When homeowners ask us, “How much does a new fence cost?” the honest answer is: it depends. There are several factors that go into the final price, from the material you choose to the supporting posts.
To help break it down in a clear practical way, we sat down with one of our estimators, Steffan, and asked him to walk us through the main things that affect fencing costs. Read below or watch our video interview of Steffan.
As Steffan puts it, “Fencing varies. You first have to decide, do you want cedar? Vinyl? Chain link? Ornamental?”
In this article we’ll focus primarily on cedar fencing, since it’s the most popular here in the Pacific Northwest and makes up the majority of the projects we build.
The Most Cost-Effective Cedar Fence
According to Steffan, “Cedar’s gonna be the most common. The most cost effective cedar fence would be our Silver Star.”
The Silver Star is our simplest, most budget-friendly cedar fence style. It uses:
5½” or 6″ wide cedar pickets
Six-foot height
Dog-ear or flat-top pickets
A two-rail support system on the back
Because it uses fewer materials and installs quickly, it offers solid performance at the lowest price point.
When we asked why it’s the most affordable option, Steffan explained it simply:
“It’s using less material, just the cedar boards, two rails, and the posts. We can install those very quickly.”
Third Rails and Base Packages
While the base Silver Star keeps costs low, some homeowners choose upgrades for better long-term performance.
Third Rail Upgrade
Adding a third rail increases the fence’s stability especially for taller fences, wind-exposed yards, or homeowners who want a longer-lasting structure.
Base Package (Pressure-Treated Posts)
This upgrade swaps the standard cedar posts for pressure treated wood posts, offering better rot resistance than cedar alone. However…
Why Steel Posts Are Worth It
One of the strongest themes in our conversation with Steffan was the value of upgrading to steel posts.
He didn’t hesitate:
“On a 50-foot run of fence, you might be looking at only maybe a couple hundred dollars more to go to a steel post. To me, that’s a no-brainer.”
Why? Because today’s pressure-treated posts aren’t lasting the way they used to.
“We’ve been seeing pressure-treated posts rot out in as little as eight to ten years,” Steffan said. “They start to fail.”
Steel posts, on the other hand:
Don’t rot
Don’t twist
Don’t warp
Last decades longer
The slightly higher up front cost pays off in long term durability and lower future repair bills.
What About Demo Costs?
If we’re removing your old fence, there’s an additional demo charge, typically around $10 per linear foot.
Here’s what that includes:
Cutting old posts below ground level
Hauling out old materials
Removing corner and gate posts (included in the base price)
If you want us to remove every old concrete-set post including line posts, those cost about $110 each because they’re more labor intensive.
We like to keep this process as simple and predictable as possible so you can plan your budget with confidence.
The Most Important Upgrade: Gate Posts
If there’s one upgrade we strongly recommend, it’s this:
Use a steel gate post. Always.
Steffan said it perfectly:
“Don’t skimp out on your gate posts. I’m pretty sure I can say every one of us has experienced a gate that sags or rubs and you have to lift it up to close. The reason is the post is sagging on you.”
Wood gate posts eventually weaken under the weight of the gate. Steel posts don’t.
We typically install 2½” steel gate posts, which keep the gate perfectly aligned for years.
Metal Frame Gates: Our Standard for a Reason
About 90% of our gates use a metal frame. You can choose a wood frame if you want, but Steffan put it bluntly:
“A wood frame gate is never gonna stay true. It’s never going to stay straight on you. Wood moves over time.”
Metal frame gates stay square, swing cleanly, and hold up much better in our wet Northwest climate.
He went on to share a story:
“I went to a job where we’d installed the gate and fence ten years ago. The gate swung and closed just like it did the day it was installed, no rubbing, no sagging, clean latch.”
That’s exactly why we build them this way.
Final Thoughts
Building a fence is a big investment, and choosing the right materials can dramatically extend the life of your project. While the Silver Star fence offers a great balance of affordability and quality, many homeowners find that small upgrades, especially steel posts and metal gate frames, provide major long-term value.