Invisible Fence Prices in 2024: Factors, Cost, and Budget-Friendly Options

There are many joys to owning a dog, but it can prove difficult to keep them under control at times. Nearly every pet parent understands the terror of watching their furry friend slip through an open door and out into a crowded street or driveway. Even with proper training and boundaries, pets always seem to find a way to test both our wits and our patience. 

Many dog owners protect their pets by installing fences around their yards. However, sometimes a physical fence isn’t an option, such as for renters or people who live in a townhome, apartment, or condo. In this case, some pet owners turn to alternative solutions, such as an invisible fence. 

Invisible fences use either an underground wire, a collar, or a radio transmitter to prevent your dog from moving past a defined boundary. Many factors combine to determine the cost of an invisible fence, including the size of the boundary, type of fence, brand, installation fees, and number of pets in the home. Let’s take a look at the price of an invisible fence in 2024. 

Key Cost Considerations for Invisible Fences

Compared to a physical fence, an invisible fence offers dog owners a much more cost-effective way to prevent their pets from straying. That said, numerous considerations impact invisible fence prices. Before you decide as to whether an invisible fence is right for you, you’ll want to stop and consider the main costs of invisible fences. These include the size of the fence, the type, the brand, installation fees, and the number of pets you plan to keep within the boundary. Let’s take a look at each of these costs individually. 

Size of the Fence

The first factor that you’ll need to consider is the size of the boundary that you wish to cover. The larger the fence, the more expensive the cost of the project. On average, most dog owners can expect to pay between $1.75 and $3 per linear foot of fence. This equates to a median price of $2.37 per linear foot. 

However, these prices represent only an average in ideal or close-to-ideal conditions. Depending on the shape, size, and structure of your property, the cost per linear foot can increase. Still, the cost per foot for an invisible fence still pales in comparison to a physical fence, which can cost anywhere from $5 to $44 per linear foot. 

Type of Fence

Invisible fences come in two main types: wired and wireless. Wired fences consist of a buried wire, radio transmitter, and collar. The underground wire acts as the perimeter for the fence. When your pet crosses the wire, the system sends a signal from the radio transmitter to your pet’s collar. This type of system typically involves the most material and labor, making it the most expensive invisible fence type on the market. At the same time, this option also is considered among the most effective, particularly for people who own their homes and want to cover a large space for their pets. 

Wireless invisible fences can be broken down into two subtypes, GPS and wireless systems. GPS systems run off of satellite data to create a perimeter, while wireless systems use a transmitter to create an invisible 3-dimensional space where your pet can roam freely. GPS systems typically cost more than wireless systems, which tend to represent the least expensive option on the market. 

Fence Brand

As with anything, the type of invisible fence brand you choose will largely determine the cost. While some manufacturers specialize in premium fences, others create budget-friendly options. More expensive brands typically come with more features, while cheaper options typically feature “do-it-yourself” installation and lower-quality materials or parts. 

Installation Fees

Depending on the type of invisible fence system you choose, you may need to pay for professional installation. In particular, wired systems often require specialized tools and knowledge to set up correctly. This usually involves digging a trench, running the wire through, and replacing any tilled ground or grass. 

The larger the fence, the more expensive the cost of installation. In some cases, the labor cost alone can represent more than 50% of the total cost of the fence. Keep in mind that your geographic location can also factor into the cost of labor, as labor in some areas comes at a premium. 

Meanwhile, GPS and wireless systems typically cost less to install. Many brands offer professional installation for a flat fee, while other brands are designed specifically for do-it-yourself enthusiasts. 

Number of Pets

Lastly, the number of pets in your home also plays into the equation. It should go without saying that installing an invisible fence for three dogs will cost more than if you only plan to use the fence for one. Each additional animal will require its own collar, which raises the total price by anywhere from $100 to $200 per additional pet.

Budget-Friendly Options for Invisible Fences

Invisible fence prices can range from cheap to expensive, but that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to afford one. In fact, you can take advantage of numerous cost-saving measures to make your invisible fence more affordable. 

First and foremost, you can choose to install the fence yourself rather than pay for professional installation. This can save you anywhere from a few hundred to over $1,000 on your fence. 

Next, consider ways to make the area that you wish to fence off as large as possible without raising your cost. You can take advantage of areas where the natural features or structures can make up for the lack of a fence, thereby allowing you to focus your boundary on a more confined space.  

Finally, all invisible fences still require you to invest time in training your dog to respect the fence boundary. You can expect this training to take at least 3 weeks and possibly longer, depending on the dog. While you can choose to pay for professional training, taking on this responsibility yourself will save you a significant amount of money. 

Professional Installation and its Cost Implications

The installation represents one of if not the greatest costs when determining invisible fence prices. The cost of installing an invisible fence varies depending on the size and type of the fence as well as your geographic location. The larger and more complex the system, the greater the cost to have the fence professionally installed. 

Wired fences require the installer to dig a trench to run the wire through. While certainly possible for a motivated DIYer, this project alone will likely take several hours to complete. Then, you’ll still need to set up the transmitter and the receiver in the collar. For this type of project, you can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to over $1,000. 

GPS and wireless fences do not cost as much as wired fences to install but still require a significant amount of time and effort. Generally speaking, GPS systems cost more to install than wireless systems. Depending on the system and company, you can still expect to pay $100 to $200 to contract a professional to install your GPS or wireless invisible fence. 

Be advised that labor costs can vary significantly depending on the brand and your location. For example, labor costs in Los Angeles will likely cost noticeably more than labor costs in Kansas City or San Antonio. 

Comparing Invisible Fence Cost Across Brands and Models

Invisible fences come in all manner of sizes and with a wide variety of features. Let’s take a look at the cost of some of the most popular invisible fence brands on the market. 

PetSafe

PetSafe offers a wireless invisible fence kit for $289.95. The system covers up to ¾ of an acre and comes with a collar and LCD screen you can use to adjust the boundary. Best of all, the system is highly portable, making it ideal for camping or traveling on vacation. 

SportDog

SportDog’s rechargeable in-ground fence system starts at $319.95 for one dog or $459.90 for two dogs. Alternatively, you can opt for its contain and train system, which starts at $469.95 for one dog or $663.89 for 2 dogs. Its systems can easily cover 1 and ⅓ acres and come with rechargeable, waterproof collars with multiple alert systems. 

Extreme Dog

Extreme Dog provides numerous wired kits that you can purchase. Its Standard kit starts at $289.95, which contains 500 feet of wire and 1 dog collar. Meanwhile, its Ultimate kit starts at $369.95 for 500 feet of wire and 1 collar and costs $769.95 for 2,500 feet of wire and 2 dog collars. Extreme Dog also sells individual spools of wire, allowing you to customize your setup to meet your individual needs. 

Whatever system you choose, an invisible fence represents a great option to protect your pet. Just make sure that you do the research on invisible fence prices beforehand to make sure you get the most bang for your buck. 

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