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A permanent pool fence in St. Louis costs about $25 to $40 a foot installed in aluminum, or about $40 to $50 a foot in 4 foot vinyl picket, based on our own installed prices. For a 150 foot pool enclosure, that comes to about $3,750 to $6,000 in aluminum before gates. Removable mesh runs lower and glass far higher, as the HomeGuide figures further down show.
I started in fencing in 1979. The company I lead opened in 1994, and the Better Business Bureau record carries that date. Barrette Outdoor Living shows us as a listed Catalyst installer on its installer finder. The aluminum and vinyl prices below are what you would pay us, installed. Mesh and glass figures come from HomeGuide, since those two are not sold here.
If you already know what you want, see how our pool fence installation works. Reach us at 636-464-1144, or stop by the Arnold showroom to see the panels and gates yourself.
What a Permanent Pool Fence Costs Here
St. Louis County sets the minimum height of a pool barrier at 48 inches, so every price below starts there. The rules for a fence around a pool cover the rest of what code asks for.
| Fence and height | Per foot, installed | 150 feet, before gates |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum, 48 to 54 inches | $25 to $40 | $3,750 to $6,000 |
| Vinyl picket, 4 feet | $40 to $50 | $6,000 to $7,500 |
| Vinyl semi-privacy, 6 feet | $50 to $60 | $7,500 to $9,000 |
| Vinyl privacy, 6 feet | $55 to $65 | $8,250 to $9,750 |
Aluminum is the lowest figure in the table. Its full range runs $20 to $45 a foot, and most homeowners land between $25 and $40. A vinyl picket around a pool has to be a style with gaps tight enough to stop a 4 inch sphere, so ask for the pool version at your estimate. You can see the breakdown by part on the aluminum fence cost page, and each vinyl style priced out on the vinyl fence cost page. Ornamental steel is priced job by job.
Length moves the total more than anything. A 100 foot aluminum run is $2,500 to $4,000. Double it to 200 feet and the range doubles too, to $5,000 to $8,000.
What Adds to the Price
Four things push a pool fence past the per-foot price: gates, a slope, concrete or an old fence, and the permit.
Gates that close and latch on their own
Every gate into a pool area needs hardware that swings it shut and latches it without anyone touching it. Expect $300 to $1,200 for a vinyl walk gate. HomeGuide puts a self-closing, self-locking pool gate at $200 to $800 when it is added to a quote. Three gates cost more than one, so count them early.
A slope
A flat panel on sloped ground leaves a wedge of open space under it, and pool code allows only 2 inches. So a hillside yard needs rackable panels or stepped sections, and the gates may need to rack too. The grade gets measured at the estimate, so the slope is priced in from the start. A per-foot price on a page will not cover a slope, extra gates or old footings.
Concrete and old fence
Posts that go through an existing patio or pool deck need the concrete drilled. Taking out an old fence adds $100 to $1,000, depending on how big it is and what shape it is in.
Permits and timing
HomeGuide puts a fence permit at $40 to $150, and most installers pull it for you. Some permits also carry a deadline. On a Barnhart pool job in May 2026, the fence had to go in during a short dry spell between storms, before the permit ran out.
Mesh and Glass Pool Fences: What They Cost
Neither one is installed here, so these numbers come from HomeGuide’s pool fence cost guide, dated February 2026.
- Removable mesh: $10 to $30 a foot installed. It is soft, hard to climb, and it comes down when you want the yard back. HomeGuide notes a removable fence is not as durable or as secure as a permanent one.
- Tempered glass: $120 to $500 a foot installed. It keeps the view wide open, and it is the most expensive choice by far.
Mesh is the one most of the top search results are selling, which is why their prices look lower than the table above. A mesh fence is not for you if you want something that stays up year-round and needs no thought.
The Cheapest Way to Fence a Pool
- Use the fence you already have. If your yard fence is at least 48 inches tall all the way around, and its gates close and latch on their own, you may not need a second fence at all. The cost can be as little as new gate hardware.
- Removable mesh, at HomeGuide’s $10 to $30 a foot, if you are fine taking it up and putting it back.
- Aluminum, at $25 to $40 a foot, the lowest-priced permanent fence in the table above.
My advice: check the fence you already own before you price a new one. A yard that already meets the rules does not need a second barrier around the water.
Installing it yourself is an option too. Our fence supply store sells the panels, posts and gate hardware, and the same code applies to a fence you build.
Three Pool Jobs, and What Drove Each Price
Aluminum on a slope, with three gates
At the O’Malley home in Barnhart, the owners wanted a pool fence that did not look like vinyl. Three gates and 171 linear feet of 54 inch aluminum fence closed off the pool. The finish is matte bronze, and the install took 2.5 days in May 2026. The gate areas sat on a slope, so the gates were rackable to follow the ground.
At the usual $25 to $40 a foot, 171 feet of aluminum comes to $4,275 to $6,840 before the gates. That is the arithmetic, not the invoice.
Six feet of vinyl privacy after a new pool
The Bryant home in Wildwood had just put in a pool, and their back yard faced a main road and a sidewalk. Their old fence stood 4 feet tall. Going to 6 feet along that road needed city approval first. We found the marked utilities sat far enough from the line that no hand digging was needed. The job came to 104 linear feet of white vinyl privacy fence, set in 2 days in late August 2026.
There were no gates on this run. At $55 to $65 a foot, 104 feet of 6 foot privacy comes to about $5,720 to $6,760.
Tearing out an old fence and starting over
At the Morris property in Arnold, 232 linear feet of 6 foot white vinyl privacy went in over 3 days in May 2026 to close off the pool area. The old fence came out first. We found some of the post forms sat too deep, so crushed stone went into each one to bring it up to height before the posts were set in concrete. Work like that sits outside the per-foot price. You cannot see it from a web page, because it depends on what is under your soil.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a pool fence cost in St. Louis?
About $25 to $40 a foot installed in aluminum, and $40 to $50 a foot in 4 foot vinyl picket, from our own prices. A 150 foot enclosure runs about $3,750 to $6,000 in aluminum, plus gates.
What’s the cheapest way to fence a pool?
Use the yard fence you already have, if it is at least 48 inches tall and its gates close and latch on their own. After that, removable mesh is the cheapest, at $10 to $30 a foot according to HomeGuide. Aluminum is the lowest-priced permanent fence in our table.
How much does a pool gate cost?
Expect $300 to $1,200 for one of our vinyl walk gates. HomeGuide puts a self-closing, self-locking pool gate at $200 to $800. Every gate into the pool area needs that kind of hardware.
Is a mesh pool fence cheaper than aluminum?
Usually, yes. HomeGuide lists mesh at $10 to $30 a foot installed, against our $25 to $40 for aluminum. Mesh can come down when you want it to. Aluminum stays up for good and needs only a rinse now and then.
How much do 100 or 200 feet of pool fence cost?
In aluminum at $25 to $40 a foot, 100 feet is $2,500 to $4,000 and 200 feet is $5,000 to $8,000. Gates, slopes and taking out an old fence come on top.
How much does it cost to replace a pool fence?
The same per-foot price as a new one, plus removal of the old fence. Removal runs $100 to $1,000, depending on its size and condition.
How long does it take to put in a pool fence?
Two to three days on site for most homes. The three pool jobs above took 2 days for 104 feet, 2.5 days for 171 feet with 3 gates, and 3 days for 232 feet.
Getting a Price for Your Pool
At the estimate, we walk the line with you, measure the grade, and check every gate for self-closing hardware. You also see a sample panel held against your house, so the color is the real one.
Our installation is backed by a one-year workmanship guarantee, and the panels come with their maker’s warranty. After you call, the estimate visit usually lands 1 to 4 days later. You can also see the panels and gates in person at the Arnold showroom, or read what past customers wrote on the reviews page.
To set up the free, no-obligation estimate, call 636-464-1144 or request one online. The steps of a job are laid out on the pool fence installation page.
