What a Cedar Privacy Fence Costs in Bellingham in 2026
A cedar privacy fence in Bellingham costs $35 to $75 per linear foot installed in 2026, with most six-foot residential runs landing between $45 and $60 per foot. For a typical backyard that means a 150-foot run costs roughly $6,750 to $9,000 installed. Cedar privacy is the most common fence we build here, because it screens a yard, suits the older homes, and holds up to our climate when the posts are set right. The price swings on three things: the fence height, the grade of cedar, and how many gates and corners the run has.
The single biggest factor that separates a fence that lasts from one that leans in two winters is not the cedar, it is the post setting. Bellingham's soil is soft and wet, and a post set lazy will lean and pull the whole run with it. We set every post in concrete with gravel drainage at the base, and that is built into our per-foot price. A cheaper quote that skips proper post setting is not a deal, it is a fence you will be paying to straighten before long. Here is the full breakdown of what drives the number.
What Drives Cedar Fence Cost per Foot
Five things move the per-foot price more than anything else. Knowing them helps you read a quote and tell a fair one from a lowball.
Fence Height
Height is the biggest single driver. A standard six-foot privacy fence is the common Bellingham pick and sits in the middle of the range. A four-foot fence costs less per foot because it uses less material and shorter posts. An eight-foot fence, where allowed, costs more per foot and may need bigger posts and a permit. Taller fences also catch more wind, which is why the post setting matters even more as the height goes up.
Cedar Grade
Western red cedar comes in grades. Knotty cedar is the budget-friendly, common choice and looks great for a privacy fence. Clear or tight-knot cedar costs more, has fewer knots, and gives a higher-end look that suits properties in Edgemoor or where the fence is a focal point. The grade you pick can move the per-foot price by 15 to 25 percent. We will be honest about where the upgrade is worth it and where knotty cedar does the job just fine.
Posts and Setting
This is where a fence lives or dies in Bellingham. We set posts in concrete with gravel drainage at the base so water moves away from the wood instead of pooling around it. That is the detail that keeps the run plumb through our wet winters. Some quotes skip the gravel or skimp on concrete depth to come in cheaper, and those fences lean first. Post setting is baked into our per-foot number, and it is not optional. Our guide on why fence posts lean covers exactly why this matters here.
Gates
Gates cost more than fence per foot because they need reinforced posts, hardware, and careful hanging so they swing clean and latch true. A standard walk gate adds $300 to $700, and a wide double gate for a driveway or equipment adds $700 to $1,500. The more gates a run has, the higher the average per-foot cost climbs. It is worth getting the gate count right at the quote stage.
Terrain and Layout
Flat, open ground is the cheapest to fence. Sloped lots, rocky soil, and lots of corners all add labor. On the steep lots in South Hill or the rocky ground in parts of Sudden Valley, stepping the fence down a slope or hand-digging post holes through rock adds time and cost. A long, straight run on flat ground in Roosevelt is the most economical fence per foot.
Cedar Fence Cost by Project Size
Here is what cedar privacy fence runs for common Bellingham backyard sizes in 2026, six-foot height, knotty cedar, posts set in concrete, including one walk gate.
Small Backyard (100 linear feet)
A 100-foot run, common on the tight lots in Sehome and the Lettered Streets, costs roughly $4,500 to $6,500 installed. The fixed cost of mobilization and the gate makes the per-foot number a little higher on a short run.
Typical Backyard (150 linear feet)
A 150-foot run, the most common backyard size we fence, costs about $6,750 to $9,000 installed. This is the sweet spot where the per-foot price settles into the middle of the range.
Large Lot (250+ linear feet)
A 250-foot run or longer, common on the bigger lots in Barkley or out toward Ferndale, runs $11,000 to $18,000 installed depending on gates and terrain. The per-foot price often drops a little on a long run because the fixed costs spread out.
Cedar vs. Other Fence Materials
Cedar is the popular privacy choice, but it is worth knowing the alternatives. Chain link is the cheapest at roughly $20 to $35 per foot installed, but it gives no privacy. Vinyl runs $40 to $70 per foot and never needs staining, but some homeowners find it looks less natural than wood. Ornamental metal runs $60 to $100 per foot for a decorative, see-through look. Cedar sits in the middle on price and wins on the natural look and privacy, which is why it is the Bellingham default. Whatever you choose, the post setting still has to be right, and our fence installation service covers all of these.
How to Get an Accurate Fence Quote
The key to comparing fence quotes is making sure they cover the same thing. Ask every contractor: What height and cedar grade? How are the posts set, in concrete with gravel drainage or not? How many gates, and what kind? Is the run stepped for the slope? When the scopes match, the per-foot numbers are comparable. A quote that is dramatically lower than the others is almost always skimping on the post setting, which is the one thing you cannot see once the fence is up and the one thing that determines whether it stays straight.
A good fence contractor will walk the property line with you, confirm setbacks and any HOA or corner-lot sight rules, and mark the gate locations before quoting. You can verify any Washington contractor at L&I's contractor lookup to confirm they are bonded, insured, and registered. We build cedar privacy fence across Bellingham and Whatcom County, set every post in drained concrete, and put the height, grade, and gate count in writing. Get a free fence quote, and if you are also weighing a deck, our deck cost guide covers that side.