What aluminum fence costs per foot
Aluminum is sold as ready-made panels, usually 6 feet wide, that bolt between posts. You pay more per foot than for wood or chain link, and in return you get a fence that never needs paint. Our October 2026 prices:
| Fence | Materials / ft | Labor / ft | Installed / ft | 150 ft installed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum, flat top, 4 ft | $26 | $12 | $32–$44 | $4,850–$6,550 |
| Aluminum, flat top, 5 ft | $30 | $13 | $37–$49 | $5,480–$7,420 |
| Aluminum, flat top, 6 ft | $36 | $14 | $43–$57 | $6,380–$8,630 |
| Aluminum, ornamental, 4 ft | $40 | $14 | $46–$62 | $6,890–$9,320 |
| Aluminum, ornamental, 5 ft | $46 | $15 | $52–$70 | $7,780–$10,520 |
| Aluminum, ornamental, 6 ft | $54 | $16 | $60–$81 | $8,930–$12,070 |
One thing to know before you fall for it: you can see straight through an aluminum fence. That's the point of it. If you want privacy, this is the wrong material.
Flat top or ornamental
On a flat-top fence the pickets stop at a smooth top rail. It's the plainer look and the cheaper one, and it's what most people put around a pool, because there's nothing pointed to land on.
Ornamental panels run the pickets past the rail and finish them with a point or a finial, often with a second rail underneath. It looks like old wrought iron from the street. It also costs noticeably more per foot, as the table shows.
Aluminum next to steel and iron
People call all three "iron fence", but they behave differently. Aluminum doesn't rust, which is why it's the default near pools, sprinklers and the coast. It's also light, so it's easy to install and easy to bend. A falling branch or a backing car will leave a mark.
Steel and real wrought iron are heavier and much stronger. They cost more and they do rust, so they need their coating kept up. If the fence is there for security, look at steel. If it's there to look good and keep the dog in, aluminum does the job.
Around a pool
Most places require a barrier around a pool and are specific about it. The common requirements are a fence at least 48 inches tall, pickets close enough together that a small child can't squeeze through, nothing that works as a foothold, and a gate that swings shut and latches by itself.
The exact numbers come from your city or state, not from us. Get them in writing before you order, because a fence that fails inspection has to be changed at your cost.
Slopes
Aluminum handles a slope better than most fences. The panels "rack": the pickets stay plumb while the rails tilt to follow the ground, so there's no stair-step gap under each panel. Standard panels take a gentle grade. A steep yard needs panels made to rack further, so mention the slope when you ask for a quote.
Fair questions
Will it keep a small dog in?
Not always. The gap between standard pickets is a little under 4 inches, and a small dog or a determined puppy fits through that. Ask for "puppy picket" panels, which add short extra pickets along the bottom.
Does the finish last?
The color is a baked-on powder coat, not paint, and it holds up for years. It can chip where something hits it and fade a little in strong sun. A bottle of touch-up paint from the manufacturer covers chips.
Can I install it myself?
Yes, and the panels are light enough to handle alone. The catch is the same as with vinyl: panels are a fixed width, so every post has to be set at exactly the right distance from the last one. Measure from post to post as you go.
Sources
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools: fence height, picket spacing and gate rules for pool barriers.
- Call 811: the national call-before-you-dig service, for when and how to have buried utilities marked.
- How we calculate: every suggested price behind this calculator, with the date it was last reviewed.
