Fencing service costs depend on your project and location. Check with a local pro for your specific job.
Professional fence removal costs $300 to $750 total, depending on your fence type, size, and access.
Your fence material affects labor time, rotted wood breaks apart, while vinyl and wrought iron remove in sections.
You should budget for concrete post removal and tool rentals, which can add $150 to $250 to your final project total.
Hiring a local fence company prevents injury while moving heavy materials and saves you the effort of disposal and cleanup.
Fence removal costs about $500 depending on the size and type of fence, though it can range between $300 and $750. Frequently, fence removal is charged by the linear foot, with those prices ranging from $3 to $7 per linear foot. Simple post fences are easiest to remove, so it makes sense that the price increases when fences have cement footing or require dismantling. If you plan on recycling the fencing material, that will also increase the cost because it will take longer if you plan on preserving the material.
You can think of fence removal costs in three categories: type of material, size, and how much labor is required. A change in one of these categories tends to affect the other. For example, a wooden fence takes longer to remove and has higher disposal fees due to weight. Any trees or vegetation around the fence will also increase the time required to remove them and may even require special equipment.
The type of fence you’re removing plays a large part in the total cost. A chain link fence will be the most affordable to remove, while anything heavy, like wrought iron or concrete fences, requires significantly more work. While removal is much less expensive than the cost of fence repair, it still isn’t the least costly work to contract or DIY.
Which material you need to remove also matters because of degradation. A vinyl or wrought iron fence will likely be in one solid piece and you can treat it as hard as you want. However, if you’re removing an old wooden fence that has rotted, it’ll take much longer to remove if the material is breaking down during removal.
| Fence Type | Average Removal Cost per Linear Foot |
|---|---|
| Chain link | $3–$4 |
| Vinyl | $3–$4 |
| Wooden picket | $3–$4 |
| Wooden split rail | $3–$5 |
| Concrete | $4–$7 |
| Wrought iron | $4–$6 |
The size of your fence is the most significant determining factor in your total costs. Larger fences may have more complicated aspects, like corners or concrete posts every hundred feet. Hiring a fence contractor is a good idea if you don’t know how your fence is secured.
Another consideration with size is disposal expenses if you don’t plan on reusing the material. While there can be an economy of scale when renting dumpsters, most residential fence disposal will take place at a city dump, where the weight of the material determines the cost. Multiple trips also cost more in gas, time, and rental charges (if you don’t own a truck or utility van).
| Fence Size in Linear Feet | Chain Link Removal Cost | Wooden Split Removal Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | $300–$400 | $300–$500 |
| 175 | $525–$700 | $525–$875 |
| 325 | $975–$1,300 | $975–$1,625 |
| 500 | $1,500–$2,000 | $500–$2,500 |
It’s not often you can remove a fence with just your bare hands. A pro will know which tools to use for each fence type, but you’ll need some materials no matter what the job entails. The bare minimum required gear is protective eyewear, thick gloves to prevent blisters and splinters, and thick shoes. Nothing hurts like a wooden post falling on your toes, so wear steel-toe boots if you have them.
| Tool | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Thick gloves | $25 |
| Protective goggles | $15 |
| Hammer | $18 |
| Hand saw or reciprocating saw | $75 |
| Shovel | $40 |
| Heavy-duty wire cutters | $35 |
| Fence post puller | $80 (rental price per day) |
Only a professional will be able to break down your individual project into labor costs, but expect to pay between $40 and $90 per hour for fence removal. There are certain factors that will determine if you need specialized workers or specific tools (like bulldozers or excavators). Some factors that determine total labor costs are:
Fence condition
Material
Accessibility
Complexity
Distance to a disposal site
Regional labor costs
Required equipment rental
Working with a local fence company is the best way to get an accurate quote.
Cleaning up after fence removal is an important step that can considerably affect the project cost. There tends to be a lot of leftover material that needs disposal after a fence removal.
Where possible, recycle. This is easier with metal than wood, which usually needs to be taken to a municipal dump. If you have land and your neighbors are far away, you might be tempted to burn the old fence, but that isn’t a good idea. Fencing wood is often treated with chemicals that aren't safe to burn. Another reason not to burn it? You could be looking at heavy fines for doing so.
If you need to rent a truck or van for removal, it should be factored into the cleanup cost.
It’s a good idea to call some friends—many hands make light work—when you’re ready to take the material to the recycling facility or dump.
You may be surprised to learn that even tearing down an old fence often requires a building permit. Every city deals with this issue differently—some cities won't require permits for fences under 6 feet tall, for example. You can bring your proposal to the relevant department of your local government office or, if you hire a fencing pro, they will do this for you as part of the project.
When it comes to major outdoor projects like removing a fence, it’s always wise to work with a professional. While it’s possible to remove a fence yourself, the tools, time, and physical effort needed make it an impractical DIY task for many. By hiring a local fencing company, on the other hand, you’ll have the job completed in a fraction of the time, all for about $40 to $90 per hour.
Working with a pro to have your old fence removed has a few benefits, such as:
Ensuring the quick, complete removal of your old fence
Avoiding damage to your land or surrounding buildings
Preventing injury when moving heavy fence materials
Getting the option to reuse old materials for a new fence
Access to all necessary tools and techniques
There are a few ways to reduce the cost of fence removal. Some tips to keep costs low are:
Hire professionals during a slow season.
Use the closest waste facility.
Borrow a friend or family's truck for disposal.
Try to recruit friends and family for removal help.
See if a pro will let you work with their team to lower labor costs.
Check what your pro charges for different fence types, as this can influence costs
Count how many concrete posts you’ll need to have removed for a more accurate quote
Make sure your pro’s estimate factors in cleanup and debris removal costs, if needed
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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