How to read the result
We work out what the job you described would cost at our prices, then see where your quote falls against that midpoint:
| Against our midpoint | What we call it | What it usually calls for |
|---|---|---|
| More than 30% under | Well below | Find out what's missing before you pay anything. |
| 15% to 30% under | Below | Check that it covers the same job. |
| Within 15% | Within our range | Compare what's included, not just the price. |
| 15% to 40% over | Above | Ask what's driving the price. |
| More than 40% over | Well above | Get another written quote. |
Those limits are our own judgment, not an industry standard. They sort the advice. They don't decide whether a contractor is honest.
Here's an example. Say you're quoted $7,400 for 150 feet of 6-foot wood fence with one walk gate. Our range for that job is $4,760 to $6,440, so the quote sits about $960 above it. That doesn't make it a bad quote. If the yard is on a slope and the price includes hauling away the old fence, it could be perfectly fair. It's simply the point to ask for a breakdown.
This is a rough check, not a verdict
We don't survey contractors. Our prices are mid-range figures taken from published US cost guides, as our method page explains, so they describe a typical job and not your town. We also can't see your yard.
Our figure leaves out sales tax, permits, surveys, clearing brush, rock, steep slopes and hard access. If your quote includes any of those, it should come in higher than ours. A good local quote is better information than our number, which is why the real use of this tool is to help you ask better questions.
Reasons a higher quote can be fair
- The ground. Rock and roots slow the digging, and a slope means stepping or cutting every panel.
- Getting to the yard. If the only way in is a narrow side gate, everything gets carried by hand.
- Better materials. Thicker vinyl, heavier posts or a higher grade of board all cost more, and they may be worth it. Ask to see the specification.
- Extras we don't count. A permit, a survey, tax or stain can all be part of a quote.
- A short job. A crew still needs a truck and a day's work, so a short fence costs more per foot.
- Where you live. Labor costs vary widely by area. The labor setting above gives a rough idea of how much.
What a low quote can leave out
The Federal Trade Commission's advice is not to pick the lowest bidder automatically, and to ask for an explanation when there's a big difference between estimates. On a fence, a low number can mean fewer posts, shallower holes, no concrete, thinner boards, or a price that leaves out the gates, the old fence or the cleanup. It can also just be a good price, but you won't know until it's written down.
What should be in writing
The FTC says a written estimate should describe the work, the materials, the completion date and the price. It also suggests asking for a written contract even if your state doesn't require one, with the contractor's name, address, phone and license number, and estimated start and finish dates. If you sign at home, the contract should also state your right to cancel within three business days. For a fence, we'd make sure it also covers:
- The length, height, material and style, with the brand if it's vinyl or aluminum.
- Post size and spacing, how deep the posts go, and whether they're set in concrete.
- The number and size of gates, and the hardware.
- Who removes and hauls away the old fence, and who cleans up.
- Who applies for any permit, and who calls 811 to have the buried lines marked.
- Which side of the fence faces out, and where exactly the line runs.
- What the warranty covers on materials and labor.
Comparing several quotes
The FTC suggests getting more than one estimate. To compare them fairly, ask each contractor to price the same written job. Then take out the gates and the removal, and divide what's left by the feet of fence. That gives you a price per foot you can put side by side, and our fence cost guide shows what's typical for each material.
How much to pay up front
Don't pay the full amount up front. The FTC points out that some states limit how much a contractor can ask for as a down payment, so check yours. California is the clearest example: the down payment on a home improvement job can't be more than $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less, and later payments can't run ahead of the work that's been done.
The FTC lists asking for everything up front, or accepting only cash, among the signs of a scam. It also says never to make the final payment until the work is done and you're satisfied.
Fair questions
How accurate is this?
It can tell you whether a quote is in the right neighborhood for a typical job. It can't tell you what your fence should cost, because that depends on your yard and your local prices.
Should I just take the lowest quote?
Not automatically. Compare what each one includes first, and check insurance and any license your state requires. The cheapest quote is only cheapest if it's for the same fence.
My quote is per foot. What do I enter?
Multiply it by your feet of fence and add the gates and any other charges. The checker compares whole jobs.
Does it work for decks?
Not yet. For now, the deck cost calculator gives you a range to hold a deck quote against.
Do you keep what I type?
No. The comparison runs in your own browser, and the number you enter is never sent to us. Our privacy policy explains what the site does collect.
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission, How to avoid a home improvement scam: what a written estimate and a contract should say, checking licenses and insurance, and how to handle payments.
- California Contractors State License Board, Learn about home improvement contracts: California's limit on down payments and its rule that payments can't run ahead of the work.
- Call 811: the national call-before-you-dig service, for when and how to have buried utilities marked.
- How we calculate: every suggested price behind this calculator, with the date it was last reviewed.
