Cost guide · Greater Boston
How much does a fence cost in South Shore?
Most fencing projects in South Shore run $4,050 – $7,950, with a typical fencing project around $6,000. Adjust the estimate for your job below. Figures reviewed 2026-07.
Walk the line and pace it off — a pace is about 3 feet.
Estimated range
$4,050 – $7,950
Typical fencing project around $6,000
- Fence installation (labor & materials)
- $3,750 – $7,500
- Walk gates
- $250 – $400
- Permit
- $60
A ballpark from regional averages — not a quote. Your price depends on the specifics of the job, so get written quotes from two or three licensed pros before deciding.
How this estimate works
A ballpark from regional averages — not a quote. Your price depends on the specifics of the job, so get written quotes from two or three licensed pros before deciding.
- Per-foot rates are installed — posts set below the frost line, materials, and labor — for standard heights on workable ground.
- 8-ft fences are modeled at +30%, and heights above 6 ft often need zoning board sign-off on top of the standard permit.
- Sloped or ledgy yards add roughly $5–$10 per linear foot for stepped sections and harder digging — not included above.
- The permit line uses Boston's ~$60 fence permit; suburban town fees vary but stay in the same neighborhood.
- The gate band covers standard walk gates; wide driveway and double gates price separately toward the top of the $150–$580 gate range.
Ranges reflect published Greater Boston contractor pricing and regional cost data, last reviewed 2026-07.
What drives the price
Material and height
The per-foot spread between chain-link and aluminum is 3–6×, and height compounds it: an 8-ft privacy run costs about 30% more than 6-ft for the same line. Decide what the fence is for — containment, privacy, or curb appeal — before shopping materials, and the price range narrows itself.
Length and gates
Long runs spread the crew's mobilization over more feet, so per-foot pricing improves as jobs grow. Gates cut the other way: each walk gate runs $250–$400 installed because hinging, latching, and squaring a gate is the fussiest part of the job, and driveway gates cost more still.
Your ground
Fence quotes assume diggable soil. New England's glacial rock, roots, and slopes often disagree — stepped sections and hand-digging around ledge add $5–$10 per foot. A contractor who walks the line before quoting is pricing your yard, not an average one.
Property lines and paperwork
The permit is the easy part (~$60 in Boston). The expensive mistake is building on the neighbor's side of the line — Massachusetts fence disputes are common enough that confirming pins or paying for a survey is cheap insurance before setting posts that are meant to last 20 years.
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See all 54 fence contractors in South ShoreFence cost questions, answered
- How much does a fence cost in South Shore?
- The average fence project in South Shore runs about $3,741 — roughly $26 per linear foot installed. A typical 150-foot run of 6-ft wood privacy fence lands between $3,750 and $7,500, plus $250–$400 per walk gate and about $60 for the permit. Chain-link comes in well under that; aluminum and tall privacy runs come in above.
- How much does fencing cost per foot in Massachusetts?
- Installed per-foot prices run $10–$27 for chain-link, $20–$40 for 4-ft wood picket, $25–$50 for 6-ft wood privacy, $15–$40 for vinyl, and $25–$60 for aluminum. Going to 8 ft adds about 30%, and sloped or rocky ground adds $5–$10 per foot — worth asking how a bid handles both before comparing numbers.
- Do I need a permit to build a fence in South Shore?
- Usually, and it's cheap — Boston's fence permit runs about $60, and most surrounding towns charge similar fees for fences up to 6 ft. Go above 6 ft and many Massachusetts towns require zoning relief, not just a permit. Two calls before any posts go in: your building department, and Dig Safe (811) to mark buried utilities — the markout is free and required.
- What does it cost to remove an old fence?
- Tear-out and disposal runs $3–$7 per linear foot, so clearing a 150-foot run costs $450–$1,050. Most installers roll removal into the new-fence quote — just confirm the line item is there, since hauling old pressure-treated wood or concrete-set posts is real work that shows up somewhere.
- Which fence material is the best value?
- Chain-link is the budget answer at $10–$27 per foot and nearly maintenance-free. Vinyl at $15–$40 costs more up front than wood but never needs staining. Wood privacy at $25–$50 is the classic look with the classic upkeep — plan on re-staining every few years. Aluminum at $25–$60 buys the ornamental look for front yards where privacy isn't the point.