A fencing estimate needs linear footage, fence type and height, a material breakdown, gates, post-setting method, old-fence removal, labor, and a clear total with terms. Get those nine things on one clean page and you have an estimate that wins jobs instead of confusing homeowners. Below is the full line-by-line layout you can copy, plus how to price each part.
We build websites and lead systems for fencing contractors and run our own home-service companies, so this is the estimate format we see close jobs. The estimate is only half the battle though — the contractor who replies first usually books the fence. There is a note at the end on making that speed automatic.
Your company name, license number, phone, and the customer's name and site address. Add an estimate number and date — it makes you look organized and lets you track which bids convert.
Total linear feet, height, material (cedar, vinyl, chain link, aluminum, composite), and style (privacy, picket, ranch rail). This is the spine of the price and the first thing the homeowner checks against other bids.
List each gate by width and type — walk gate, double-drive gate — with its own price. Gates carry hardware and labor a per-foot number hides, so they belong on their own lines.
Post count, spacing, and whether they are set in concrete. Concrete-set posts cost more and last longer; spelling it out shows the homeowner why a cheaper bid may be cutting that corner.
Tear-out of the old fence and disposal, priced separately. Skipping this line is how contractors lose money on a job that came with an existing fence nobody mentioned.
A line for the permit if the city requires one, the utility locate call, and grading or rock-digging surcharges. State who pulls the permit so there is no argument later.
A prominent total, the deposit you need to schedule, payment terms, a warranty note, and how long the estimate is valid — 30 days is standard while lumber and vinyl prices move.
Build the per-foot number from materials plus labor plus margin. Rough installed ranges in 2026:
Walk the line, measure the actual footage, and count posts before quoting. A bid off a satellite photo is how a profitable job turns into a break-even one.
We don't post stock testimonials. On a 15-minute call we screen-share the real dashboards behind our own businesses — live leads, rankings, and the exact page that produced each one. See the proof →
If you send a few estimates a week, a clean template in a doc or spreadsheet is genuinely enough — do not pay for software you will not use. The thing worth fixing first is how fast a new lead reaches you. Most fencing jobs go to whoever quotes first, and a homeowner who fills out your site at 9 p.m. is gone by morning if nothing catches them.
That is the part we build. Our fencing website with 24/7 AI lead capture starts at $249/month — it answers "do you do vinyl?" and "can you do 200 feet?" and takes the number so you can send the estimate the same day. Add the SEO engine at $597/month and the full CRM from $1,750/month. You own every lead, first demo in 48 hours. More for fencing pros: fencing SEO, SEO for contractors, and SEO for home services.
Footage, fence type and height, materials, gates, post setting, removal, labor, permits, the total, and terms with a deposit and validity window. A site sketch and photos help close it.
Per linear foot installed: roughly $20–$45 chain link, $25–$60 wood, $30–$70 vinyl in 2026, with gates and concrete-set posts added separately. Build it from materials plus labor plus margin.
Show the total clearly, but itemize footage, gates, and removal underneath so you can defend your price against a vague one-number competitor.
Send your company name and metro — we'll confirm your market is open and build a working demo within 48 hours. Free, no card, no commitment.
Prefer email? [email protected]