an important exception: gates. Our Fence Cost Calculator keeps the math as simple as a real contractor quote, while still handling that one exception correctly.
Linear footage × an all-in rate
The core calculation is straightforward: your total fence length in linear feet, multiplied by a price-per-foot rate that already bundles materials and installation labor together — matching how most fencing contractors actually quote a job, rather than forcing you to track separate material and labor line items.
Why gates don’t fit the per-foot model
A straight run of fence panels scales predictably with length — twice the length, roughly twice the cost. Gates don’t work that way: they involve hardware (hinges, latches, posts, sometimes automation) and installation complexity that doesn’t scale linearly with a few extra feet of opening. That’s why this calculator prices gates as a flat cost per gate, entered separately, rather than trying to blend that cost into the linear-foot rate.
A worked example
200 linear feet of fence at $25/ft, plus 1 gate at $250: that’s $5,000 in fencing plus $250 for the gate, for a total estimated project cost of $5,250.
What this doesn’t include
This is a materials-and-installation estimate only. It doesn’t add permit fees, the cost of removing an existing fence, or restoring landscaping disturbed during installation — all common additional costs on a real fencing project that you’ll want to budget for separately.
Try it yourself: Fence Cost Calculator.