AN258
Estimated Livestock Fencing Costs for the Small-Farm
Owner1
Derek L. Barber2
One of the most expensive costs for a small-farm owner
considering the production of livestock is pasture fencing.
The type of permanent fence constructed impacts the cost
per foot and total cost. This publication compares the cost
of constructing a ¼-mile (1,320 feet) fence with two different types of permanent fencing plus temporary interior
fencing for rotational grazing.
The type of fence constructed varies with personal choice
and the species of livestock to be confined. The two types
of fencing illustrated are field wire and barbed wire. The list
of tools (Table 1) and the materials needed for each type of
fencing provided below is standard in the construction of a
fence. Costs were obtained from an average price provided
by a number of local retailers in north central Florida,
although prices may vary with location. Labor cost was not
factored into the total cost, assuming that the landowner
will be responsible for construction.
Table 1. Average cost of materials by fence type
List of Tools
Field Fence
Barbed Wire
cost per item
cost per item
Shovel
21.99
21.99
Post hole digger
29.99
29.99
Fence plier/wire unroller combo
18.99
18.99
Leather gloves
19.99
19.99
Field fence puller
97.65
--------
Barbed wire stretcher
31.99
31.99
Post driver
24.99
24.99
Comealong (power puller)
22.99
--------
Wire twister
3.99
3.99
Hammer
30.00
30.00
Total cost
$302.57
$181.93
1. This document is AN258, one of a series of the Animal Sciences Department, UF/IFAS Extesnsion. Original publication date January 2011. Revised
March 2014. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/.
2. Derek L. Barber, livestock and natural resources extension agent II, Columbia County Cooperative Extension Service; UF/IFAS Extension; Gainesville, FL
32611.
The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the
products named, and references to them in this publication do not signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composition.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services
only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status,
national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other UF/IFAS Extension publications, contact your county’s UF/IFAS Extension office.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County
Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension.
More information on livestock fence construction and fence
brace assemblies can be found at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
an230 and http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae018.
spaced 12 feet apart. One strand of barbed wire is placed 2”
above the top of the field fence (Figure 4). Table 2 lists the
materials and the estimated cost for a ¼ mile of field fence.
Field Wire Fence
Types of brace assemblies and where to locate them: (a)
For fence lengths of 10 rods (165 feet) or less, use singlespan end construction. (b) For fence lengths of 10 to 40
rods (165 to 660 feet), use double-span end construction.
(c) For fences more than 40 rods (660 feet) long, use a
braced-line-post assembly to divide the fence lengths. (d)
On rolling land, fence stretching is easier if braced-linepost assemblies are located at the foot and top of each
hill. (e) Contour fences more than 20 rods (330 feet) long
should have a braced-line-post assembly installed to keep
the stretches to 20 rods (330 feet) or less. Install in straight
section at least one post span away from a curve. Do not
install on a curve. Note: One rod equals 16½ feet.
The field fence is constructed with a double-H, or
horizontal corner/end braces (Figure 2), by using three
6–8” × 8’ wood posts and two 4” × 6’5” wood posts for
the cross-brace at each end. A braced line post assembly
(Figure 3) should be placed at a minimum of 660 feet apart
from the end braces in a ¼-mile straight run. Posts between
the braces may be either steel T-posts or 4” wood posts
Table 2. Estimated cost for ¼ mile (1,320 ft.) of field fence
Item
Quantity
Cost per item
Total cost
6–8” × 8’ wood posts
8
10.75
86.00
4” × 6½’ wood posts
5
3.95
19.75
9 ga. brace wire
1
16.95
13.99
Field fence
4
129.95
519.80
Barbed wire
1
35.99
35.99
110
3.89
427.90
6½’ T-post
a,b
1½” fence staples
1 lb.
2.11
2.11
16d × 3½” l. nails
1 lb.
2.99
2.99
Total
Total per foot
a
b
$1,108.53
$0.84
Bag of clips should be included with each purchase of 5 posts
4” wood posts can be substitute for T-post (Total cost = $1,115.13)
Figure 2. Double horizontal corner/end brace.
Credit: Derek Barber, UF/IFAS
Figure 1. Types of brace assemblies
Estimated Livestock Fencing Costs for the Small-Farm Owner
Figure 3. Single horizontal line brace.
Credit: Derek Barber, UF/IFAS
2
Figure 4. Field fence assembly
Credit: Speckmann and Steele
Figure 6. Five-strand barbed wire spacing
Credit: Speckmann and Steele
Figure 5. Field fence splice
Credit: Speckmann and Steele
Barbed Wire
Materials for barbed wire fence are similar to the field fence
except that five strands of barbed wire are substituted for
the field fence.
Table 3. Construction costs for five-strand barbed wire (based on 1,320 ft.)
Item
Quantity
Cost per item
Total cost
6-8” x 8’ wood posts
8
10.75
86.00
4” x 6 ½’ wood posts
5
3.95
19.75
9 ga. brace wire
1
16.95
16.95
Barbed wire
5
35.99
174.95
110
3.89
427.90
1 ½” fence staples
1 lb.
2.11
2.11
16d 3 ½” Nails
1 lb.
2.89
2.89
6 ½’ T-post
a,b
Total
Total per foot
a
b
$730.55
$0.55
Bag of clips should be included with each purchase of 5 posts
4” wood posts can be substitute for T-post (Total cost = $737.15)
Estimated Livestock Fencing Costs for the Small-Farm Owner
3
Table 4. Construction costs for interior-use electrified polywire fence (based on 1,320 ft.)
Item
Quantity
Cost per item
Total cost
1
27.99
27.99
Wire winder
Polywire (1320’/400 m )
1
29.99
29.99
Fiberglass posts
35
2.99
104.65
DC energizer
1
98.99
98.99
1
16.99
16.99
1 pack of 25
5.49
5.49
Ground rod & clamp
Insulators for wood posts
Total
$284.10
Total per foot
$0.22
Interior Electrified Polywire
Summary
The polywire fence uses one strand of polywire. Instead of
wood or steel T-post, fiberglass rods are used and spaced 40
feet apart. The polywire may be placed at a height of 26–34”
above ground.
The cost of installing a ¼-mile of field fence is $298.04 or
22 cents a foot more than the construction of a barbed
wire fence. The added cost of installing a field fence–on a
cattle operation, for example, may be justified by having
the flexibility to house multiple species of animals (small
ruminants, horses, or swine) if the need arises.
The estimated cost of materials to fence 10 acres with field
fence would be $2,067.84, and a five-strand barbed wire
fence would cost $1,471.76.
Table 5. Quick Conversion Chart for Figure 7
1 rod
=
16½ ft.
10 rods
=
165 ft.
20 rods
=
330 ft.
¼ mile
=
1,320 ft. or 80 rods
½ mile
=
2,640 ft. or 160 rods
1 mile
=
5,280 ft. or 320 rods
Fence Worksheet
Fill in the worksheet with the amount and cost of materials
for the fence you are considering.
Posts
Number of 6–8” wood post _____ x post cost _____ = __________
Number of 4” wood post _____ x post cost _____ = __________
Number of steel T-post _____ x post cost _____ = __________
Total __________ (1)
Wire
Number of rolls, barbed wire _____ x cost per roll _____ =
__________
Number of rolls, field wire _____ x cost per roll _____ = __________
Total __________ (2)
Figure 7. Acreage and fencing measurements
Gate
Number of gates _____ x cost per gate _____ = __________ (3)
Total cost (add lines 1, 2, and 3) __________
Estimated Livestock Fencing Costs for the Small-Farm Owner
4
References
Bucklin, R.A., B.T. French, R.S. Sand, and W.E. Kunkle.
1988. Fence brace assemblies. University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service publication. Circular 792.
Mayer, R., and T. Olsen. 2005. Estimated costs for livestock
fencing. Iowa State University Extension Service publication. FM 1855.
Speckmann, R., and J. Steele. 2009. Livestock fence construction. University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service
publication. AN230.
Wilson, R.K., and R.T. Clark. 2002. Costs of cattle fencing for
grazing areas. University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Service publication. EC830.
Worley, J.W. 2009. Fences for the farm. University of Georgia
Cooperative Extension Service publication. Circular 774.
Estimated Livestock Fencing Costs for the Small-Farm Owner
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