What it costs to take a fence out
Crews price removal by the foot, then add a fee for hauling. For 150 feet of wood fence with the posts in concrete, at our October 2026 prices, that's $525 to tear it down, $300 to dig out the footings and $300 to haul it all away.
| Fence type | Tear-down / ft | With concrete footings / ft | 150 ft, hauled away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | $3.50 | $5.50 | $955–$1,290 |
| Chain link | $3.50 | $5.50 | $955–$1,290 |
| Vinyl | $3.50 | $5.50 | $955–$1,290 |
| Wrought iron or steel | $5 | $7 | $1,150–$1,550 |
The part people underestimate
It's the concrete. Panels come off in minutes. The footings are what take the day. Each one is a plug of concrete that can weigh a hundred pounds or more, it's stuck two feet down, and there's one every 8 feet.
That's why the calculator asks about it. If nothing new is going in the same spots, you can have the posts cut off below the surface and leave the footings buried. It's cheaper. The catch is that they're still down there the next time somebody digs.
What pushes the price up
Anything that slows the crew. Vines and shrubs grown through the fence. A back yard they can only reach through a narrow side gate, so everything gets carried out by hand. Oversized footings on the gate and corner posts.
Short jobs cost more per foot, too. Most crews have a minimum charge, and a short fence still means a truck, a crew and a trip to the dump.
Paying less
If a new fence is going in, have the installer price the tear-out with it. They're already there with a truck, and it often beats hiring removal separately.
Metal is worth something. Chain link, steel and iron can go to a scrap yard instead of the dump, and some yards pay you by weight.
Or do the tear-down yourself and pay only for the hauling. A reciprocating saw makes short work of wood panels. Just don't burn the old boards. Pressure-treated lumber gives off toxic smoke.
Three things to check first
Whose fence is it? A fence on the property line may belong to both you and your neighbor. Talk to them, and look at your survey, before you take it down.
Call 811. Pulling footings is digging, and the free utility marking applies here too.
And think about what the fence is doing right now. If it keeps a dog in or closes off a pool, have the replacement or a temporary barrier ready before the old one goes.
One fair question
What will the new fence cost?
Use the fence cost calculator and tick "Also take down an old fence first". You'll get both in one estimate.
Sources
- Call 811: the national call-before-you-dig service, for when and how to have buried utilities marked.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Burn Wise: why pressure-treated wood should never be burned.
- How we calculate: every suggested price behind this calculator, with the date it was last reviewed.
