Guide
Wood posts, steel posts and overlapping pickets: parts and cost
Three ways to build the same fence, with the parts count and the cost range for each.
Reviewed by TheCostDesk on : the working features and the sources were checked by hand, and the wording read for tone. What a review involves.
Data last checked . Figures are the US average; the calculator adjusts them for a state.
Three builds, priced the same way
150 feet of 6 ft wood privacy fence on 8 ft sections, at the US average, no gates. The prices assume 8 ft posts set about 2 feet deep.
| Build | Typical | Range | Per foot | Against wood posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood posts, side-by-side pickets | $6,100 | $3,250 to $8,950 | $41 | Starting point |
| Steel posts, side-by-side pickets | $7,200 | $4,200 to $10,200 | $48 | +$1,100 (+18%) |
| Wood posts, overlapping pickets (board on board) | $7,050 | $3,800 to $10,300 | $47 | +$950 (+16%) |
The parts count
From the fence materials calculator at the same length. It counts whole 8 ft sections, so it rounds up; the cost table above spreads the same parts evenly per foot, and the two can differ slightly.
| Part | Side by side | Overlapping |
|---|---|---|
| Pickets | 323 | 418 |
| Posts | 20 | 20 |
| Rails | 57 | 57 |
| Concrete bags (50 lb) | 50 | 50 |
Where the differences come from
Posts and pickets.
Steel posts. A galvanized 8 ft steel line post cost $39.98 at Lowe's on 5 November 2026 against about $12 for a wood post, plus an allowance of $4 to $6 a post for rail brackets and screws. That adds $3.99 to $4.25 a foot in materials, one post per 8 ft section. We have no time study showing a difference in labor between the two.
Overlapping pickets (board on board). Boards about 5.5 inches wide overlapped by roughly an inch each cover 4.5 inches, so a section takes about 22 pickets rather than 17, around a third more. At $2.18 for a pine picket and $3.68 for cedar, that adds $1.50 to $2.53 a foot, and we add 0.03 to 0.07 labor-hours a foot for the extra nailing and for spacing and lining up the second layer, an estimate.
What each changes besides cost. Steel posts replace wood that sits in the ground with galvanized steel, so there is no wood at the soil line; the rails are fixed to them with brackets, which can show on one side of the fence. Overlapping pickets cover the gaps that can open between side-by-side boards as the wood dries and shrinks. They address different things, and the two cost a similar amount more.
The overlap count is arithmetic from the board width, not a measured field figure, and it assumes a 6 ft fence on 8 ft sections.
Why a real quote can sit elsewhere
Things these rows do not capture.
- Ground and depth. Rock, roots, clay and frost depth change how long a hole takes and how much concrete it uses. A 6 ft fence on an 8 ft post leaves about 2 feet in the ground; where the frost line or the wind calls for 30 to 42 inches, longer posts (9 or 10 ft) are needed, and they cost more than the 8 ft posts priced here. The parts table shows the concrete for a 24 inch hole.
- Slope and corners. Sloping ground, corners and gates add posts, cuts and hardware. Gates are not in the cost figures.
- Wood and finish. Pine and cedar pickets differ in price, and staining or sealing, removing an old fence and surveys are extra.
- Lumber prices move. The prices here were read from shelves on one day. Lumber and steel prices change with supply, the season and demand, and the figures do not capture the market today.
- Permits. Fence permits ran $50 to $169 in three city fee schedules read in November 2026, and many places need none under a set height.
Work it out for your own job
The figures above are examples. These take your numbers.
Sources
Where each figure comes from, and when we last looked.
- Checked sourceU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data year 2025, checked 2026-11-04.
- Checked sourceU.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Economic Census, table EC2223BASIC (Construction: Summary Statistics), NAICS 238990 All Other Specialty Trade Contractors (the group that includes fence erection; a broad stand-in), United States; fringe benefits are 23.6% of payroll and revenue is 61% above direct cost. Data year 2022, checked 2026-11-04.
- Checked sourceLowe's shelf prices read on lowes.com product pages, Central Columbus OH (43211) store, 4 Nov 2026: 4x4x8 pressure-treated post $11.85 to $12.99, 2x4x8 pressure-treated rail $4.78 to $5.42, 6-ft dog-ear pickets $2.18 (pine) to $3.68 (cedar), 50-lb concrete mix $7.97 to $7.98, deck screws 800 for $39.98. Data year 2026, checked 2026-11-04.
- Checked sourceLowe's shelf price read on lowes.com, Central Columbus OH store, 5 Nov 2026: Lifetime Steel Post 8-ft galvanized steel line fence post $39.98 (against 4x4x8 pressure-treated wood posts at $11.85 to $12.99). Data year 2026, checked 2026-11-05.
- Published, secondhandNAHB Remodelers' Cost of Doing Business Study, 2026 edition (fiscal 2024), as reported by NAHB's Eye on Housing blog, 8 Apr 2026: revenue about 43% above direct cost (33% in 2021). Data year 2024, checked 2026-11-04.
- Checked sourceOfficial city building permit fee schedules read 5 Nov 2026: City of Auburn CA (building fees, 24 May 2025), City of Pleasanton CA (building permit and plan review fees) and City of Albany NY (building and zoning permit application fees, revised Feb 2026). Three small or mid-size cities, not a national survey; fees in larger cities and valuation-based schedules can be higher. Data year 2026, checked 2026-11-05.
- Published, secondhandU.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state (US = 100), as republished by FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis). Goods parity is used for materials and all-items parity as a rough stand-in for permit fees. Data year 2024, checked 2026-11-04.
- Our estimateIn this guide: The rail bracket allowance for steel posts ($4 to $6 a post), the labor hours (the same as wood posts for steel posts; 0.03 to 0.07 hours a foot more for overlapping pickets) and the picket count of 22 a section, worked from a 5.5 inch board with a one-inch overlap. Data year 2026, checked 2026-11-05.
For information only: not advice, a recommendation or a quote. We take care, but our sources can lag and so can we, so a figure may be out of date. Prices change with wages, material costs, the season and local demand; a real quote can fall outside any range.