Wrought iron fencing isn't cheap, but it's not the most expensive fencing type, either. Most homeowners pay $2,334 to $4,769 for a professionally installed wrought iron fence, with a national average of $3,552.
Breaking down the cost of different types of wrought iron fences, you can expect to pay $26 to $34 per linear foot. The more intricate your fence design, the closer your cost will be to the high end of that range. On average, homeowners nationwide spend about $30 per linear foot for materials and professional labor.
How Much Does Wrought Iron Fencing Cost?
National average cost: $3,552
Typical price range: $2,334 – $4,769
Extreme low end: $340
Extreme high-end: $8,800
While a typical wrought iron fence for an average-sized property usually costs between $2,334 and $4,769, many factors can result in a much higher or lower total cost.
A tall fence of 6 feet or more, a complex ornamental design, or a fence for a huge yard could cost as much as $8,800. A shorter, more straightforward fence around a small area (like a swimming pool or air conditioning unit) might cost you as little as $340.
Cost Estimator by Size
Regarding fencing, the size of your yard is one of the biggest factors in budgeting since it decides how much material you need and how many work hours your contractor will have to spend on the job.
Most homeowners pay an average of $30 per linear foot for a standard wrought iron fence. A lower-end project would cost about $26 per linear foot, while a higher end would be closer to $34 per linear foot.
You can use these rates to determine the approximate overall cost of your wrought iron fence based on your yard's perimeter. For example, if the fence you want is relatively plain and easy to install, you should take the low-end rate of $26 and multiply it by your yard's perimeter in linear feet. If you want a fancier fence, use the high-end rate of $34 instead.
Using the average rate of $30 per linear foot, we've calculated the approximate cost of a wrought iron fence for a small, medium, and large property.
A smaller property with a yard of 500 square feet will need about 69 linear feet of fence, which would cost approximately $2,070.
A medium-sized square-foot yard of 2,000 square feet would require 135 feet or so of fence, coming out to a total of $4,050.
It would take around 180 feet to fence a large yard of 3,500 square feet, and the project would cost about $5,400.
YARD SIZE | TOTAL COST ESTIMATE (materials and labor) |
|---|---|
Small Yard (500 square feet) | $2,070 |
Medium yard (2,000 square feet) | $4.050 |
Large yard (3,500 square feet) | $5,400 |
Other Factors That Affect Cost
Because wrought iron fences are so highly customizable, many other specific aspects of your project besides just yard size can drastically raise or lower the cost. You have to take factors like fence height, decorations, and the gauge (thickness) of the iron into account if you want an accurate price estimate.
Price by Type of Wrought Iron
Photo Credit: Flickr
Though many wrought iron fences look similar, different styles and types of materials can go into their construction.
For example, did you know that wrought iron comes in colors other than plain black? You can make your fence stand out from the crowd with colors like white, green, or bronze, but expect to pay more for these than you would for standard black.
You also can find wrought iron fencing in a huge variety of different styles. Some may feature curved bars, custom post caps, or decorative shapes in the iron. The professional installation rate for a highly ornamental wrought iron fence will be about $27 to $34 per linear foot.
A plain black wrought iron fence without much decoration should cost about $24 to $30 per linear foot. A slightly higher-end galvanized fence, less susceptible to rusting, runs for around $28 to $32 per linear foot.
TYPE OF WROUGHT IRON | COST PER LINEAR FOOT (materials and labor) |
|---|---|
Plain black wrought iron | $24 – $30 |
Galvanized wrought iron | $28 – $32 |
Ornamental wrought iron | $27 – $34 |
Cast iron vs. Wrought iron
Cast iron looks similar to wrought iron but at a lower cost. That's because cast iron fencing is much easier to produce en masse. Where craftsmen work wrought iron into different shapes with tools by hand, cast iron comes from a mold.
Since you pay less money, cast iron is less customizable and less durable (posts are usually hollow). The national average cost of a cast iron fence is about $1,850 to $3,500.
Price by Height
A 4-foot wrought iron fence, often found around front yards or swimming pools, is common. This height is enough to define your space and keep small children and animals in (or out) of your yard without blocking views. A typical 4-foot wrought iron fence costs about $23 to $26 per linear foot.
If you're more interested in a wrought iron fence's decorative properties, a smaller 3-foot fence might be a better option. A shorter fence will usually be more affordable ($22 to $26 per linear foot) and will still mark your property line without making the yard feel closed-off or uninviting.
Remember that a 3-foot fence is too short for a swimming pool fence.
Meanwhile, a taller fence can provide increased security for your front or backyard. Be careful with tall fences out front, though, as they can block landscaping views and diminish curb appeal. A 5-foot wrought iron fence runs for around $26 to $30 per linear foot, and a 6-foot wrought iron fence costs about $33 to $36 per linear foot.
FENCE HEIGHT | COST PER LINEAR FOOT (materials and labor) |
|---|---|
3 feet | $22 – $26 |
4 feet | $23 – $26 |
5 feet | $26 – $30 |
6 feet | $33 – $36 |
Wrought Iron Gate Cost
A gate is a necessary piece of your fence since it's the part that makes your space accessible. You may need different types of gates depending on where you build your wrought iron fence.
For a fence around a backyard or swimming pool, you would probably want a small, single manual gate. If the fence lines your front yard, you may need a large automatic driveway gate instead. A gate's size, style, and complexity will determine its cost.
Generally, you could pay anywhere from $313 to $8,250 for a wrought iron gate. That extreme high end includes the cost of hiring an electrician in addition to your fence contractor, which may be necessary for an automatic gate.
Fence Thickness
A fence made from thicker wrought iron will be more durable and expensive than one with a higher gauge. While shopping for materials, remember that — contrary to what you might think — thicker iron has a lower gauge, and thinner iron has a higher gauge.
Wrought iron fence thickness can vary, so talk to your contractor or material supplier about what gauge of metal would best suit your needs and budget. Higher gauge wrought iron is an effective way to save money on your fence project.
Adding Brick Columns
Instead of using regular fence posts, many homeowners opt for brick columns with their wrought iron fence. Brick and wrought iron make a formal, charming combination that can elevate the look of your landscape.
A project like this can be expensive based on the type of brick you use, whether you have hollow or solid columns, and how many columns you want. You can expect to pay about $434 to $1,258 per column.
Some people use regular wrought iron posts around the yard with brick columns outlining the gate to keep the look but make the fence more cost-effective.
Permits
Before you start construction on your wrought iron fence, you'll want to determine whether your city, county, or municipality requires a building permit for fencing.
You must pay for any necessary permits whether you work with a contractor or install the fence DIY. The cost can range from $20 to $400 depending on project specifics and regulations where you live.
Extra Services
If you have already hired a contractor to install your wrought iron fence, you should tack on a few related services simultaneously. These services may or may not be relevant to your property.
Before choosing a contractor, check that they can provide any extra services you might need.
Rust Protection or Painting
Even though they tend to be durable and long-lasting, wrought iron fences can rust without proper preparation and maintenance. Galvanized wrought iron already has a protective zinc coating, so it doesn't need supplementary rust protection.
Aside from adding protective coatings, you can paint your wrought iron fence to alter the color to match your property better. Remember that some paints can make the metal more vulnerable to oxidation and rusting.
If you want a pro to apply protective coatings or paint, you'll have to pay for the material and labor.
Added cost: $8 to $10 per linear foot of fence to be painted/coated
Fence Removal
If your new wrought iron fence replaces an existing fence, you must get the old one out of the way first. Removing a fence can be difficult and time-consuming because fence posts are usually concrete. Instead of doing it yourself, you can pay your fence installer an additional fee to dig up and haul away the old fence.
Added cost: $3 to $5 per linear foot of fence to be removed.
Land Grading
Does your yard have an intense slope? That could make your new fence more difficult to install and, therefore, more expensive. Your fence contractor may have to excavate and regrade any uneven land before installing the fence.
Added cost: $900 to $3,000, depending on how much work needs to be done.
Tree or Bush Removal
Existing landscape features like trees or bushes also stand in the way of your fencing project. You can remove these features on your own if they're small enough, but a larger plant might require a professional's expertise and equipment. You may have to hire a separate tree care company and fence installer for this service.
Most of the time, a pro will charge for tree or bush removal based on the plant's height, the root system's complexity, and how accessible the spot is.
Added cost: $385 to $1,070 per plant or $10 to $14 per foot
Cost of Installing a Wrought Iron Fence DIY
Source: Flickr
If you want a highly customized wrought iron fence with unique details and frills, you won't have any choice but to hire a professional to create it for you. That said, you can purchase simple prefabricated wrought iron panels and posts from a fencing supplier and install them yourself.
Installing a wrought iron fence with prefabricated panels should be relatively easy. As is the case for most fences, this project would take at least a few days and would be easier to complete with two sets of hands.
Equipment Needed
DIY wrought iron fence installation requires fewer specialized tools than you might think. Since you will be assembling pieces that someone else has made, there won't be any difficult metalwork involved.
You'll likely find all or most of the necessary equipment in your garage or tool shed. Even if you have to buy everything new, you will only spend a little on tools.
Here's what you will need for your wrought iron fencing project, with average pricing data gathered from Lowe's, Home Depot, and Amazon:
EQUIPMENT | AVERAGE COST |
|---|---|
Spray paint | $5 |
Work gloves | $10 |
Screwdriver | $12 |
Mason’s line | $15 |
Ground stakes | $16 for 4 |
Protective safety glasses | $16 |
Tape measure | $18 |
Level | $21 |
Post hole digger | $50 |
TOTAL | $163 |
Cost of Materials
If you need additional wrought iron fencing materials, you usually will have to buy these from a specialty fencing supplier.
You might find "wrought iron" products from general retailers like Lowe's or Home Depot. Still, those are almost always tubular steel or aluminum shaped to look like wrought iron. If you're OK with settling for a substitute metal such as these, you could save yourself a lot of money and trouble.
For our purposes, we calculated the total costs for 150 linear feet of fence, about how much you would need for the average backyard. The overall cost of your project could vary significantly from the example here if you need more or less fencing.
The fence in this example uses 20 6-foot tall wrought iron fence posts, 19 4-foot tall by 8-foot wide wrought iron fence panels, and 20 wrought iron post caps.
ITEM | AVERAGE COST FOR ONE | APPROX. TOTAL COST |
|---|---|---|
Post caps | $4 | $80 |
Concrete mix | $20 for large bag | |
Fence posts | $43 | $860 |
Fence panels | $83 | $1,577 |
Single gate | $236 | |
Gravel | $400 for large bag | |
TOTAL | | $3,173 |
How to Install a Wrought Iron Fence DIY in 8 Steps
Measure the yard perimeter and plan the fence. Before you know how much of each material you need to purchase, you'll have to figure out the perimeter of your yard (or the area you want to fence in) in linear feet. Use ground stakes and a durable string such as Mason's line to outline where the fence will go. Then, you'll need to select the specific panels and posts you want to use.
Mark post holes. How wide are your fence panels? That's how far apart your fence posts should be. This example uses panels 8 feet wide so that you would mark a spot for a post hole every 8 feet along the perimeter of your yard. Don't dig just yet — simply use spray paint to mark the spots on the ground where you will dig later. Note where the gate will go with two parallel lines on the floor.
Prepare post holes. Use a post-hole digger to create a hole about 6 inches in diameter and about 2 feet deep on each spot that you measured and marked earlier.
Lay gravel base. Before you install the posts themselves, pour 2 to 3 inches of gravel into each post hole. This gravel base will help water drain away from the posts in the future.
Prepare the concrete. Follow the instructions with your concrete mix to prepare it for pouring. Usually, all you'll have to add is water. You can use any combination you want, but fast-setting concrete will make the installation quicker.
Install fence posts. Place a wrought iron fence post in each post hole and pour concrete around it. While one person pours concrete, have another person hold the posts plumb. If you're working solo, use stakes to brace the posts and keep them straight. Fill each hole with concrete, leaving about 4 inches of space at the top. Backfill those last inches with dirt. As you work, use a level to ensure all the posts are in line with each other. Wait a few days for the concrete to set before you move on.
Attach fence panels. Attach fence panels at the top and bottom brackets between each post. Line up the panels with the posts and secure them using screws or bolts.
Install gate. Attach the gate in the spot you left for it using the hardware that most likely came with the gate you purchased. If you want an automatic gate with an electrical hookup, you'll need a professional's help with this step.
DIY Cost Vs. Professional Installation Cost
Because wrought iron fence materials can be challenging to find, even installing a wrought iron fence, DIY is fairly expensive.
For the simple 150-foot fence in this example, you would spend about $3,336 for the necessary tools and materials. Aside from the money, you will spend a few days of your time (preferably a friend's time) on this project.
Based on the national average price per linear foot, having a professional install a similar fence would cost about $4,500 for materials and labor. Building your own fence would save more than $1,000 on a project like the one in this example.
The savings could be even greater for a larger fence that takes longer to install.
Cost of Wrought Iron Fencing by Location
Unlike wood fences, the cost of materials for a wrought iron fence doesn't vary much based on where you live. That's not to say that the same national average prices apply everywhere in the country. Even if the material costs are consistent, the labor costs aren't.
In a small town, fence installers will charge a lower rate per work hour than in a big city. Alternatively, small businesses with fewer customers might charge more than large companies with more revenue sources.
Remember that where you live, and the specific contractor you hire are significant factors in pricing for a wrought iron fence. Don't be surprised if your local costs differ from the national averages.
FAQ About Wrought Iron Fences
1. How do I take care of a wrought iron fence?
The main threat to a wrought iron fence is rust. To help prevent rust, you can apply a water-repellent spray or another protective coating to your fence.
Inspect your fence regularly, and if you notice excessive dirt or shallow rust spots, scrub them away with warm, soapy water. If the rust has set in too deeply for you to scrub it away, use sandpaper or a wire brush to remove it before it can spread further.
2. How long will a wrought iron fence last?
Proper maintenance allows a wrought iron fence to last a lifetime or even longer.
3. What paint should you use on wrought iron?
Before painting, apply a rust-inhibiting primer. After that, you should use an exterior-grade enamel paint — preferably a specialized direct-to-metal (DTM) paint containing a rust inhibitor.
Conclusion
Whether you install it yourself or hire a professional fencing contractor to do it for you, you should prepare to spend a few thousand dollars on a wrought iron fence. For the money, you get a durable fence that will stand the test of time with low maintenance compared to a wood fence.
The national average cost of a professionally installed wrought iron fence is about $3,552, with a typical range of $2,334 to $4,769. Your yard's size, the type of wrought iron you use, and your property's specific attributes will decide your project's exact budget.
The materials and equipment required to assemble your own wrought iron fence would cost about $3,336 for 150 linear feet of fencing. Other metal fences (such as steel or aluminum) will almost always be more affordable but less durable.
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