What a fence estimate is for
Fence estimates fail on the details customers do not think about: who confirms the property line, what happens when post holes hit rock, whether the old fence comes out, and whether the HOA has approved it. An estimate that puts each of those on paper, with the footage and gates clearly listed, protects you and lets the customer compare fairly.
What to put on a fence estimate
- Total footage, height, material and style.
- Gates with width and hardware.
- Old fence removal and haul-away.
- Rock and root drilling policy.
- Slopes and stepping.
- Property line, permit and HOA responsibilities.
- The deposit to order lumber or panels, and how long the material price holds.
A worked example
A back yard measured at about 150 feet on the satellite map, with one walk gate and an old chain link fence to remove. The fence and gate lines use the calculator's typical prices.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood privacy fence * | 150 | ft | $27.50 | $4,125.00 |
| Walk gate * | 1 | each | $225.00 | $225.00 |
| Remove and haul away old chain link | 150 | ft | Your price | |
| Rock drilling, per post if needed | 0 | each | Your price | |
| Fence permit | 1 | each | Your price |
The rock line is at zero so the per-post price is agreed before the auger hits anything. The owner marks the property line; say so in the terms, not in a phone call later.
* Typical price from our free fence cost calculator, which lists its sources. Your own costs and market come first.
Line items fence contractors use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Wood privacy fence, installed | ft | Height, picket style and post spacing. |
| Vinyl privacy fence, installed | ft | Height, color and style. |
| Chain link fence, installed | ft | Height, gauge and coating. |
| Aluminum or steel ornamental fence | ft | Height and style; pool code if it encloses a pool. |
| Walk gate | each | Width and hardware. |
| Double drive gate | each | Width; say whether it needs a drop rod or wheel. |
| Remove and haul away old fence | ft | Including old posts and concrete footings if pulled. |
| Post set in concrete | each | Depth per local code or your standard. |
| Rock or root drilling surcharge | each | Per post hole that hits rock or roots. |
| Grade change or stepping | ft | Sloped yards that need stepped or racked panels. |
| Stain or seal wood fence | ft | After the wood dries, often weeks later. |
| Permit and survey review | each | Many towns require a permit; the property line is the owner's to confirm. |
| Fence repair, replace boards or posts | hour | Repairs priced by time and materials. |
Terms and deposit language for fence
- Deposit. A deposit at signing orders materials and holds the install date. Some states cap deposits on fence and other home improvement work, so look up yours.
- Payment. Balance due when the fence is complete and the gates swing and latch.
- Warranty. Say how long you cover workmanship, such as posts and gates, and that materials carry the maker's warranty. Wood movement and checking are natural, not defects.
- The property owner is responsible for the property line location; you install where the owner or survey marks it.
- Utilities are located before digging; private lines like sprinklers or invisible dog fences are the owner's to mark.
- HOA approval, if needed, is the owner's to get before install.
How to fill it in
- Put in your business details once; this browser keeps them for every template.
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Change the line items to fit this job and add your prices.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print to PDF, download Word or CSV, or send it from Koira.
Free tools for fence
The same estimate for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.
More for fence contractors: how fence contractors run on Koira.