Published · By Frank DeLozier, Owner & Master Fence Builder
A pro build trades up-front cost for time saved, the right equipment, and a warranty; DIY trades the opposite.
Building a fence yourself saves on labor and can make sense for a small, flat, straight run if you have the time, tools, and skills. Hiring a fence company costs more up front but saves your time, includes the right equipment and a warranty, and is usually the better value for large yards, slopes, gates, or HOA projects.
The Honest Case for DIY
There is a real case for building your own fence. You save the labor portion of the cost, you work on your own schedule, and there is genuine satisfaction in doing it yourself. On a small, flat, straight backyard run with simple materials, a handy homeowner can build a perfectly good fence.
DIY makes the most sense when the project is simple, you already own or can borrow the tools, and you are not up against an HOA deadline or a complicated layout. In those cases, the money you keep is real and the risk is low.
The Real Costs of DIY (Beyond Materials)
The trap in DIY math is counting only the materials. The full cost also includes tools you do not own, a power auger, a good level, a nail gun, and a fence stretcher for chain link are commonly rented, and rental adds up across a multi-weekend project. Hauling off the old fence and the scrap is another line, whether a dump run or a rented bin.
Then there is the cost of your time and the risk of mistakes. A fence that comes out leaning, wavy, or with a sagging gate can cost more to fix, or redo, than the labor you saved. Counting all of that is what turns a rosy DIY estimate into an honest one.
What You're Actually Paying For With a Pro
Hiring a fence company is not just paying someone to do what you could do yourself. You are paying for expertise that keeps posts plumb and lines straight, for professional equipment that makes hard clay and long runs manageable, and for speed, a crew finishes in days what takes a DIYer weekends.
You are also paying for the things that are easy to overlook: a workmanship warranty, handling permits and HOA documentation, disposing of the old fence, and the peace of mind that it is done right. Those are real parts of the value, not just markup.
Time: Weekends vs. Days
Time is the cost DIYers underestimate most. A professional crew typically finishes a residential fence in one to three days, including tear-out. A DIY build usually spreads across multiple weekends, and it must build in concrete cure time, you set posts, then wait before hanging rails and pickets.
If your weekends are scarce or you need the fence done before an event, a closing, or an HOA deadline, the pro timeline is a big part of the value. If you have the time and enjoy the work, DIY’s slower pace is fine.
Where DIY Fences Go Wrong Most Often
Most DIY fence problems cluster in a few spots. Setting posts to the right depth and truly plumb is harder than it looks, keeping a long run straight and evenly spaced takes practice, and building a gate that does not sag defeats a lot of first-timers.
The other common miss is not the building at all, it is skipping the property-line check or the HOA approval, and having to move or redo finished work. None of these are beyond a careful DIYer, but they are exactly where a pro’s experience earns its cost.
Quality and Longevity: The Long-Term View
A fence is a long-term structure, so the right comparison is over its whole life, not just install day. A properly built fence, posts deep in concrete, correct spacing, quality materials, stands straight for decades and needs little beyond normal maintenance.
A fence that cut corners to save money often pays it back with interest: a lean after the first big Oklahoma wind, a sagging gate, a section that has to be rebuilt. Whether you DIY or hire out, building it right the first time is what actually saves money over time.
When DIY Genuinely Makes Sense
DIY is the right call when the run is short, flat, and straight, when you are comfortable with the tools and the work, when you have the time to do it without rushing, and when there is no HOA or complex layout to satisfy. A simple back-fence run or a dog enclosure fits this well.
If most of those are true for your project, building it yourself can be a rewarding way to save money. The key is being honest about the tools, the time, and your comfort with the trickier steps before you start.
When to Hire a Pro
Hiring out makes sense when the yard is large, the ground slopes or is rocky, there are multiple or wide gates, an HOA has strict requirements, or you want it done fast and backed by a warranty. It also makes sense any time the cost of a mistake, or the value of your time, outweighs the labor savings.
For most full-yard fences in the OKC metro, once you count tools, time, disposal, and the risk of redoing work, a professional install is frequently the better overall value, not just the easier path.
How to Choose a Fence Company (If You Hire)
If you decide to hire out, choose carefully. Look for a licensed and insured company with real reviews, a clear written estimate that itemizes materials and gates, and a genuine workmanship warranty. Ask how deep they set posts and whether they use concrete, since that is where quality is won or lost.
A good company will walk your project, answer those questions plainly, and put it in writing. Metro Fence is licensed, insured, and Native American-owned, with a 5.0-star track record across the metro, posts placed to the proper depth, wet set in concrete, and a one-year workmanship warranty on every install.
What About a Hybrid Approach?
There is a middle path some homeowners take: doing part of the work themselves and hiring out the rest. You might tear out and haul off the old fence to save on that labor, handle the simple back-line run, and bring in a pro for the sloped side, the gates, or the street-facing section that has to look sharp. Some companies will set the posts, the hardest part to get right, and let you hang the pickets.
The hybrid approach only works if both sides are clear on who does what and where one leaves off, so the responsibility and any warranty are not muddied. If it appeals to you, it is worth asking a fence company what parts they are willing to split rather than assuming it is all-or-nothing.
Our Honest Recommendation
For a small, simple, flat run and a handy homeowner with time, DIY can genuinely be the smart choice, and we will happily tell you so. For most full-yard projects, especially with slopes, gates, HOA rules, or a tight timeline, hiring a pro is usually the better value once every cost is counted.
Either way, the honest math depends on your specific yard. We are glad to give a free on-site estimate with no pressure, so you can compare it against a realistic DIY cost and decide with real numbers in front of you. There is no wrong answer here, only the one that fits your budget, your timeline, and how much of the work you genuinely want to take on.
Get a Free Estimate to Compare
We come to your property anywhere in the OKC metro, measure the job, and give you a free, written, no-obligation estimate you can weigh against building it yourself. Every install carries a one-year workmanship warranty.
Call us at (405) 767-4828 or request a free quote to get your number.
Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be, because you save the labor cost, but only if you count the full picture: tool rental, your time, old-fence disposal, and the risk of mistakes. On a small, simple run the savings are real; on a large or complex job, a pro is often the better overall value.
You mainly save the labor portion of the cost, but that is offset by tool rental, disposal, and your time. The real savings depend on the size and difficulty of the job and whether you already own the tools. A free estimate lets you compare honestly against DIY.
A short, flat, straight run is achievable for a handy homeowner. The hard parts are setting posts plumb at the right depth, keeping long runs straight, building a gate that does not sag, and handling permits and HOA rules, which is where many DIY fences struggle.
DIY suits small, simple, flat projects when you have the tools and time. Hire a pro for large yards, slopes, multiple gates, HOA projects, or when you want it fast and warrantied. For most full-yard metro fences, a pro is frequently the better value once all costs are counted.
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