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The typical range for a barbed wire fence falls between $1,490 to $4,350.
Whether you’re protecting your livestock or wanting extra privacy for your home, installing a barbed wire fence offers the security you may be looking for. The average barbed wire fence cost will sit around $2,920. You might only spend about $500 if you’re protecting a small yard, but several acres of barbed wire fence can cost upwards of $7,500.
How Much Does a Barbed Wire Fence Cost By Square Footage?
One of the biggest factors influencing the cost to install a barbed wire fence is low long it is. On average, a barbed wire fence’s cost per square foot ranges from $0.03 to $0.08 per foot. Each roll of barbed wire is 1,320 feet long, so you’re looking at spending between $60 to $110 per roll.
How to Calculate How Much Barbed Wire Fencing You’ll Need
To calculate how much square footage of barbed wire you’ll need for your fence, take the number of strands and multiply it by the linear feet your fence will cover. Then divide the feet you need by 1,320 (the number of feet per roll).
Say you’ll need 2,000 feet of barbed wire for your land, and you want three strands total. You’ll need 6,000 feet worth of barbed wire to complete the task. Divide 6,000 by 1,320. For this project, you would need five rolls (rounded up) of barbed wire fencing, which would cost between $300 to $550 for this project.
Barbed Wire Fence Cost Breakdown
Fence installation costs vary by material, the number of people on the job, and how big the job is. The more square footage of barbed wire fencing you need, the more materials you’ll need, including wooden posts and clips. You also need to take into account the strength of the wire you’re willing to splurge on.
Number of Strands
The more strands on the fence, the more wire you need. Most barbed wire fences have three to five strands per fence. The more strands you have, the less likely anything will get onto the property.
Coating
Coating determines the fence’s lifespan. Commercial galvanized wire lasts between 3 months to one year before rusting. Paying extra for a class 1 or class 3 galvanized coating (where the higher the class, the more resistant it is to rusting) ensures that your fence lasts longer and saves you from having to pay for fence repairs down the road.
Thickness
The barbed wire’s gauge and tensile type influence the price, too. The lower the gauge, the higher the strength of the wire.
Number of Posts and Clips
The longer your fence, the more posts and clips you’ll need to support it. Wooden posts are heavier and you can use staples or clips to secure the fencing, but it’ll cost more. Steel posts are cheaper, but aren’t as heavy and may require you to use more posts and clips to secure the fencing. Ideally, you’ll want to use a mixture of both.
Labor
If you hire a local fence company, you’ll pay for their labor and expertise.
How Much Does a Barbed Wire Fence Cost By Type?
There are two main types of barbed wire fences. The first is livestock barbed wire fencing. You’ve probably seen this type as you drive past pastures and farms.
The second type is security razor wire fencing. Security wire fencing normally goes on top of a chain link or livestock barbed wire fence. Razor security wire comes in strands of 50 to 60 feet per roll, with each roll costing $29 to $35.
What Type of Barbed Wire Fence Can I Get on My Budget?
Your budget will come down to the amount of fencing. To set your budget, decide on how many strands you need and how much work you want to do yourself.
Here are different budgets for a 1,320 linear foot barbed wire fence:
$1,000 to $1,499
For a tight budget, you can still end up with a well-put-together barbed wire fence. You’ll likely only have three strands of wire around the posts, and you’ll need to opt for cheaper steel beams.
$1,500 to $2,499
If you’re looking for a sturdier barbed wire fence, a budget of $1,500 to $2,499 will let you have more strands. Or, you can instead opt for thicker, wooden posts that tend to hold up better against Mother Nature and animals.
$2,500 to $3,499
A budget of $2,500 to $3,499 means you don’t have to pick between more strands or wooden posts; you’ll likely be able to afford both.
$3,500 to $4,999
With a budget of $3,500 to $4,999, you’ll be able to splurge on a higher class of galvanized coating. The higher the class, the longer your new fence will last.
$5,000 and Above
Once your budget hits $5,000 or above, you can opt for the strongest coating, posts, and gauge possible.
How Much Does a Barbed Wire Fence Cost to Install Yourself?
The cost of labor for installing a barbed wire fence is around $16.50 to $20 an hour. A normal barbed wire fence installation for a three-strand, 1,320-foot fence will take around 39 to 50 hours, bringing the total labor cost to between $643.50 to $1,000. And this might be on top of the cost to survey for a fence line.
By installing a barbed wire fence yourself, you can bring down the cost to around $850 to $1,000. But because barbed wire fencing has some seriously sharp edges, it might be better to hire a professional to get the job done without risk to yourself.
FAQs About Barbed Wire Fences
How do you stretch barbed wire?
You’ll need a hand-operated winch tool to tighten the barbed wire. Don’t tighten too hard, as overtightening can lead to breakage, and there’s nothing scarier than a metal whip flying at your face.
How far apart should strands be from each other?
The bottom strand should sit between 12 to 15 inches from the ground. If you’re having a problem with small critters, you can aim for 8 inches.
- Three-strand fences: 16–19 inches apart
- Four-strand fences: 10–12 inches apart
- Five-strand fences: 8–10 inches apart
Should you use barbed wire fencing for residential areas?
We’re going to be totally honest here: you should avoid barbed wire fencing in suburban areas. There are better fencing options that look nicer and take away any danger that could occur to yourself or others.