How Much Does It Cost to Install a Woven Wire Fence per Foot?

Average Cost to Install a Woven Wire Fence

Woven Wire Fence Prices

When determining the cost of a woven wire fence, you must account for the fencing itself, but also other necessities like posts, gates, and hardware.

Fencing

How much a woven wire fence costs varies depending on the length and height of the fence, its strength, and the size of its mesh.

Based on the above considerations, you can expect to pay $0.40 to $1.50 per linear foot for woven wire fencing, depending on how much you buy, how tall it is, and how strong it is. This works out to $350 to $1,300 per square acre of land and $2,100 to $8,800 per mile.

Posts

The cost of the posts you need to install woven wire fencing vary based on their material, thickness, and height. Your most common choices include wood and metal.

Wood posts are the more affordable option, generally costing $20 to $50 each. The downside to using wood is that it offers less durability. Even with proper treatment, wood will eventually succumb to the elements and rot, necessitating replacement as often as every few years.

Metal posts cost a little more at $25 to $60 each. This material will easily last longer than wood, and many will agree that it looks a lot better.

However, metal posts are generally thin, so while they may be fine for fences designed for aesthetic purposes, they may not have the strength to hold up heavier wire. You'll need more posts and to space them closer together to get the job done.

Gates

At the very least, you'll need at least one gate to access your property. In some cases, you might prefer the convenience of several access points.

Gates cost $150 to $600 each, based on their length, material, and level of decoration. The most common gate styles are 4-foot openings that allow for walk-through access. Drive-through gates for cars measuring 5- to 14-feet long.

Other Materials

Depending on how you decide to construct your fence, there can be a number of other materials you'll need to complete the project. At the least, nails or staples to attach the fencing to posts will run $20 to $50 for the average project.

You might also need concrete to secure the posts and give them more holding power. These generally run $3 to $6 per bag, and you might need one to two bags per post.

Woven Wire Fence Installation Cost

When you hire a local fencing company to complete your installation, you may be charged by the hour or by the foot. Either way, you'll generally agree to a total price before the project starts.

By the Hour

When dealing with smaller projects, a fence installer may choose to quote by the hour. The cost for this service is typically $40 to $60 per hour. Depending on the size of your project, the installer can usually complete the task in one to three days, resulting in total labor charges of $320 to $1,440.

By the Foot

Many installers prefer to charge by the foot for their services. In general, expect to pay $1.10 to $2.50 per linear foot just for woven wire fence installation costs. Assuming your property measures 835 linear feet (about an acre), you'll pay roughly $920 to $2,090.

Woven Wire Fence Installation Cost per Foot

When preparing an estimate for fence installation cost, many professionals opt to measure the project by foot. To come up with a total cost, they'll add together the cost of materials and the cost of labor.

Depending on the woven wire fencing you choose, you'll pay $0.40 to $1.50 per linear foot.

Fencing companies generally charge $1.10 to $2.50 per linear foot for installation.

When you combine the cost of materials and labor, this translates to $1.50 to $4.00 per linear foot, $1,300 to $3,400 per square acre, and $8,000 to $21,000 per mile.

Woven Wire Fence Cost Factors

The biggest factors that determine how much you'll pay to install a woven wire fence include preparation, the cost of the fencing, and installation costs.

Preparation

No matter where you live, there's some level of preparation that must be done before you can build your fence. This may be as simple as registering for a permit or as extensive as grading the property.

Permits

Most municipalities will require that you obtain a permit before you make upgrades to your property. Permits help ensure that your additions are safe and up to building codes, and that they align with the area's rules on appearance and quality.

In general, permitting costs $25 to $50, though this cost can run into the hundreds depending on your area. Always contact your local zoning office before starting a project as the fines for building without permission can easily exceed the cost of the original permitting.

Land Grading

In a perfect world, you'll have property that's perfectly clean and level. This makes installing a new fence an easy task because you don't have to account for changes in elevation or building around trees and other obstructions.

For the rest of us, putting up a fence typically involves some level of ground preparation. The lucky ones may only need to clear minor brush or fill some low areas. Other property owners may have to pay to cut down numerous trees or level the entire property.

Depending on your needs, you might pay $500 to $5,000 to prepare for the installation of a fence.

Materials

The cost of the actual woven wire fencing is by far the biggest expense when it comes to materials. While shopping, you'll notice that you have lots of options for a fence's length and height, strength, and mesh size.

Length and Height

Woven wire fencing is sold in rolls, with most manufacturers offering lengths of 100 to 330 feet per roll. You can purchase these rolls at your local hardware store, home improvement store, or wholesale through a contractor for larger jobs.

For height, your most common options are 4, 6, and 8 feet tall. You'll choose a height based on your specific needs or personal preferences.

For example, if you're building a fence to enclose livestock, you'll want to consider the size of the animals and how high they can jump. For residential areas, it's common to use 4-foot-tall fencing in the front yard and 6 to 8-foot-tall fencing in the backyard.

Strength

The strength of a woven wire fence is expressed in the gauge of the wire. The thinnest fences are made from 18-gauge wire, while the strongest are made from 6-gauge wire. If you need a fence simply to note property lines or discourage trespassers, an 18 to 12.5-gauge fence is sufficient.

On the other hand, if you need to contain animals or keep neighborhood dogs and other pests off your property, a 10 to 6-gauge fence is a better, stronger option.

Mesh Size

The last consideration when choosing a woven wire fence is the size of its mesh. Generally, you want smaller holes if you're fencing livestock. Fences with 2-by-4-inch mesh are ideal for animals since their feet and hooves can't get through the holes.

For residential areas, 6-by-6-inch mesh is a good choice because it can safely contain pets and children but won't obstruct natural views.

Installation

When you hire a professional to install your woven wire fence, you might pay by the hour for smaller projects and by linear foot for most others.

Fence installers typically charge $40 to $60 per hour. If they quote you by distance, expect to pay $1.10 to $2.50 per linear foot.

Cost to Install Woven Wire Fence Yourself

Assuming you already have basic tools like hammers and measuring tapes, the only other expense you might consider is the cost of a post driver or post hole digger. While you can certainly use a shovel instead, these tools make it easier to drive metal posts into the ground or dig holes for thicker wood posts.

Manual post drivers and post hole diggers typically cost $20 to $50. If you don't think you'll use these tools again, you can also rent them for $10 to $20 per day.

If manual labor isn't your thing, you can also opt for powered drivers and diggers. They'll set you back $250 to $500 if you purchase them outright, or you can rent them for about $50 to $60 a day from a hardware or home improvement store.

DIY vs. Hire a Fencing Pro

On the surface, installing a fence seems like an easy job—all you have to do is place some posts and attach the fence to them, right?

In reality, it can be back-breaking labor. Depending on the size of your project, the tools you have available to you, and your overall skill level, it can take many days of digging, tugging, and hammering to set posts and attach fencing.

Digging holes for posts can be made easier with a powered hole digger, but there are no easy solutions for unraveling and lifting wire fencing into place. Consider this: A 350-foot roll of 10-gauge fencing weighs over 200 pounds.

If you're knowledgeable about fence building and have friends or family who can help you with your project, this may be a task you can take on. But in most cases, it's simply faster, safer, and more effective to hire a fence installer instead.

FAQs

How long does a woven wire fence last?

Woven wire fencing is a durable material that can last 20 to 30 years, depending on local conditions. If you use wood posts, you'll need to repair or replace those long before you have to worry about the fencing itself.

How do I stop weeds and bushes from going through a wire woven fence?

Preparation before installing a fence can do a lot to prevent weeds and bushes from becoming a problem later. Create a clear zone extending 1 to 2 feet that's free of all vegetation on either side of the fence.

If possible, use gravel or concrete to discourage plant growth. You'll need to maintain this clear zone manually or through the use of herbicides to prevent encroachment.