Fence labour calculator
Wood privacy fence, set in concrete, priced by the running foot.
Fence
Wood privacy fence, set in concrete, priced by the running foot.
Default 4 linear feet an hour, or $12 a foot for labour alone. Price excludes sales tax.
$4,531
$28.32 / linear ftPrice excludes sales tax.
How this calculator prices a job
Wood privacy fence set in concrete, priced by the running foot. Post holes are where the hours hide — rock, roots and slope all cost real time.
The formula
hours = quantity ÷ production rate base = hours × labour rate (or quantity × per-unit rate) burden = base × burden % cost = base + burden price = cost ÷ (1 − margin)
Assumptions and defaults
| Production | 4 linear ft/hr |
| Per-unit rate | $12 per linear ft |
| Labour rate | $65/hr default |
| Payroll burden | 22% of base labour |
| Crew | 3 people, eight-hour days |
| Target margin | 30% |
Pro tips
Gates are not fence. Price each one separately — hardware, posts and hanging make a gate worth three or four feet of fence.
Walk the line before you quote. A run across a slope needs stepped panels and more posts, and rock means an auger day you did not plan.
Burden is not optional. Payroll taxes, workers' comp, liability and paid time run 20 to 35 per cent on top of the wage you quote — a crew at $65 an hour costs you nearer $80 before a single overhead dollar.
Margin divides, it does not multiply. A 30 per cent margin on $1,000 of cost is $1,429, not $1,300 — the second number is a 30 per cent markup and only a 23 per cent margin.
Common questions
What should I charge to build a fence?
Labour alone is commonly $12 a running foot for wood privacy. At 4 linear feet an hour with burden, the hourly basis agrees.
How long does a fence take?
About four linear feet an hour for a two-person crew including post setting. Concrete cure time makes most fences a two-visit job.
How do I price labour to hit a target margin?
Divide, never multiply: price = cost ÷ (1 − margin). An all-in labour cost of $2,000 at a 30 per cent margin is $2,857. Multiplying by 1.30 gives $2,600, which is only a 23 per cent margin.
What is payroll burden?
Everything you pay on top of the wage: payroll taxes, workers' comp, liability insurance, holiday and any benefits. Twenty-two per cent is a reasonable starting point for a small crew — check yours against last year's numbers and change the field.
Does this include materials?
No. This tool prices labour only, so the number stays honest when material prices move. Work the quantities out in the material calculator and add them as their own line.