Fence Replacement Cost: Tear-Out to New Fence

Replacing a fence usually costs the price of a new fence plus about $3 to $7 per linear foot to tear out and haul away the old one. For a typical 150-foot backyard, that means roughly $4,000 to $8,000 to replace an old wood privacy fence with new pressure-treated or cedar boards, and $5,000 to $10,000 or more to switch to vinyl. Chain link replacements come in lower; aluminum and ornamental steel come in higher. Below are typical US ranges for removal, disposal and each replacement material, plus the hidden costs that show up once the old posts come out.

Part of our Landscaping & Hardscaping guide →

In this guide

1. Fence Replacement Cost by Material
2. What Tear-Out and Disposal Cost
3. Example Fence Replacement Totals
4. Other Costs to Plan For
5. Repair or Replace?
6. How Long Fences Typically Last
7. Choosing a Replacement Material
8. DIY Tear-Out to Save Money
9. How to Get Accurate Replacement Quotes
10. Frequently Asked Questions

Fence Replacement Cost by Material

These are typical installed ranges per linear foot for the new fence, on reasonably level ground, plus a separate column for tear-out. Local labor rates, material prices and site conditions move the numbers, so use them to check quotes rather than as fixed prices.

New fence (typical height)	New fence, installed	Old fence removal and disposal	Total per foot
Chain link, 4 ft galvanized	$15 – $25 / ft	$3 – $7 / ft	$18 – $32 / ft
Wood picket, 4 ft	$15 – $30 / ft	$3 – $7 / ft	$18 – $37 / ft
Pressure-treated wood privacy, 6 ft	$25 – $40 / ft	$3 – $7 / ft	$28 – $47 / ft
Cedar privacy, 6 ft	$30 – $50 / ft	$3 – $7 / ft	$33 – $57 / ft
Vinyl privacy, 6 ft	$30 – $60 / ft	$3 – $7 / ft	$33 – $67 / ft
Aluminum, 4–5 ft	$30 – $60 / ft	$3 – $7 / ft	$33 – $67 / ft
Composite privacy, 6 ft	$45 – $90 / ft	$3 – $7 / ft	$48 – $97 / ft
Ornamental steel or wrought iron	$35 – $75+ / ft	$3 – $7 / ft	$38 – $82+ / ft

Gates are priced separately and typically add a few hundred dollars for a walk gate and more for double drive gates. For a fuller breakdown of new fence pricing by style, see our fence installation cost guide, and for a deep dive on one material, our chain link fence cost guide.

What Tear-Out and Disposal Cost

Removal is labor-heavy: pulling boards or fabric, cutting rails, and extracting posts. Disposal adds dump fees and hauling. Most contractors bundle both into one per-foot price.

• Chain link: usually the easiest to remove. Fabric rolls up and steel posts often have scrap value, which can offset hauling. Concrete-set terminal posts still take work.
• Wood: the most common removal job. Rotted posts often snap at ground level, leaving a stub in concrete that must be dug or broken out.
• Vinyl: panels come apart readily, but disposal options are limited because most curbside programs do not take it.
• Posts set in concrete: the biggest variable. Each footing may weigh well over 50 pounds. Expect the higher end of the removal range, or a per-post fee, if every post is in concrete.

Ask whether the quote includes hauling and dump fees. If not, a roll-off dumpster rental for a DIY tear-out commonly costs a few hundred dollars depending on size and region.

Example Fence Replacement Totals

• 100 ft of old 4-ft chain link replaced with new 4-ft galvanized chain link, one walk gate: roughly $2,000 to $3,500.
• 150 ft of old wood privacy replaced with new pressure-treated 6-ft privacy, one gate: roughly $4,500 to $7,500.
• 150 ft of old wood privacy replaced with 6-ft vinyl privacy, one gate: roughly $5,500 to $10,500.
• 200 ft of chain link replaced with 5-ft aluminum, two gates: roughly $7,500 to $14,500.

These assume average access, diggable soil and no survey. Long, straight runs land toward the lower end per foot; short runs with many corners and gates land toward the higher end.

Other Costs to Plan For

Item	Typical range	When it applies
Permit	$0 – $400	Many towns require one even for replacement, especially if height or style changes
Property survey	$400 – $1,000+	If boundary markers are missing or the old fence may be off the line
Brush and vine clearing	Often $1 – $3 / ft	Overgrown fence lines
Concrete footing removal	Per-post fee in some quotes	Large or deep footings
Grading or stepping on slopes	Varies	Hillside fences
Stain or sealer for new wood	DIY materials or a separate quote	New wood fences, after drying

Also budget for landscape repair. Removing a fence can damage beds, shrubs and lawn along the line; protecting them during work or replanting afterward is easy to overlook. Our fence line landscaping ideas can help plan the new edge.

Repair or Replace?

Not every tired fence needs a full replacement. A few rules of thumb:

• Repair if damage is limited to a few boards, a single section from a fallen limb, a sagging gate or one or two leaning posts on an otherwise solid fence. Replacing individual pickets, rails or a panel is inexpensive compared with a new fence.
• Replace if many posts are rotted at the ground line, the fence leans along long stretches, boards are splitting and loose throughout, or repairs would cover a large share of the fence. Patching an old wood fence with new boards also leaves a mismatched look until everything weathers.
• Replace when you want a different height, material or layout, or the old fence sits off the property line.

Push gently on posts every 8 feet or so. If they move at the base or you can push a screwdriver into the wood at soil level, rot has set in and the fence is near the end of its life.

How Long Fences Typically Last

Lifespan depends heavily on climate, soil moisture, installation quality and maintenance, so these are rough expectations rather than guarantees:

• Pressure-treated pine: often around 10 to 20 years. Posts usually fail first, rotting at the soil line.
• Cedar: commonly in a similar range, longer with regular sealing and good drainage around posts.
• Vinyl: frequently 20 years or more; panels can become brittle or crack after impacts in very cold weather.
• Chain link: galvanized fabric can last decades; vinyl-coated fabric often lasts longer in humid or coastal areas.
• Aluminum and ornamental steel: aluminum does not rust and lasts a long time; steel needs touch-up paint to keep rust at bay.

If your current fence failed early, find out why before you replace it. Posts set in poorly draining soil, sprinklers soaking the bottom boards every day, or vines and soil piled against the pickets all shorten the life of the next fence too. Ask contractors how they set posts, for example with gravel at the base and concrete crowned to shed water, and keep the bottom of wood boards an inch or two above the soil.

Choosing a Replacement Material

Replacement is a chance to rethink the fence. If you are tired of staining wood every few years, vinyl or aluminum costs more up front but needs little maintenance. If you mainly need to contain a dog and mark a boundary, chain link is the lowest-cost option. Cedar looks great and resists rot better than many woods but still weathers to gray without sealing. Our comparison of wood vs. vinyl fences covers lifespan and upkeep, and our overview of types of fences compares privacy, security and style.

Before switching materials, check HOA rules and local codes. Many associations restrict color, height and style, and some towns require a permit only when you change those specifics.

DIY Tear-Out to Save Money

Removing the old fence yourself is one of the easier ways to cut the bill, especially for chain link or wood without concrete footings. You will need a pry bar, reciprocating saw or circular saw, a post puller or a high-lift jack with a chain, a digging bar and somewhere to put the debris. Wear gloves and safety glasses; old boards are full of nails and splinters. Before you dig around footings, call 811 to have utilities marked, and coordinate timing with the contractor so the yard is not open for long if you have pets. Confirm in writing that the contractor’s price drops accordingly.

How to Get Accurate Replacement Quotes

1. Measure the total length and mark corners and gates.
2. Decide whether you are keeping the same line or changing it, and confirm property lines.
3. Specify material, height, style, post type and gate sizes for every contractor.
4. Ask for removal, disposal, permits and cleanup to be listed separately.
5. Ask what happens if posts are set in large concrete footings, and whether there is a per-post charge.
6. Get at least three quotes; late fall and winter can bring better scheduling.

Shared boundary fences can also be split with a neighbor; put any agreement in writing. For more on planning the yard around a new fence, browse the landscaping and hardscaping hub.