Fence Financing: Installation Cost & Loan Options

Installing a fence lends peace of mind, and it can increase your home’s curb appeal and resale value. Whether you want to create a safe space for your children or pets, or just want a little privacy from your neighbors, new fencing can be a worthwhile investment.

While fence installation may be the smart choice for the value of your house, paying for that added value can be a challenge for many homeowners. This guide will walk you through your finance options, so you know how much it will cost to install a fence and how to cover those costs.

In this guide:

• How much does fence installation cost?
• How to finance a fence: 3 methods
• Other methods of privacy fence financing
• Frequently asked questions

How much does fence installation cost?

According to HomeGuide, the most common cost of a 150-foot-long privacy fence is $2,711. The cost varies significantly depending on materials, the size of your lot, and labor. A private contractor or professional installers will cost more than doing it yourself, but you may prefer the end product.

The most important factor of the cost is materials, and there’s a ton of wiggle room here. For example, your cost will be higher if you go with a custom wrought-iron fence that surrounds a large house than a chain link or vinyl fence to enclose a small patch of lawn.

You may also need to factor in permits and zoning fees, painting services, and soil grading if you level your yard first. 

You can limit the damage to your wallet by installing yourself or making small concessions. For instance, do you need ornamental post toppers, or would the standard option suffice? That’s completely up to your budget.

How to finance a fence: 3 methods

Here are three choices to consider when shopping for a home improvement loan to pay for your new fence, as well as the pros and cons of each.

• Personal loans
• Home equity loans
• HELOCs

Personal loans

You can secure personal loans for fence financing online with little time or hassle. Many providers approve and supply funds the day you apply. 

Borrowers use personal loans for pretty much anything, from swimming pools to new decks to kitchen remodels. Their particular benefit is that you can take out a loan without putting your home on the line. However, because they tend to be unsecured, personal loans may come with high interest rates.

Here are two of our best personal loan lenders:

LightStream

LightStream is a top-rated lender under SunTrust Bank that offers competitive fixed-rate financing to applicants with good credit. It offers personal loans for a range of needs.

• LendEDU rating: 5.00 / 5.00
• Loan amounts: lightstream-perl-40-amountlow to lightstream-perl-40-amounthigh
• Term lengths: lightstream-perl-40-termlengthrange_m
• APRs: lightstream-perl-40-alllow to lightstream-perl-40-allhigh
• Fees: lightstream-perl-40-applicfee application fee, lightstream-perl-40-origfee origination fee, lightstream-perl-40-annualfee annual fee, lightstream-perl-40-prepayfee prepayment fee 
• Full review: LightStream Personal Loan Review

Marcus

Marcus is a consumer lender under Goldman Sachs that requires fair credit. It allows borrowers to customize loans by choosing minimum monthly payments and loan amounts. 

• LendEDU rating: 5.00 / 5.00
• Loan amounts: marcus-perl-56-amountlow to marcus-perl-56-amounthigh
• Term lengths: marcus-perl-56-termlengthrange_m
• APRs: marcus-perl-56-alllow to marcus-perl-56-allhigh
• Fees: marcus-perl-56-applicfee application fee, marcus-perl-56-origfee origination fee, marcus-perl-56-latefee late payment fee, marcus-perl-56-prepayfee prepayment fee
• Full review: Marcus Personal Loan Review

Home equity loan

Another financing option is to take out a home equity loan. These are sort of like second mortgages, letting you borrow against the equity you’ve built in your house. Your home is on the line if you can’t repay, but home equity loans typically carry lower interest rates than unsecured loans.

Here are two of our highest-rated home equity loans:

TD Bank

By leveraging the value of your home, a home equity loan from TD Bank allows you to instantly qualify to borrow what you need for any type of project at a low fixed or variable rate.

• LendEDU rating: 5.00 / 5.00
• Loan amounts: tdbank-homeeq-153-amountlow to tdbank-homeeq-153-amounthigh
• Term lengths: tdbank-homeeq-153-termrange
• APRs: tdbank-homeeq-153-alllow to tdbank-homeeq-153-allhigh
• Fees: tdbank-homeeq-153-origfee origination fee

Spring EQ

Spring EQ is available in 36 states and Washington, D.C. The lender only offers home equity loans.

• LendEDU rating: 4.72 / 5.00
• Loan amounts: springeq-homeeq-154-amounthigh to springeq-homeeq-154-amountlow
• Term lengths: springeq-homeeq-154-termrange
• APRs: starting at springeq-homeeq-154-alllow
• Fees: springeq-homeeq-154-origfee origination fee

Home equity line of credit (HELOC)

Similar to a loan that leverages your home’s equity, a HELOC uses a revolving line of credit, much like a credit card. You only borrow as you need it, rather than taking out a large sum and paying it off over time. 

A HELOC is a great financing option if you’re committing to ongoing projects, but you’ll typically face higher interest rates than for home equity loans.

Here are two of our highest-rated HELOCs:

M&T Bank

M&T CHOICEEquity offers a revolving line of credit on up to three fixed-rate loans, requiring you to make payments only on the money you use.

• LendEDU rating: 5.00 / 5.00
• Loan amounts: mtbank-homeeq-603-amountlow to mtbank-homeeq-603-amounthigh
• Term lengths: up to mtbank-homeeq-603-termlengthhigh_y
• APRs: mtbank-homeeq-603-alllow to mtbank-homeeq-603-allhigh
• Fees: mtbank-homeeq-603-applicfee application fee, mtbank-homeeq-603-closingcost closing cost fee, mtbank-homeeq-603-annualfee annual fee

Figure

With no hidden fees for its HELOC, Figure allows you to borrow up to figure-homeeq-600-amounthigh after an online application process that takes less than five minutes.

• LendEDU rating: 4.56 / 5.00
• Loan amounts: figure-homeeq-600-amountlow to figure-homeeq-600-amounthigh
• Term lengths: figure-homeeq-600-termlengthrange_y
• APRs: figure-homeeq-600-alllow to figure-homeeq-600-allhigh
• Fees: figure-homeeq-600-origfee origination fee, figure-homeeq-600-prepayfee prepayment fee
• Full review: Figure Home Equity Review

Other methods of privacy fence financing

Apart from personal loans and lines of credit, builder financing and credit cards could help you cover the costs of your fence project.

Builder financing

Many contractors or fence companies offer their own financing plans among other payment options. This can be a convenient choice and often works out well if you trust the contractor, but beware that it might put more power in your contractor’s hands. 

Compare the rates and fees your contractor offers against others in the area and those you could get with other forms of financing.

Credit cards

Paying for your fence project with a credit card is an option, but we recommend it as your last resort. Here’s what could make this a smart financial move: 

• You’ve just signed up for a new credit card that requires a certain amount of spending to qualify for a bonus.
• You’ve just signed up for a new credit card that offers a 0% intro APR.
• Your fence installation budget is low, and you’re confident you can have your balance paid in full within one billing cycle.

Frequently asked questions