Most installers around Ann Arbor will not give you a number until they have been out to measure. These are the bands to plan with.
For a 6 foot fence, installed, materials and labor together:
| Fence | Per foot installed |
|---|---|
| Treated pine privacy | $28–$42 |
| Cedar privacy | $38–$58 |
| Vinyl privacy | $35–$55 |
| Chain link, galvanized | $16–$28 |
| Chain link, black vinyl-coated | $24–$40 |
Put your footage in the estimator and you get the range for your yard in a minute.
Worked examples
No gates, no old fence to remove.
| Length | Treated pine | Cedar | Vinyl | Chain link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 feet | $2,800–$4,200 | $3,800–$5,800 | $3,500–$5,500 | $1,600–$2,800 |
| 150 feet | $4,200–$6,300 | $5,700–$8,700 | $5,250–$8,250 | $2,400–$4,200 |
| 200 feet | $5,600–$8,400 | $7,600–$11,600 | $7,000–$11,000 | $3,200–$5,600 |
Now a realistic job: 150 feet of treated pine privacy with one walk gate and the old fence coming out.
- Fence, 150 feet at $28 to $42: $4,200 to $6,300
- One walk gate, 3 to 5 feet wide: $350 to $1,200
- Tear out and haul away 150 feet at $3 to $7 a foot: $450 to $1,050
- Total: about $5,000 to $8,550
The spread is wide because it is honest. Two crews quoting the same yard will land in different parts of it.
The full spread
Some quotes come in under the bands above: treated pine from about $22 a foot, cedar from $26, vinyl from $28, and 4 foot chain link from $10. Read together, treated pine privacy in the Ann Arbor area runs about $22 to $42 a foot, cedar $26 to $58, vinyl $28 to $55, and 4 foot chain link $10 to $28. The bands at the top of the page sit in the upper half of each range. Materials alone run about $10 to $15 a foot for treated pine and $15 to $25 for cedar, and labor is half to two thirds of the job.
How Ann Arbor compares with Toledo
On the Toledo side: treated pine $25 to $35, cedar $35 to $55, vinyl $45 to $75.
- Treated pine is close. The Ann Arbor band starts $3 higher and runs $7 higher at the top.
- Cedar is almost the same band, a few dollars higher in Ann Arbor.
- Vinyl is the surprise. The Ann Arbor-area figures top out at $55, where Toledo runs to $75. On a 150 foot yard that is $5,250 to $8,250 in Ann Arbor against $6,750 to $11,250 in Toledo.
So do not assume everything costs more an hour up the road. For vinyl, quote both sides of the line if you are anywhere near it.
What moves the price
Gates. Budget $350 to $1,200 for a walk gate and $1,200 to $4,000 and up for a double drive gate. Some quotes come in lower, from $200 for a walk gate and $300 for a double drive. Either way, a gate is a lot of hardware on a short run.
Taking out the old fence. $3 to $7 a foot. Posts set in concrete are the slow part.
Height. Expect about 25 percent more for 8 feet over 6. Ann Arbor allows 8 feet in the rear yard but only 6 at the side and 4 in front, so read the permit page before you price an 8 footer.
The permit. $80 in the City of Ann Arbor, $50 in Pittsfield Township, $70 in the City of Ypsilanti, $50 minimum in Ypsilanti Township. Ask whether the installer pulls it.
Historic districts. In an Ann Arbor historic district the city’s guideline lists plastic and vinyl fencing as not appropriate, so a vinyl quote may be money spent on a fence you cannot build. Check the parcel viewer first.
Sales tax, and why you will not see a tax line
Michigan sales tax is 6 percent. Under the Treasury’s bulletin on the construction trade, a fence contractor is the consumer of the lumber, concrete and hardware, pays the tax when he buys them, and may not charge it to you as a separate line. He may fold it into his price as overhead. So the invoice should be one lump sum with no tax added at the bottom.
Your right to cancel
If the contract is signed at your kitchen table, Michigan’s Home Solicitation Sales Act applies. The contract has to tell you, in set words next to your signature, that you may cancel before midnight of the third business day, and a cancellation form has to be attached. If that notice is missing, ask why before you sign.
See your price range
Put your fence runs into the estimator, pick the style and height, add the gates you need, and see the range for your own yard. If it looks right, request a quote and local fence pros will come out and measure.
Questions people ask
How much is a 150 foot privacy fence in Ann Arbor?
About $4,200 to $6,300 installed for 6 ft treated pine at $28 to $42 a foot, or $5,700 to $8,700 in cedar. Gates and taking out an old fence are extra.
Does a fence cost less in Ann Arbor than in Toledo?
Treated pine and cedar sit in much the same bands. Vinyl is lower on paper: $35 to $55 a foot around Ann Arbor against $45 to $75 in Toledo. If you are anywhere near the state line, quote both sides.
What does chain link cost in Ann Arbor?
$16 to $28 a foot for galvanized chain link and $24 to $40 for black vinyl-coated. A 4 foot fence can come in lower, from $10 to $18 a foot.
Will I pay sales tax on top of the quote?
No. Michigan sales tax is 6 percent, and under the Treasury’s rules the fence contractor pays it on the materials when he buys them. He may not add it to your invoice as a separate line, only build it into his price.
What does the Ann Arbor fence permit cost?
$80 for the city’s zoning compliance permit, which covers any fence up to 7 feet. Pittsfield Township charges $50, the City of Ypsilanti $70 and Ypsilanti Township $50 minimum. The permit pages have the heights and phone numbers.