We just bought a house in Langley and need a full backyard fence — what should we budget for a standard wood fence?

For a standard wood privacy fence in Langley, budget between $4,000 and $10,000 for a typical backyard enclosure, depending on your lot size, material choice, and site conditions.

That range covers the two most common wood options in Metro Vancouver: Western Red Cedar and pressure-treated lumber. Cedar runs $40–$80 per linear foot installed, while pressure-treated comes in at $30–$65 per linear foot. Suburban Langley lots tend to be larger than Vancouver city lots, so your total perimeter matters a lot here. A typical 60 x 100 ft backyard might need 220 linear feet of fencing once you account for the rear and two sides — that alone puts a cedar fence in the $8,800–$17,600 range at full perimeter pricing.

Cedar vs. Pressure-Treated in Langley's Climate

Both materials work well in the Lower Mainland, but they have meaningfully different long-term costs. Western Red Cedar is the premium choice for good reason — it's naturally rot-resistant, locally sourced in BC, dimensionally stable in wet conditions, and looks beautiful. In Langley's rainy climate (900–1,100mm of annual rainfall), cedar with proper sealing every 2–3 years will last 20+ years. Pressure-treated lumber costs 20–30% less upfront but requires the same sealing schedule and doesn't have cedar's natural oils working in its favour. Over a 15-year period, the lifetime cost difference between the two is often smaller than the upfront price gap suggests.

What Drives the Cost Up or Down

Langley lots frequently have terrain variation — gentle slopes, uneven grades, and occasionally rocky or root-filled soil — all of which add to installation cost. A sloped yard requires either stepped panels or racked (angled) panels, both of which take more time and precision. If your yard has mature trees near the fence line, root systems can make post hole digging significantly harder and more expensive. Rocky soil in some Langley areas can require a power auger or jackhammer, adding $20–$50 per post hole. Gates are another variable — budget $300–$700 for a standard pedestrian gate and $1,000–$3,000 for a driveway gate if you need one.

Don't Forget These Line Items

Old fence removal (if there's an existing fence) adds $3–$8 per linear foot. A gravel drainage bed below each post is essential in Metro Vancouver's wet soil — this simple step prevents water from pooling at the post base and can add years to post life. Make sure any quote you receive includes concrete for post footings, galvanized or stainless steel fasteners (standard steel rusts and stains the wood), and post caps to shed water off the top of each post.

Before You Start

Langley follows standard Metro Vancouver fence height limits — 1.83 metres (6 feet) in rear and side yards is the general rule, but confirm with the Township of Langley or City of Langley building department before you build, as bylaws can vary by zone. If your fence will run close to the property line (which backyard fences almost always do), a boundary survey is worth considering — building even a few inches onto a neighbour's property creates legal liability. Also call BC One Call at 1-800-474-6886 before any post holes are dug — it's free and legally required.

Getting Quotes

Get at least two or three quotes and ask each contractor for references from recent Langley projects. The lowest bid isn't always the best value — post depth, concrete quantity, and material grade vary between contractors and directly affect how long your fence lasts. A well-built cedar fence is a 20+ year investment; a poorly built one can lean and fail in five.

Vancouver Fence Builders can match you with experienced local fence contractors in Langley at no cost — a good starting point for getting comparable quotes on your project.