Fence installation vs handyman

A handyman can repair fence sections, but full installation is a different skill set. Compare costs, timelines, and when each is appropriate.

A handyman ($50–$100/hour) covers fence repairs: replacing broken pickets ($5–$15 each + labor), re-securing loose posts with concrete ($50–$150 per post), fixing sagging gates ($100–$300), replacing hardware/latches ($50–$150), staining or painting fence sections ($2–$5/linear foot), and patching small storm-damaged areas. A fence installation contractor ($15–$45/linear foot installed) manages full projects: surveying property lines (critical — building on a neighbor's property is expensive), calling 811 for utility locates, setting posts in concrete at proper depth (1/3 of post length below ground), ensuring level and plumb across uneven terrain, and meeting local codes for height, setback, and style. A 150-foot privacy fence runs $3,000–$8,000 installed. The skill gap: fence posts must be set at exact depth and spacing to resist wind loads and prevent leaning. A handyman installing 3–4 posts for a gate repair is fine; 40+ posts for a full fence requires equipment (post-hole digger or auger), precise string-line work, and knowledge of frost-line depth for your area. Posts set too shallow lean within 2–3 years.