Fence Cost Calculator
Enter your animal and fence size to compare materials, energizer, labour and lifespan for every suitable fence type.
How this calculator works
Prices come from the research behind our livestock fencing guide: typical US farm-store prices checked on October 26, 2026, mostly regular (not sale) prices at Tractor Supply, cross-checked at other stores. Each fence type is priced as complete straight runs with a braced end at each side, then corners are shared, gates are added and about 7.5% extra material is allowed for waste and mistakes.
- Short fences cost more per foot. A 100 ft run still needs two braced ends and often a whole roll of wire.
- Electric systems include an energizer kit: about $345 for a solar unit for polywire or netting, $251 for a plug-in unit with ground rods for permanent fences, and about $693 for a large 15 J unit on fences over a mile.
- Labour uses Iowa State's hours per quarter mile (woven wire 42 h, barbed 39 h, high-tensile electric 18 h, polywire 2 h), scaled to your length. Other figures are our estimates.
- Which fences show up depends on the animal. We leave out fences that are unsafe or don't work, like barbed wire for horses, sheep and goats, or chicken wire as a predator barrier.
Treat the result as a ballpark (about plus or minus 25%). Prices are typical US retail seen on October 26, 2026, mostly at Tractor Supply (regular, not sale, prices), cross-checked at other farm stores. They vary by region and change quickly, especially steel. In Canada expect noticeably higher prices in CAD. Use these numbers to compare options, then price your own list locally.
Plan the whole fence, not just the price
The Ultimate Livestock Fencing Guide is a 100-page printable with fence choices by animal, electric fencing explained, climate notes, 13 step-by-step installs with 3D diagrams, and worksheets for planning materials and cost.
See the fencing guide →Common questions
How much does it cost to fence one acre?
A square acre is about 835 ft around. At late-2026 US prices, materials for a woven field fence come to roughly $2,000, a 5-strand barbed fence about $1,700, and a 5-wire high-tensile electric fence about $1,400 with the energizer, before labour and tax.
What is the cheapest fence for goats?
Electric options cost least per foot: high-tensile electric or electric netting. Many goat keepers still choose 4 x 4 in woven goat fence with an offset hot wire for a permanent perimeter, because goats test fences constantly.
Why does a short fence cost more per foot?
Every straight run needs two strong braced ends and you usually buy wire by the roll, so a 100 ft fence carries the same end costs as a 330 ft one and leaves leftover wire.