Price Per Linear Foot Calculator
Contractors price most linear materials — fencing, trim, gutters, pipe, and decking — by the linear foot. Use this calculator to estimate your total cost by entering the total linear feet and the price per foot. Below you'll find current 2026 material pricing data for the most common construction materials.
Price Per Linear Foot
Calculate total cost from price per foot
Total Cost
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Common Material Costs Per Linear Foot (2026)
Prices are national averages including professional installation. Material-only costs are typically 40-60% lower. Prices verified against Home Depot, Lowe's, Angi, and contractor pricing databases.
| Material | Low/LF | High/LF | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fencing | |||
| Chain Link Fence | $8 | $18 | |
| Wood Fence | $12 | $30 | |
| Wood Privacy Fence | $15 | $35 | |
| Vinyl Fence | $20 | $40 | |
| Aluminum Fence | $25 | $50 | |
| Wrought Iron | $30 | $60 | |
| Split Rail | $10 | $20 | |
| Decking & Railing | |||
| Pressure-Treated Decking | $3 | $6 | |
| Cedar Decking | $5 | $9 | |
| Composite/Trex Decking | $6 | $12 | |
| IPE Decking | $10 | $20 | |
| Azek/PVC Decking | $7 | $14 | |
| Wood Deck Railing | $15 | $30 | |
| Composite Railing | $25 | $50 | |
| Aluminum Railing | $30 | $70 | |
| Cable Railing | $40 | $80 | |
| Glass Railing | $60 | $120 | |
| Plumbing & Pipe | |||
| PVC Pipe (Schedule 40) | $2 | $4 | |
| PEX Pipe | $3 | $6 | |
| Copper Pipe (Type L) | $8 | $15 | |
| Countertops | |||
| Laminate | $30 | $60 | |
| Granite | $80 | $175 | |
| Quartz | $90 | $200 | |
| Gutters | |||
| Aluminum (Seamless) | $4 | $8 | |
| Copper | $15 | $25 | |
| Vinyl (Sectional) | $3 | $5 | |
| Trim & Cabinets | |||
| Baseboard (MDF) | $1 | $3 | |
| Baseboard (Hardwood) | $4 | $8 | |
| Stock Cabinets | $100 | $300 | |
| Custom Cabinets | $500 | $1,200 | |
Prices verified June 2026 against Angi, HomeAdvisor, and national contractor databases. Regional variation: add 15-25% for Northeast/West Coast, subtract 5-10% for Southeast/Midwest.
How Contractors Use Price Per Linear Foot
Understanding how contractors calculate price per linear foot helps you evaluate bids and avoid being overcharged.
- Material cost markup: Contractors typically mark up materials 10-20% over wholesale cost. A $3/LF wholesale material becomes $3.30-3.60/LF on your bid. This covers procurement, delivery, and waste.
- Labor rate: Labor is calculated separately from materials. For fencing, labor runs $5-15/LF. For trim work, $3-8/LF. For decking, $8-15/LF. The total per-LF price you see is usually material + labor combined.
- Minimum charges: Most contractors have a minimum job size — typically $500-1,500 regardless of the per-LF rate. A small 20-LF fence section may cost $50/LF instead of $15/LF because the minimum charge kicks in.
- Complexity adders: Curves, stairs, corners, gates, and difficult access all add to the per-LF price. A straight fence on flat ground costs $15/LF. The same fence on a steep hill with 4 corners and a gate might cost $22/LF.
How to Compare Bids Using Price Per Linear Foot
When you receive multiple contractor bids, normalize them to a per-linear-foot price for an apples-to-apples comparison:
- Ask each contractor for the total linear feet they measured (not just the total price).
- Divide total price by total LF to get the effective per-LF rate.
- Compare rates — but also check what's included: demolition of old materials? Permit fees? Waste removal? Post-concrete? These line items can swing the effective rate by $3-5/LF.
- The lowest per-LF bid is not always the best value. A $12/LF fence quote that excludes demolition may end up costing more than a $15/LF quote that includes it.