How Much Does an Aluminum Fence Really Cost? Here's What to Know

Efficient and highly durable, aluminum fencing is good for defining property lines, securing swimming pools, and for keeping kids or larger pets safe.

Aluminum fence costs about $7,000 for 200 feet of fencing. On the low end, an aluminum fence costs $3,800, and on the high end, it costs around $10,000. 

Cost of Aluminum Fence by Foot

Aluminum fence costs an average of $35 per linear foot and can range from $19 to $50 per linear foot.

Basic types of aluminum fencing can cost as little as $15 to $16 per linear foot, with decorative and full-panel privacy versions costing up to $52 to $63 per linear foot.

Pros and Cons of Aluminum Fence

Pros

• Will not rot or rust

• Adaptable

• Lightweight

• Low maintenance

• Recylable

Cons

• Not private

• Less pet-safe

• Soft material

• Not secure

• Requires unified system

One of the best features of aluminum fencing is that it will not rot or corrode. Unlike steel fencing, aluminum fencing will not rust. It's also about one-third less expensive than steel fencing.

Aluminum fence is adaptable and can be installed over various slopes and surfaces. Aluminum fence panels are lightweight and easy to handle. When it comes time to remove an aluminum fence, the materials may be recycled.

One significant downside of aluminum fencing is that most panels are open, so they are not private or safe for smaller pets. Aluminum is soft, so it is not considered highly secure against intruders. With aluminum fencing, it's best to stick with one company's unified system of fence panels, post caps, posts, and other parts.

Tip

Puppy-safe aluminum fencing has a built-in guard on the bottom to prevent small dogs from passing through the fence. Separate guards can be added, as well.

Cost by Type of Aluminum Fence

The type of aluminum fence you choose plays a significant role in the overall cost. The per-foot cost of aluminum fences ranges from $15 to $16 per linear foot for basic black or pool fencing to around $50 per linear foot for privacy or ornamental aluminum fences.

Basic Fence

Basic black aluminum fence costs between $16 and $22 per linear foot. On average, this type of fence costs about $19 per linear foot.

Pool Fence

Aluminum pool fencing costs an average of $18 per linear foot. Some pool fences can cost $15 per linear foot, while others cost as much as $22 per linear foot.

Pool fencing must meet certain local fence laws, such as being at least 48 inches high and having ground-height clearance maximums (usually two inches).

Ornamental Fence

With scrollwork, finials, and other features designed to improve the appearance, ornamental aluminum fencing can cost as much as $52 per linear foot.

Powder-Coated Fence

Powder-coated aluminum fences cost an average of $23 per linear foot.

They are protected by dipping the material in a container of electrostatically charged dry powder or by spraying the powder onto the metal. After that, the material is cured in an oven, where the powder melts into a smooth, continuous hard finish.

Privacy Fence

An aluminum privacy fence costs an average of $35 per linear foot and ranges up to $47 per linear foot.

Most aluminum fencing is open, with spaces between the vertical balusters. So if you want privacy, you'll need to pay for extra aluminum materials for a privacy fence or add privacy mesh over the fence.

Picket Fence

Starting at a low of $20 per linear foot and ranging up to $63 per linear foot, an aluminum picket fence is one of the costlier types of aluminum fencing.

Post and Rail Fence

Post-and-rail aluminum fencing costs an average of $28 per linear foot and aims to duplicate the look of ranch-style wood fencing but in durable aluminum form.

Two or three horizontal rails are supported every 8 feet by aluminum posts.

Main Cost Factors

Fence Length

The total length of the fence is the most important factor in the cost of aluminum fencing. Multiply the required linear fence length by an estimated cost to arrive at the low-end estimate. Adding gates and other features brings the cost up to more of an average estimate.

Fence Height

Aluminum fences start at three feet tall and range up to six feet tall. Four feet is the average height for most aluminum fence panels. Each additional foot of height adds about $8 more to the linear horizontal cost.

Walkway Gates

Aluminum fence walkway gates, ranging from 30 inches to 52 inches wide, cost an average of $238 per gate. Gates start at a low of $125 and range up to $350 per gate. Most yards will have one or two walkway gates.

Driveway Gates

A benefit of aluminum fencing is that it is so lightweight that it can span a driveway and open and close automatically with a motor.

Driveway gates start at a low of about $2,500 and range to a high of about $7,000. On average, an aluminum driveway gate costs about $4,750.

Additional Cost Factors

Fence Removal

If you need to remove an existing fence, the fence contractor typically charges about $5 per linear foot for removal, and disposal may cost extra.

One trick for saving on the overall cost of the aluminum fence is to remove the previous fence yourself.

Tree Removal

When a tree needs to be removed when installing an aluminum fence, the cost to remove a tree runs an average of $1,000. Smaller trees can cost as little as $250 to remove.

One advantage of aluminum fencing is its flexibility and adaptability, so it's usually cheaper and easier to slightly detour the fence around the tree, if possible.

Yard Grading

Aluminum fencing works well on slopes and uneven ground. But should it be necessary to grade or level the property for the aluminum fence, grading projects start around $1,000 and range up to $3,200.

Permits

A fence permit for an aluminum fence may cost as little as $20 or range up to hundreds of dollars, depending on the type of fence.

Some communities do not require fence permits, thus no fence permit costs.

Fence Color

Though black is a typical color for aluminum fencing, it can also be purchased in off-the-shelf colors such as green or brown. If you would like a different color, it costs an average of $6 per linear foot to paint a fence.

Decorative Features

Collectively, decorative features can add up to 15- to 20-percent to the total cost.

Because aluminum fences generally look utilitarian, decorative features like finials, scrolls, picket tops, and ball caps can improve the look. Puppy pickets are another feature that can be added to the fencing base.

Labor

The cost of labor to install an aluminum fence is $22 to $23 per hour.

If you decide to install your own aluminum fence with assistance from experienced fence technicians, it's best to pay a fair hourly wage for your area. Hourly wages for experienced fence installers reach a high of $30 to $31 per hour.

Cost of Aluminum Fence vs. Other Types of Fences

Aluminum vs. Wood Fence

On average, an aluminum fence costs about $10 more per linear foot than a wood fence.

Aluminum fences are vastly lower maintenance than wood fences, which require frequent staining or painting. Wood fences have a natural look that complements yards, and they offer more privacy than aluminum fences.

Aluminum vs. Vinyl Fence

Aluminum fence and vinyl fence materials cost about the same, with just a couple of dollars difference between the two.

Both types of fences are durable and resist rotting and corrosion. Ultimately, though, aluminum fence is more durable than vinyl since it is not affected by temperature extremes. Vinyl fence looks more like traditional fencing, plus it offers privacy.

Aluminum vs. Chain Link Fence

An aluminum fence costs about $10 more per linear foot than a chain link fence.

Both aluminum and chain link fences are good choices for defining boundaries and keeping kids safe in a yard. An aluminum fence offers greater aesthetic value than a chain link fence, which ranges from merely functional to unattractive (and often not allowed by homeowner's associations and communities).

Aluminum vs. Composite Fence

An aluminum fence costs about $5 more per linear foot than a composite fence.

Composite fence materials, made of wood byproducts and plastic, look more like traditional fence materials, and they offer privacy.

DIY vs Hiring a Contractor

Installing your own fence means potentially saving on the cost of labor, which runs from an average of $22 per hour to a high of $31 per hour.

The main component of an aluminum fence is the fence panel. Each panel is six feet long and four feet high, but taller panels are also available.

Basic panels cost up to $140 per panel and must be built as part of a unified system that also includes posts, gates, hinges, fasteners, and other parts. Driveway gates cost up to $1,300.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is aluminum fence cheaper than wood?

An aluminum fence is more expensive than a wood fence. A wood fence costs about $25 per linear foot, while an aluminum fence costs an average of $10 more per linear foot, or about $35 per foot.

What are the disadvantages of an aluminum fence?

Most aluminum fence panels have openly spaced pickets, so they aren't private or especially pet-safe (though you can install a special kind, puppy-safe fencing, if needed). Intruders can potentially bend open the soft aluminum material.

What is the lifespan of an aluminum fence?

If kept in good shape, an aluminum fence can last several decades—up to 50 years. Unlike steel, aluminum doesn't rust, and unlike wood, it will not warp, rot, or crack.

Read Next: How to Repair a Fence: 10 Ways

Read the original article on The Spruce.