Fence Removal Pricing Guide

Verify ownership and mark scope

Confirm the fence is entirely on the customer's property before any work begins. For shared boundary fences, require written consent from both property owners — a text message screenshot works, but an email is better. Walk the full fence line with the customer and mark start and stop points with flagging tape. Note and photograph any pre-existing damage to adjacent landscaping, sprinkler heads, or structures.

Fence removal costs $3–$8 per linear foot, or $200–$1,200+ for a typical residential job. Under 50 ft of wood fence runs $200–$500. A 100-ft privacy fence with concrete-set posts runs $700–$1,000. Concrete footing extraction adds $15–$30 per post. Chain link fences cost slightly less to remove because scrap metal revenue offsets disposal. Height, material, and post setting method are the main price drivers — always measure the full run including gates before quoting.

A 2-person crew removes 50 ft of wood fence in 1.5–2 hours and 100 ft in 2.5–3.5 hours including cleanup. Chain link is slightly faster because you roll fabric instead of pulling individual boards, but tension band removal adds time on commercial-grade installations. Post extraction adds 3–8 minutes per post versus 1–2 minutes for cut-at-grade. A full 200-ft backyard perimeter with extraction typically takes 4–5 hours for a 3-person crew.

Concrete footing removal is offered as an optional upgrade at $15–$30 per post. The default is cutting posts flush at ground level, which is faster and cheaper — the buried footing decomposes over many years and does not affect grass growth. Full extraction is necessary only when a new fence will be installed in the same post locations. Extracted footings weigh 30–50 lbs each and route to clean fill disposal at $0–$18 per ton.

A typical 100-ft residential chain link fence yields 200–400 lbs of scrap steel worth $20–$80 at current rates of $0.05–$0.12 per pound. Commercial chain link with heavier gauge fabric and larger posts yields more. Wrought iron has the highest per-pound scrap value but is extremely heavy. Wood fences have zero scrap value. Roll chain link tight and bundle posts to make weighing easier at the scrap yard — loose piles get weighed less accurately.

Shared boundary fences require written agreement from both property owners before any demolition begins. A text message or email confirmation from the neighbor is the minimum — a signed note is better. If the neighbor disputes ownership or objects, do not start the job. Property line disputes can escalate to lawsuits, and you do not want your company named in a neighbor-vs-neighbor boundary case. Ask the customer to provide proof of sole ownership or joint consent during the quoting stage.