Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Total replacement cost
$660
Post material cost
$135
Labor + removal cost
$420
Base cost per post
$220
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How to use this
- 1Enter posts to replace.
- 2Enter post material.
- 3Enter concrete per footing ($).
- 4Enter labor per post ($).
- 5Enter old posts broken off below grade?.
- 6Read your total replacement cost on the right — it updates as you type.
- 7Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Replacing a handful of rotted, storm-damaged, or termite-hit fence posts is usually far cheaper than replacing an entire fence, but pricing per post still needs to account for the post itself, concrete for setting it, removal/disposal of the old post and its old concrete footing (often the most time-consuming part of the job), and reattaching existing fence panels or rails. This calculator prices the job per post using a material cost that varies by post type (wood, vinyl, or steel), a concrete cost per footing, and a labor rate per post that reflects old-post removal time. 2026 US national averages run about $150-$300 per post for a standard wood post replacement including old post removal and new concrete footing, $200-$375 for vinyl, and $250-$450 for steel or heavy-duty posts. Costs rise notably when the old post's concrete footing is deeply set or when a post has broken off below grade, since extracting the buried stub can take significantly longer than a clean pull.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Posts to replace: 3
- Post material: Pressure-treated wood — $45/post
- Concrete per footing: 35 $
- Labor per post: 140 $
- Old posts broken off below grade?: No — clean removal
Results
- Total replacement cost: $660
- Post material cost: $135
- Labor + removal cost: $420
- Base cost per post: $220
What each field means
Inputs
- Posts to replace
- The posts to replace used in the calculation. Starts at 3 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–40.
- Post material
- Pick the option that matches your situation — the maths changes per option. Choices: Pressure-treated wood — $45/post, Vinyl — $80/post, Steel — $110/post.
- Concrete per footing ($)
- The concrete per footing used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 35 $ so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 10–100 $.
- Labor per post ($)
- The labor per post used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 140 $ so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 50–350 $.
- Old posts broken off below grade?
- Pick the option that matches your situation — the maths changes per option. Choices: No — clean removal, Yes — add extraction surcharge.
Results
- Total replacement cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Post material cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Labor + removal cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Base cost per post
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Why does removing the old post cost as much as installing the new one?
Old concrete footings are often set 2-3 feet deep and bonded tightly to the post — breaking out that concrete without damaging the surrounding fence line or nearby posts takes real time, and it's frequently the single biggest labor cost in a post replacement job.
Can I replace just the post without disturbing the fence panels?
Usually yes, if the panels and rails are still sound — a contractor can temporarily brace the adjacent panels, pull the damaged post, set a new one, and reattach the same rails, which is exactly what keeps per-post replacement so much cheaper than a full fence rebuild.
How do I know if a post needs replacing versus just repairing?
Push or wiggle the post at ground level — noticeable movement, visible rot at the base, or a hollow sound when tapped all indicate the post has failed and needs full replacement rather than a repair brace, which is only a temporary fix.
Does concrete need to cure before the fence panels go back on?
Yes — standard post-setting concrete needs at least 24-48 hours before it can safely bear the lateral load of stretched fence fabric or heavy panels, though fast-setting post concrete mixes can sometimes shorten this to a few hours.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
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Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Fence Post Replacement Cost Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/fence-post-replacement-cost
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/fence-post-replacement-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fence Post Replacement Cost Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Fence Post Replacement Cost Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/fence-post-replacement-cost) (2026).