Fence Cost in Colorado: Cedar, Vinyl and Metal Installed

Fence installation in Colorado typically runs $25 to $60 per linear foot installed on most residential jobs in 2026, per Angi’s Denver fence installation cost data and A Straight Up Fence Company Denver—with a Denver average near $22 per linear foot on Angi when scopes stay simple. Cedar sources disagree honestly: Angi and some Denver contractors publish $15–$30 per linear foot for basic runs, while a 6-foot cedar privacy fence with one gate is commonly budgeted around $45–$50 per linear foot when post depth, hardware, and terrain are included. Gates, height, rock drilling, and double-drive openings explain that spread—not bad data entry. Vinyl for about 150 linear feet often lands $4,500–$7,500 installed. Chain link starts near $10 per linear foot installed on Angi Denver data.

All figures in this article are estimated ranges for planning purposes. Actual pricing varies by scope, home condition, material selections, and jurisdiction. The only reliable number for your project comes from an in-home walk-through.

Fences fail at the posts, not the pickets. Freeze-thaw cycles heave shallow post holes; expansive clay grabs concrete footings and tilts panels within three seasons. West-facing cedar dries and twists in Colorado’s low humidity; vinyl expands and contracts with temperature swings and can warp if rails are screwed too tight. Wind on open plains lots in Parker and Elizabeth adds lateral load that 6-foot privacy fences must be engineered to resist—or they sail into the neighbor’s spruce.

Cedar vs vinyl over ten years

Cedar upfront can beat vinyl on simple runs in the $15–$30/linear foot band, but stain and board replacement on sun-blasted elevations adds recurring cost every few years on a 150-foot run. Vinyl’s Angi band ($4,500–$7,500 for 150 feet) skips staining; budget occasional panel replacement if hail cracks brittle sections. Metal ornamental fences last decades with minimal care but do not provide backyard privacy without added slats or plantings.

Pairing fences with other exterior work

Homeowners often replace fencing after siding or deck projects when the old fence was removed for access. Coordinating trades saves reset fees. See exterior sequencing in our Arvada home renovation overview.

What moves you up the range

• Rock drilling — foothill lots with shallow bedrock.
• Retaining walls at property line — fence atop wall needs engineering.
• Custom heights over 6 feet — wind and permit scrutiny.
• Automated driveway gates — electrical and safety sensors.
• Removal of old concrete-embedded posts — labor-heavy demo.
• Winter install — concrete cure blankets in freezing weather.

New fence installation with Apollo includes property-line review, post depth spec for your soil, and material samples so you see cedar next to vinyl in Colorado sun—not on a showroom wall in another state.

Front yard vs backyard fencing

Front yards often cap at 3–4 feet for ornamental styles that preserve street character. Backyards allow 6-foot privacy. Corner lots need sight triangles clear of tall solid fencing near the intersection—check your city’s traffic visibility code before ordering 6-foot stockade for the full perimeter.

Good-neighbor fences (finished both sides) cost more than “good side out” cedar but avoid disputes when the rail side faces your patio.

Neighbor coordination and surveys

Colorado does not require sharing costs with neighbors unless agreements exist, but installing on the wrong side of the property line triggers removal orders. Pin surveys before digging on tight lots in older Denver neighborhoods where fences wandered over decades.

Stain, seal, and maintenance schedules

Cedar needs UV-blocking stain on south and west faces every 3–5 years in metro Denver. North sides last longer. Vinyl gets washed annually; metal gets inspected for rust at post bases where de-icing splash hits from driveways.

Commercial vs residential grade

Box-store panels use thinner pickets and shorter posts than contractor-grade cedar from local yards. Wind events expose the difference—rebuilding after a blow-down costs more than doing it once with 4×4 posts on 8-foot centers and concrete per manufacturer spec.

Getting a number you can trust

Online calculators and phone quotes without a site visit miss the conditions that move Colorado jobs—panel capacity, soil movement, hail history, permit jurisdiction, and the shape of your existing structure. A walk-through takes an hour; guessing wrong costs months of regret and change orders.

At Apollo, we use walk-throughs to separate must-fix items from nice-to-have upgrades, then align scope with budget bands before design hours stack up. Bring your inspiration photos, a rough budget range, and questions about timeline; leave with a written scope outline and next steps—not pressure to sign that day.

Compare contractors on identical scope documents, verify insurance and license status for the city or county that will issue your permit, and read payment terms carefully. The lowest bid is rarely the same work as the middle bid on Front Range remodels.

Regional price notes across the Front Range

Denver metro fence pricing tracks Angi and A Straight Up Fence Company guides above—including the cedar spread; Boulder County jobs add energy and sometimes wildfire-related review (City of Boulder 2025 fee schedule and WUI code). Unincorporated Jefferson and Arapahoe parcels route through county building departments—your contractor must match the parcel, not the mailing city name.

Spring and early summer book fastest on the Front Range; fall often offers better crew availability for interior-heavy scopes. Winter exterior work is possible with weather windows but rarely the cheapest calendar slot.

When you are ready to compare real numbers for your address, request a free walk-through. We document existing conditions, permit path, and budget bands before you spend money on drawings or deposits.

Document existing conditions with photos before you interview contractors—panel labels, foundation cracks, roof age, and permit history speed accurate scopes. If a previous owner finished basement or deck work without permits, bringing it legal during your project adds cost but prevents sale and insurance problems later.

Ask each bidder which permit office they will use, what valuation they will declare, and whether haul-off, protection, and final cleaning are included. Front Range projects that skip those line items in writing usually grow in cost once work starts.

Split-rail and agricultural wire fences on larger lots follow different economics than suburban privacy panels—fewer posts per foot but more corner bracing on long runs. Get linear footage measured on the ground, not from assessor sketches, before you compare bids. Corner posts and gate posts should be called out separately so you are not surprised when the estimate assumes only line posts.