Metal Fence Cost and Pricing Guide
Metal fencing is one of the few things we build that genuinely does price by the linear foot, at least on a straight run over reasonable ground. What breaks that is the ground itself. Below are researched Metro Vancouver rates, plus the site conditions that move a fence quote more than the design ever will.
Typical Metro Vancouver budget
$110 to $220 per linear foot
Custom fabricated ornamental steel fencing, supplied, finished and installed on reasonable ground. Simple picket runs sit below this. Forged and estate work sits above. Aluminium systems are a separate, cheaper product.
Ground conditions
Slope, rock and existing structures do more to a fence price than any design decision. Steep or rocky ground can add 30 percent.
Run length
Longer runs spread mobilisation, setup and coating across more feet. Short infill runs between existing structures cost more per foot.
Steel or aluminium
Fabricated steel costs roughly twice an aluminium picket system and lasts accordingly. Both are valid; they are not the same product.
Want the number for your property line?
Send the approximate run length, the height you want and a few photos of the ground. That is usually enough for a real budget.
Request a QuoteExample Fencing Prices
Researched Metro Vancouver market ranges, supplied and installed, before tax, on ground that does not need special treatment.
| Fence type | Typical budget | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium picket system, catalogue | $55 to $100 per ft | Shown for comparison. Pre-engineered, factory finished, not custom fabricated |
| Simple fabricated steel picket or spear run | $85 to $130 per ft | Height, picket spacing, post spacing, finish |
| Custom ornamental steel fencing | $110 to $220 per ft | Pattern work, panel size, rails, finish schedule |
| Forged or estate-grade steel fencing | $200 to $300+ per ft | Hand-forged detail, heavier stock, matched panels |
| 100 ft ornamental run with one walk gate | $10,000 to $18,000 | Whole-project figure including the gate and posts |
What the Ground Does to the Price
These are the site conditions that most often separate the quoted budget from the final one, with the effect the market applies.
| Condition | Typical effect | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate slope | About 12 percent more | Panels have to be racked or stepped, posts set individually |
| Steep ground or rock | About 30 percent more | Drilling, longer posts, more concrete, slower work |
| Rock drilling per post | $120 to $300 per post | Equipment and time where an auger will not go |
| Clearing vegetation along the line | $2 to $5 per ft | Access before anything can be set |
| Removing an existing fence | $1 to $8 per ft | Depends entirely on what is coming out and whether it is concrete-set |
What Changes the Cost
- Height. Going from 4 ft to 6 ft is more than a 50 percent material increase, because posts and footings grow too.
- Picket spacing and pattern. Closer spacing means more parts and more welds per foot.
- Panel size. Larger panels mean fewer posts but heavier handling.
- Finish. Powder coat is standard. Hot-dip galvanizing before coating costs more and is the right call near salt air.
- Gates in the run. Every gate is a separate fabricated assembly with its own hardware and its own posts.
- Property line accuracy. If the line is uncertain, that gets resolved before fabrication, not after.
- Retaining walls and services. Anything the posts have to avoid or tie into.
Fabrication Only or Fabricated and Installed
Fencing is one of the areas where supply-only genuinely works, because a landscaper or builder is often already setting posts on site. The panels can be built to a confirmed post layout and delivered. Where the line is irregular, the ground is difficult or the fence has to meet an existing structure, having the same crew fabricate and install removes a lot of tolerance risk.
How to Keep a Fence Within Budget
- Walk the line and send photos of the whole run, including the difficult parts. Nobody prices a surprise cheaply.
- Confirm the property line before quoting, not after fabrication.
- Keep the panel design consistent along the run.
- Group all the fencing on a property into one job rather than phasing it.
- Decide gate positions before panel layout is set.
- Where privacy is the goal, consider whether a screen section only where you need it beats privacy infill along the whole run.
When the Price Goes Up
- Rock, which is common on the North Shore and is genuinely slow to drill
- Fence lines on a significant grade, especially where panels must step
- Matching an existing ornamental pattern
- Runs that cross retaining walls or tie into masonry
- Sites where materials have to be carried a long way from the truck
- Short infill runs between existing structures
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a metal fence cost per foot in Vancouver?
Custom fabricated ornamental steel fencing in Metro Vancouver generally budgets $110 to $220 per linear foot installed, with simple picket runs from about $85 and forged or estate work above $200. Pre-engineered aluminium picket systems sit lower at $55 to $100 per foot.
Why are some quotes half the price per foot?
Almost always because they are for a different product. Economy panel systems and chain link installed by fence contractors legitimately sit in the $25 to $60 per foot band. Fabricated steel with welded panels, heavier stock and a proper finish schedule does not.
Does a sloped yard cost more to fence?
Yes. Moderate slope typically adds around 12 percent because panels must be racked or stepped and posts set individually. Steep ground or rock adds around 30 percent, and rock drilling runs $120 to $300 per post.
Is a gate included in the per-foot price?
No. Every gate is a separate fabricated assembly with its own frame, hardware and posts, and it is quoted as a line of its own. See the gate pricing guide for those ranges.
Do you charge to remove the old fence?
Removal is quoted separately because it varies so much. The market range is roughly $1 to $8 per foot depending on what is coming out and whether the posts are set in concrete.
Do these prices include tax?
No. All ranges on this page are before tax. Applicable taxes are shown on your written quote.
What We Need to Give You an Exact Price
The more of this you can send, the tighter the quote comes back and the fewer rounds it takes.
- The approximate total length of fencing needed
- The height you want
- Photos along the whole run, including slopes, rock and anything in the way
- How many gates and roughly where
- Whether an existing fence needs removing
- Finish preference, or the exposure so we can suggest one
- Whether the property line has been surveyed
Get an Exact Price for Your Project
Send us a few details, photos or a drawing and we will price the actual scope instead of guessing from a generic range. Photos can go to sales@trussmetal.com if the form is easier without them.
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Pricing guide updated: August 2026. Figures are planning ranges in Canadian dollars, before tax.