Garth Allen Fence Builders publishes these ranges so an Allen fence quote can be read line by line.
A new 6 ft cedar board-on-board fence on steel posts typically costs $35 to $50 per foot installed in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, so a 150 ft Allen backyard runs roughly $5,250 to $7,500 before gates, tear-out and the $75 City of Allen permit.
These are typical budgeting ranges for DFW-area projects, not quotes. A real price comes from the measured line on your lot, because length, height, style, slope and gates each move the number.
Typical prices per foot, by fence
The per-foot range covers the posts, the concrete, the rails and the boards or panels for a straight run on reasonably level ground. Everything else is an add-on.
| Fence (6 ft unless noted) | Typical range installed | What the range covers |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar board-on-board, steel posts | $35–$50 / ft | Posts in concrete, rails, overlapping cedar pickets |
| Cedar board-on-board with top cap and trim | $45–$60 / ft | The same, plus a cap rail and trim board |
| Cedar side-by-side, steel posts | $18–$35 / ft | A single layer of pickets |
| Wrought iron or ornamental steel | $28–$55 / ft | Standard panels and posts |
| Vinyl (needs the Building Official’s approval in Allen) | $25–$45 / ft | Standard privacy panels |
| Chain link | $12–$30 / ft | Fabric, framework and posts |
The two cedar styles differ mostly in lumber. Board-on-board uses roughly a third more pickets than side-by-side because the second layer overlaps the gaps. The board-on-board vs side-by-side guide explains when that is worth it.
What sits on top of the per-foot price
| Item | Typical range | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Old fence removal and haul-away | $3–$8 / ft | Post type, concrete collars, access for hauling |
| Walk gate | $150–$600 each | Width, steel frame or brace, hardware |
| Double drive gate | $400–$900 each | Span, frame, drop rods, slope at the opening |
| Automatic gate with opener | $1,500–$4,000 | Gate weight, power run, sensors, access controls |
| 8 ft height instead of 6 ft | 25–40% more | Longer posts, more pickets, deeper footings |
| Staining, one side | $3.50–$7 / ft | Cleaning needed, stain type, access |
| City of Allen fence permit | $75 | Flat fee from the City’s fee schedule |
What’s inside an Allen fence price
Some parts of a fence price trace back to a public rule or fee; others depend on the lot and have no public figure. This table separates the two.
| Part of the price | What sets it | Allen figure or rule |
|---|---|---|
| Permit | City of Allen fee schedule | $75 fence permit (City of Allen) |
| Posts | City of Allen Residential Fence Guideline | Metal posts required, with metal caps and hardware |
| Footings | City of Allen Residential Fence Guideline | Posts at least 18 in deep in concrete |
| Height | City of Allen Residential Fence Guideline | Up to 8 ft in back and side yards |
| Bottom detail | City of Allen Residential Fence Guideline | 3 in clear above grade in the lot-line drainage easement |
| Contractor registration | City of Allen | All contractors register with the city, $50 a year |
| Wind design | Allen’s adopted building code, Table R301.2 | 105 mph design wind speed |
| HOA style and stain | Your subdivision’s rules | Varies; confirmed per address |
| Lawn, sprinkler and landscape repair | The lot | No public figure; checked on the site visit |
The factors that move an Allen fence price
Length and layout. Cost scales with linear feet, but corners and ends cost more than straight runs because they need terminal posts and more cutting. A long rectangle prices lower per foot than an L-shaped yard with many short runs.
Height. Going from 6 ft to 8 ft adds longer posts, more lumber per foot and deeper footings for the larger wind load, which is why it typically adds 25 to 40 percent.
Style and finish. Board-on-board versus side-by-side is the biggest single choice. A top cap and trim board add a finished edge. Stain is separate.
Ground. Allen sits on Houston Black clay, which federal soil surveys rate very high for shrink-swell. Footings go deeper than the 18-inch minimum where the fence is tall or a gate hangs, and rocky or root-filled spots slow digging. The clay soil guide covers why.
Slope. Racking or stepping a fence down a grade takes more cutting and longer posts on the low side.
Gates. Each gate needs heavier posts and its own hardware. A sliding gate across an alley driveway also has to follow one of the City of Allen’s two trash-bin layouts. See gate installation for details.
Tear-out and access. Removing an old fence, breaking out concrete collars and hauling debris adds a per-foot charge. A yard reached only through a narrow side gate takes longer to work in than one open to the alley.
Rules. The drainage easement gap, corner sight lines and HOA style rules don’t add much cost directly, but getting them wrong means rework. The Allen permit rules guide lists them.
Example budgets (illustrative)
These examples are illustrative, built from the typical ranges above, to show how the pieces add up. They are not quotes.
| Example project | How it adds up | Illustrative total |
|---|---|---|
| 150 ft of 6 ft cedar board-on-board, one walk gate, new lot | 150 ft × $35–$50, plus $150–$600 gate, plus $75 permit | About $5,475 to $8,175 |
| 120 ft replacement in side-by-side cedar, tear-out, one walk gate | 120 ft × $18–$35, plus 120 ft × $3–$8 removal, plus gate and permit | About $2,745 to $5,835 |
| 80 ft of iron around a pool with two self-closing gates | 80 ft × $28–$55, plus two gates at $150–$600, plus permit | About $2,615 to $5,675 |
Real projects vary with the factors above. A pool fence also has to pass the City inspection, which can change gate hardware choices, and iron fencing with custom welding sits above the top of its range.
Allen lot types that change the price
Alley-loaded lots. Many Allen homes have a garage off the alley, and the fence along the back lot line often includes a drive gate. A swing gate needs room to clear the slope of the drive; a sliding gate needs runback space beside it and, under the City of Allen guideline, one of two trash-bin layouts with the bin pad outside the gate. Either way, the drive gate is usually the single largest add-on on these lots. The swing vs sliding gates guide compares the two.
Corner lots. A corner lot has more street-facing fence, and the City of Allen requires clear sight lines at intersections: 20 ft back from the curb line where an alley meets a street, and sight distance kept at street intersections. That can mean clipping the fence corner or holding it back, and HOAs often care most about the street-facing side, so the finish there may be upgraded.
Two-story neighbors. Where a neighboring house looks down into the yard, an 8 ft section along that side is common. Allen allows it in back and side yards, and pricing it as a separate run keeps the rest of the fence at 6 ft.
Lots on a drainage easement or creek. The 3-inch gap at the bottom of a fence in the lot-line drainage easement doesn’t add cost, but fences are not allowed in floodplains, and fences in other easements need the Engineering Department’s permission. On lots near Allen’s creeks, confirming where the fence can go comes before pricing it.
Questions to ask before you sign
Ask what the post depth will be for the line posts and the gate posts, and whether the concrete will be crowned. Ask whether the price includes tear-out, haul-away and the permit, and who schedules the City inspection. Ask which side of the fence will face the neighbor, and whether the HOA has approved the style and stain. For cedar, ask how long to wait before staining; the stain timing guide gives the water test. For the steel itself, the steel vs wood posts guide explains the finish options.
Repair or replace: the cost side
A fence with sound steel posts and worn-out boards can often be re-boarded for less than a full replacement, because the posts and footings stay. A fence whose posts lean along the whole line, or an older wood-post fence with rot at the ground, usually ends up costing more to patch than to replace. The repair or replace guide walks through the checks, and fence replacement covers the tear-out and rebuild.
How long the work takes, and how timing affects price
On-site work for most backyard runs takes a few days once materials are in. HOA review and the City of Allen permit usually take longer than the construction. Prices don’t usually change with the calendar, but rain on clay delays digging, and busy seasons can push start dates. The installation timeline guide goes step by step.
Reading a fence quote
A useful Allen fence quote lists the linear feet, the height, the style, the post type and depth, the number and size of gates, tear-out, haul-away, the permit and any stain. If two quotes differ widely, check those lines first: most gaps come from comparing a side-by-side fence with a board-on-board one, or from one quote leaving out tear-out or gates. To get a starting number for your own yard, call (945) 203-4292 or use the estimate form below.