Fence repair costs $300 to $950 nationally in 2026, with the average job landing near $618. Resetting a single rotted post runs $150 to $400, straightening a leaning section $250 to $600, and re-hanging a sagging gate $150 to $525. The material, how many posts have failed, and whether the damage is one spot or a whole run decide where your fence lands. Below, what sets the price, the cost of each common problem, and when replacing beats repairing.
What you'll learn in this guide
- The post is the price: a fence that leans almost always has a post rotted at the ground line, and each post reset costs $150 to $400.
- One broken wood panel or section costs $150 to $400 to rebuild in place; vinyl panels are similar, chain link is less.
- Gate repairs run $150 to $400 for a single walk gate and $400 to $800 for a double or driveway gate.
- Storm damage is priced per section; three or more sections down usually means replacing that run.
- A wood fence is worth repairing until about a third of the posts have failed; past that, replacement at $15 to $25 per linear foot is cheaper.
What sets the price of a fence repair
- Posts. Wood posts rot where they meet the soil. Digging out the old concrete footing, setting a new post in fresh concrete and letting it cure is two to three hours per post, which is why one post costs $150 to $400 and a leaning 20-foot section with two bad posts costs $250 to $600.
- Material. Cedar and redwood boards cost more than pressure-treated pine; vinyl panels come as complete sections; chain link is the cheapest to straighten at $50 to $100 per post.
- Matching. Weathered gray fences take new boards that will not match for a season. Some homeowners pay $100 to $300 extra to stain the repaired section to blend.
- Access. A fence line on a slope, against a neighbor's structure, or blocked by mature shrubs takes longer to reach and dig.
- Permits. Repairs rarely need one, but replacing a run or changing height can; permit fees run $20 to $100 where they apply.
Fence repair cost by problem in 2026
| Problem | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reset or replace one wood post | $150 | $275 | $400 |
| Leaning section straightened, two posts | $250 | $400 | $600 |
| Replace one panel or 8-foot section | $150 | $300 | $400 |
| Replace loose or broken pickets, per 10 | $75 | $150 | $250 |
| Single walk gate re-hung or rebuilt | $150 | $300 | $525 |
| Double or driveway gate | $400 | $600 | $800 |
| Chain link post straightened | $50 | $75 | $100 |
| Typical whole repair visit | $300 | $618 | $950 |
Gates are their own category. A gate that drags or will not latch is rarely a gate problem; it is the hinge post moving. A proper gate repair resets or braces that post, rehangs the gate square with new hinges and adjusts the latch, which is why it costs more than the hardware alone.
Repair or replace: where the line is
Count the posts. A wood fence is worth repairing until roughly a third of its posts have failed. Past that, the remaining posts are the same age and will go one by one, and a new fence at $15 to $25 per linear foot for wood, or $25 to $35 for vinyl, costs less than serial repairs. Storm damage follows the same rule: one or two sections down is a repair at $150 to $400 per section; a whole run flattened is a replacement of that run. Boards, pickets and gates are always worth repairing on a fence whose posts are sound.
What this means for you
Budget $300 to $950 for a typical fence repair in 2026, with $618 as the national average, and about $150 to $400 per rotted post. Push on every post before you price anything; the posts tell you whether this is a repair or a replacement. Fix the gate and any leaning sections first, then decide whether the rest of the fence has enough life left to justify blending in new boards.
Good questions, straight answers
$250 to $600 for a leaning section in 2026, because the fix is resetting the one or two posts that rotted at ground level, not the panels. A single post reset in fresh concrete runs $150 to $400; the boards are usually reused.
Sometimes. A post that is sound above ground but rotted at the base can be braced with a steel post-mender driven into the footing for $75 to $150, which buys several years. A post that is soft along its length is replaced.
$150 to $525 for a single walk gate and $400 to $800 for a double or driveway gate in 2026. The price covers re-setting or bracing the hinge post, re-hanging the gate square, new hinges and a latch adjustment. New hardware alone is $30 to $120.
Usually for sudden events such as a storm, a fallen tree or a vehicle, minus your deductible. It never covers rot, termites, age or neglect. With deductibles of $1,000 to $2,500, most single-section repairs cost less than a claim.
When about a third of the posts have failed, when three or more sections are down, or when repair quotes pass half the price of a new fence. A new wood fence costs $15 to $25 per linear foot in 2026, so a 150-foot fence runs $2,250 to $3,750.
Rather have it handled? Call 855-695-1195 and we price the job over the phone. We answer in under three rings.