Build a Fence
A straight wood fence on a flat lot is a hard weekend, not a mystery. The property line, the frost depth, and a pool change the project.
This is a judgment page, not a step-by-step how-to. The procedure lives in the vetted links at the bottom.
The call
DIY a simple wood or panel fence on ground you can dig, after you have confirmed the property line and the local height rule. Hire a fence company for a steep slope, a long run of rocky soil, a pool barrier, or any line you are not sure you own. A fence in the wrong place is an expensive argument.
- Difficulty
- Time
- A weekend or two for a straight run
- DIY estimate
- $15–$45 per linear foot in materials for wood
- Pro estimate
- $25–$70 per linear foot installed
3 of 5
Rough national estimate, not a quote. Prices move with the city, the brand, and whatever the job turns into once you open it up.
Tools
- TODO: affiliate link
Post hole digger or a one-person auger
- TODO: affiliate link
Level, string line, and stakes
- TODO: affiliate link
Circular saw or miter saw
- TODO: affiliate link
Drill and a tape measure
Materials
- TODO: affiliate link
Pressure-treated posts rated for ground contact
- TODO: affiliate link
Rails, pickets or panels, and exterior fasteners
- TODO: affiliate link
Concrete or gravel, whichever your local practice and the post maker call for
- TODO: affiliate link
Gate hardware, if the run includes a gate
Affiliate slots are placeholders. A live shop link will be marked as sponsored. See the affiliate disclosure.
Safety notes
- Call 811 before you dig. Utility locates are free and they are not optional.
- Confirm the property line with a survey if the pins are missing. A neighbor's word and a mower line are not a survey.
- Auger torque can injure a wrist or an ankle. Read the machine, and don't wear loose clothes.
- Post holes deeper than you can stand in, and any trench, are a collapse risk. Don't put a person in an unsupported hole.
- A fence around a pool has life-safety rules: height, gates, and latches. Don't guess. Use the local code.
Do I need a permit?
Height, the lot line, and pools change the answer.
Some states exempt fences under a set height unless the fence is a required pool or safety barrier. Zoning, HOA rules, and setbacks still apply when the building code does not. Read the fence line on your state page, then call the local building department and confirm the property line before you dig.
On each state page, read: Fence.
Permit triggers are local. This is general information, not legal advice. All state pages · Disclaimer
Best How-To Videos & Articles
We link to guides that already exist. We don't rewrite them.
- How to Build a Privacy Fence
Family Handyman · Article
- How to Choose and Put Up a Fence
This Old House · Article
TODO: add a verified YouTube link for this project.
Questions people ask first
- Can I build a fence myself?
- Yes, for a straightforward wood fence on flat ground you have the right to build on. Hire it out for slopes, rock, a pool barrier, or an unclear property line.
- How much does it cost to build a fence?
- Wood materials are often $15–$45 per linear foot. Installed, a typical wood fence is often $25–$70 per linear foot. Those are rough estimates, not a quote.
- Do I need a permit to build a fence?
- Often yes for height, and almost always if it is a pool barrier. Zoning can apply even when a building permit does not. Check your state page and the local building department.