Expert Guide to Split Rail Fence Costs
Know exactly how much a split rail fence costs in 2025 based on our data and a breakdown of labor, materials, styles, installation options & more!
Split rail fences, also known as ranch fences or post and rail fences, are a distinctive style of fence made up of evenly spaced posts with two or three horizontal rails running parallel to each other. Despite their rural origin, split rail fences are now being built around homes in more urban areas as well. They are usually built out of wood and more recently vinyl, or PVC, has become a popular choice for split rail fences as well.
The cost of installing a new split rail fence for your home improvement project will vary depending on a number of factors, including the material, length and terrain. Most homeowners will pay between $1,500 and $3,500 for a new split rail fence, with a national average of about $2,800 across materials. The number of rails and material used will also affect the final project cost. Redwood, cedar and pine will cost less than vinyl. Metal materials will cost more than vinyl.
Fence installation cost estimates are usually calculated by the cost per linear feet of fencing. The price per linear foot includes both the cost of fence materials as well as the cost of installation. The national average cost for split rail fences is $20 per linear foot. Depending on where you live and the material you choose to use, that cost could be as low as $11 per linear foot or as high as $29 per linear foot.
Split rail fences can be made out of a variety of different materials.
Vinyl is a bit more expensive up front than wood but has a longer lifetime and requires less maintenance. It also has other advantages like being impervious to pests and rot, unlike wood, and doesn’t require staining or painting over the years. It is also available in a variety of colors. For a vinyl split rail fence, the cost per linear foot is on average $18 to $29.
Some of the most common wood types used for fences are western red cedar and pine. A cedar split rail fence or pine fence will cost $11 to $20 per linear foot including both cost of materials and installation. If you break down the costs between materials and installation, and compare vinyl and wood, you will see that the installation cost of wood is higher than vinyl. That is because the assembly is more complicated than it is for vinyl fences.
Some less common types of materials for split rail fences are aluminum or chain link. Aluminum is a high cost material which makes it an uncommon choice for split rail fences that enclose large properties like cattle ranches. The cost of materials alone for an aluminum fence is $22 to $32 per linear foot.
Most of the time a split rail fence is four feet high, with two or three rails. That is the size fence that the average costs are usually based on. However, if you need a taller fence to keep in horses or livestock a higher fence with more rails might work better. In this case, the fence would be six feet tall.
The material you choose for your fence posts could be different then the material you want for the rails. For example, a fence meant to keep in large animals would need to be stronger than a front yard decorative fence in the city. If you decide to use metal for the posts then you will need to get a more accurate estimate that takes that into account. The cost will go up slightly if you choose a more expensive material for the posts.
A gate for a split rail fence will cost less than gates for other types of fences because the split rail fence gate requires less materials. The average cost of a split rail fence gate is $250. That includes both walk-in gates and driveway gates, so it is a good estimate to start with but it is important to understand it could be significantly less or more depending on the size of gate. The materials used in the gate will also affect the cost.
The cost per linear foot that we have included in this post have included both materials and labor unless otherwise stated. But if you are still on the fence about whether you want to hire professionals to install your fence or try to do it yourself, it can be really useful to see the cost per linear foot broken down by cost of materials per linear foot and cost of installation per linear foot.
If you are paying someone to construct your split rail fence, that could cost you around $500 to $1,200 per 150 feet of fencing. The cost will be higher or lower depending on what your property and landscape is like. If it is on a slope or the terrain is rocky and requires more digging, it could cost more to install the fence.
You may or may not need a permit to build your fence. These are more common with larger industrial projects but it is good to know for sure before you begin. If you do end up needing a permit for your split rail fence, it would likely cost $20 to $60. Permits in residential projects are typically needed if you build above a certain height, like seven feet. This would be uncommon with a split rail fence. To find out for sure, ask your town’s building inspector or the city hall. Many times you can find this out online at your city’s website.
You may have to submit a fee just for applying for a permit, and when it is approved. Some cities also require a sketch of your plan, photos, and written consent from your neighbors. You also need to know where the underground gas, water, and power lines are located prior to doing any digging.
There are some circumstances where you will need to pay more than the average price per linear foot. On top of materials and professional installation costs, depending on your property you may need to pay for some other services. These costs can be related to the terrain where you are having the fence installed or there can be additional costs for extras added to your fence beyond the basic setup.
If there are a lot of bushes or even trees in the way of where you want your fence to be, you will need to have those removed before starting fence construction. If you have an old fence in place, that is another time where you will need some prep work done to create space for the new fence. You will need to have that old fence removed before starting on the new one!
Sometimes the terrain itself is something that will cause the fence installation to be more difficult, and therefore cost a little more. If the terrain you are building the fence on is very rocky or on a slope, that will take additional work for the people installing the fence so it will add on to the overall cost.
Beyond terrain related reasons, there are aesthetic reasons you can choose to pay extra for your fence installation. If you want to add extra hardware or accessories to your fence or fence gate, that is another time when you will need to pay more than the average price per linear foot. Some examples of these are post caps, decorative latches, or lattice tops.
Finally, if you want to have the fence painted or stained, that is an additional cost to the average price. That cost on average is about $7.50 per linear foot.
The lifetime of your split rail fence depends on the materials that you choose to have it made out of. A wooden fence should last about 15 years, and with proper maintenance it can last up to 20 years. A vinyl fence will last 20 to 30 years. For a longer lasting fence, you will want to try out a metal fence.
Split rail fences traditionally do not need concrete to set the posts in, but it is possible to have your posts set in concrete if you want them to be. This type of fence is not set in concrete because it is designed to be repairable. If the posts are set in concrete, it would be much harder to replace them if they rot or are otherwise compromised.
The split rail fence is one of the cheapest types of fences to have installed. Chain link and chicken wire fences are also inexpensive compared to other types of fences. But the split rail fence can usually be found at the top of the lists of cheapest fences!
Split rail fences have many benefits. These include that it is affordable to buy and easy to install. It is a simple way to mark property lines. Also, the split rail fence can conform to different types of terrain and slopes on your property.
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Fence Costs
