The short version
- Fencing is priced per linear foot installed; in 2026 Lincoln, budget roughly $18–$60+ per foot depending on material.
- A typical 150-foot backyard fence runs about $3,000 (chain link) to $9,000+ (vinyl or ornamental steel).
- Posts must be set below Nebraska's ~40″ frost line in concrete, or the fence heaves and leans — this is where cheap installs cut corners.
- Gates, sloped ground, tearing out an old fence, and rocky clay digging all add to the base per-foot price.
Fencing is one of the easier landscape projects to price, because it mostly comes down to two numbers: how many linear feet you're enclosing and what material you choose. Everything else — gates, slope, tear-out — adds to that base. Here are real Lincoln numbers for 2026.
Cost by fence type
| Fence type | Installed / linear ft | 150 ft fenced yard |
|---|---|---|
| Chain link (4–6 ft) | $18–$30 | ≈ $2,700–$4,500 |
| Wood privacy (cedar, 6 ft) | $28–$45 | ≈ $4,200–$6,750 |
| Vinyl privacy | $40–$60 | ≈ $6,000–$9,000 |
| Ornamental steel / aluminum | $35–$60+ | ≈ $5,250–$9,000+ |
Wood is the most popular privacy fence in Lincoln because it's the best balance of price, looks, and longevity. Vinyl costs more up front but never needs staining. Chain link is the budget workhorse for pets and property lines. Ornamental steel is the premium look — and the only one that doesn't block a view.
The detail that decides if your fence survives: post depth
This is the single most important thing about a fence in Nebraska, and it's invisible once the job's done. Lincoln's frost line is roughly 40 inches. If fence posts aren't set in concrete below that depth, the freeze-thaw cycle grabs them and heaves them upward over a few winters — and your straight fence starts leaning, gates stop latching, and panels pull apart.
What adds to the base price
- Gates. A standard walk gate adds roughly $150–$350; a double drive gate is more. Gates need the heaviest posts and the most hardware.
- Slope and grade. A fence that has to "step down" a hill or rack to follow a slope takes more time than a flat run.
- Tear-out of an old fence. Pulling and hauling the existing fence and old concrete footings adds labor and disposal.
- Hard digging. Lincoln's heavy clay is workable; rocky fill or tree roots along the line slow the post holes down.
- Corners and ends. A long straight run is cheaper per foot than a yard chopped into lots of short segments and corners.
Permits, property lines, and 811
Two things to handle before anyone digs in Lincoln:
- Call 811 first — always. Nebraska law requires a free utility locate before digging. We schedule this on every fence job so a post hole doesn't hit a gas or fiber line. Never let anyone skip it.
- Know your zoning and property line. Lincoln has height limits (typically lower in front yards than side/rear) and your fence needs to sit on your side of the line. If you're in an HOA, check for approval requirements before ordering material. We'll walk the line with you, but the survey pins are the source of truth.
Getting a quote
For a fast estimate we need the approximate perimeter you want enclosed (a rough sketch or even pacing it off is fine), the material and height you're after, how many gates, and whether there's an existing fence to remove. With that we can usually turn around a written, itemized quote within a day. See our fencing page for the styles we install, or request an estimate and we'll come measure.
Got a project in mind?
Request a Free Estimate
