Cedar Fence Cost in 2026: Price Per Linear Foot by Height
Cedar fencing costs $15 to $45 per linear foot installed in 2026, with a standard 6-ft privacy fence landing between $25 and $55/ft depending on your region and grade. Height is the biggest cost driver — an 8-ft fence can run 60-100% more than a 4-ft fence because it needs deeper posts and a third rail. This guide breaks down material, labor, and maintenance costs by height, plus a real DIY-vs-professional savings comparison.
Quick Answer
A cedar fence costs $15-$45 per linear foot installed, or roughly $3,700-$9,300 for a typical 150-200 ft yard. Materials run $8.50-$16.50/ft and labor $10-$30/ft, so labor is usually about half the total. Height matters most: 4-ft costs the least, 6-ft privacy fencing is the most common at $25-$55/ft, and 8-ft fences can exceed $75/ft once permits and extra bracing are factored in.
What Determines Cedar Fence Cost?
Cedar costs more than pressure-treated pine because it resists rot and insects naturally, without chemical treatment — see our comparison of the best cedar species for a fence for how Janka hardness and decay resistance affect price per linear foot. Four factors set your final number: wood grade, fence height, total length, and local labor rates. Higher grades (clear, knot-free cedar) cost more upfront but need less maintenance over 15-25 years, while lower grades save money now but may need board replacement sooner.
Length affects cost linearly — a 200-ft fence costs roughly twice what a 100-ft fence does for materials, though labor gets slightly cheaper per foot on longer runs since setup time is spread out. Measure your property line before requesting quotes; contractors price almost everything per linear foot.
Cedar Fence Cost by Height (2026)
Height is the single biggest lever on cedar fence pricing. Going from 4 ft to 6 ft adds roughly 30-50% to material and labor cost because posts must be set deeper and taller, pickets run longer, and a third horizontal rail becomes necessary above the 4-ft span. An 8-ft fence adds another 25-35% over the 6-ft price and may trigger a building permit in many municipalities — 6-ft-and-under fences usually don’t.
| Height | Cost Per Linear Foot (Installed) | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| 4 ft | $18-$30 | Front yard, decorative, pet containment |
| 5 ft | $22-$35 | Semi-privacy, pool code minimum in some areas |
| 6 ft | $25-$55 | Standard backyard privacy fence |
| 8 ft | $45-$75+ | Maximum privacy, noise buffering, often permit-required |
Before comparing quotes by height, check your local code — our fence post spacing calculator also flags typical height and wind-load limits by region, and our wood fence design comparison breaks down how style (picket, board-on-board, shadowbox) changes the per-foot number at any given height.
Material Costs
Cedar lumber alone runs $8.50 to $16.50 per linear foot in 2026, with premium clear-grade Western red cedar reaching $20+/ft. That price covers pickets, rails, and posts — but not everything you’ll need. Budget an extra $200-$300 for a typical yard to cover concrete for post footings, nails or screws, and post caps.
Stain or sealer isn’t optional if you want the fence to hold its color — see the maintenance section below for real product pricing. Regional shipping adds 15-25% to material cost in the Northeast and Midwest, since most Western red cedar ships from the Pacific Northwest.
Labor Costs
Professional installation runs $10 to $30 per linear foot, or $30-$50 per hour on a time-and-materials quote, and typically makes up 40-60% of your total project cost. Complex terrain (slopes, rocky soil, tight corners) pushes labor toward the high end. A straightforward flat 150-ft backyard run installs faster and cheaper per foot than a fence with multiple gates and grade changes.
DIY vs. Professional Installation: Real Savings
DIY installation can cut labor cost by 30-50%, but that number only tells half the story. Once you account for tool rental (post-hole digger, concrete mixer), delivery fees, and the real risk of misaligned posts or an uneven top line, the effective savings on a first-time DIY build usually land closer to 15-25% of the total project cost — not the full labor line.
| Factor | DIY | Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Labor cost | $0 (your time) | $10-$30/ft |
| Tool rental/purchase | $100-$300 | Included |
| Typical timeline (150 ft) | 2-4 weekends | 1-3 days |
| Post alignment risk | Higher on first build | Low |
| Warranty on workmanship | None | Usually 1-5 years |
DIY makes the most sense on short, flat runs (under 100 ft) where a mistake is cheap to fix. For anything over 150 ft, multiple gates, or a slope, the alignment risk and warranty gap usually justify hiring out at least the post-setting portion of the job.
Total Project Cost: A 150-Ft Cedar Fence Example
Per-foot ranges are useful for comparing quotes, but most homeowners want a total. Here’s what a 150-linear-foot, 6-ft privacy cedar fence actually costs at each tier, combining the material and labor ranges above:
| Tier | Cost/Ft | 150 Ft Total |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (DIY, standard grade) | $18-$25 | $2,700-$3,750 |
| Mid-range (professional install) | $25-$40 | $3,750-$6,000 |
| Premium (clear grade, pro install) | $45-$55 | $6,750-$8,250 |
Add $600-$1,400 if an old fence needs to be torn out and hauled away first, and budget separately for a permit if your fence exceeds 6 ft.
Maintenance Costs
Cedar’s natural oils resist rot on their own, but the wood still grays from UV exposure within a year or two if left unfinished. Staining or sealing every 2-3 years keeps the color and adds moisture protection — a 5-gallon pail covers roughly 600-750 sq ft for one coat and is the single most cost-effective way to extend a fence’s life past the 15-25 year natural range.
Beyond stain, budget for occasional board replacement — a single damaged picket runs $15-$40 to replace including labor. Check posts annually for rot at the ground line, since that’s the most common failure point on any wood fence, cedar included.
Best Cedar Fence Stain Pick
Ready Seal 112 Stain and Sealer, Natural Cedar, 1 gal
A stain-and-sealer-in-one with no back-brushing required, sized for a small-to-medium fence run.
- Best for: Fences under 150-200 sq ft needing a single-coat refresh
- Why we picked it: One-gallon size matches the maintenance-cost math above without over-buying
- Main drawback: Semi-transparent tint only — not a solid color option
Compare more cedar fence stain options
 Option 1 Olympic WaterGuard Woodland Cedar
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 Option 2 RockSolid Deck & Fence Cedar
|
 Option 3 SaverSystems Premium Semi-Transparent
|
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Affordable Alternatives to Cedar
If cedar’s price doesn’t fit your budget, two alternatives cover most of the same ground. Pressure-treated pine costs $12-$20/ft installed — roughly 30-40% less than cedar — and resists rot through chemical treatment rather than natural oils, though it needs staining or painting sooner and can warp as it dries. Vinyl fencing runs $20-$40/ft, costs more than pressure-treated pine upfront, but needs virtually no maintenance beyond an occasional wash.
Neither alternative matches cedar’s natural look or resale appeal, but both are worth pricing out if the total project cost tables above are above budget.
How to Save Money on Your Cedar Fence
- Get 3+ quotes: Labor pricing varies more than material pricing between contractors — comparing quotes typically finds a 15-20% spread for the same job.
- Buy materials in bulk: Suppliers discount full-order lumber purchases since it cuts their handling costs; buying everything in one order avoids repeat delivery fees.
- Time it for winter: Demand for fence installation drops in colder months in most regions, and some suppliers and contractors price accordingly.
- Consider a hybrid build: DIY the post-setting (the most labor-intensive part) and hire out only the picket installation, or vice versa, to split the savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a cedar fence cost per foot?
A cedar fence costs $15 to $45 per linear foot installed in 2026. The wide range comes from height and grade — a 4-ft picket fence in standard-grade cedar sits near the bottom, while a premium clear-grade 8-ft privacy fence sits at the top.
What factors affect cedar fence cost?
Height, wood grade, total length, and local labor rates drive cedar fence cost. Height matters most: a 6-ft fence typically costs 30-50% more per foot than a 4-ft fence because it needs deeper posts, longer pickets, and an extra rail.
Is cedar fencing more expensive than other woods?
Yes — cedar costs more than pressure-treated pine ($12-$20/ft) but less than premium woods like ipe. Cedar’s higher upfront cost is offset by 15-25 years of natural rot resistance with less maintenance than treated pine.
How long does a cedar fence last?
A well-built cedar fence lasts 15 to 25 years above ground with periodic staining every 2-3 years. Posts set in concrete typically last slightly less, since ground-line rot is the most common failure point on any wood fence.
Is it cheaper to build a cedar fence yourself?
DIY installation can cut the labor line by 30-50%, but after tool rental and the risk of alignment mistakes, the real-world savings on a first build are usually closer to 15-25% of total project cost — not the full labor savings.
How much does an 8-ft cedar fence cost compared to a 6-ft fence?
An 8-ft cedar fence typically costs 25-35% more per linear foot than a 6-ft fence, largely from deeper post footings and additional bracing, and may require a building permit that a 6-ft fence would not.
Conclusion
Cedar fence cost comes down to three numbers you control directly: height, grade, and whether you DIY the labor. Use the per-foot ranges above to sanity-check contractor quotes, and budget for staining every 2-3 years to get the full 15-25 year lifespan out of the wood. For species-specific pricing, see our best cedar for fence comparison, or browse our full cedar wood guide for staining, sealing, and care topics.
