Most fence repairs cost $300 to $900, according to national figures for 2026. Small fixes, such as a board, a latch or a gate that needs adjusting, run $100 to $300. Large ones, with a row of posts or a whole section down, run $900 to $2,500.
The price ranges on this page are national 2026 figures published by HomeGuide. They are not our quotes. South Bay labor rates, lumber and metal prices and the conditions in your yard push the real figure higher or lower. Last checked October 2026.
| Repair | Typical cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | $100 to $300 | A board or two, loose hardware, a small gate adjustment |
| Standard | $300 to $900 | One panel, one or two posts, new gate hinges |
| Major | $900 to $2,500 | A row of posts, a fallen section, damage to the frame |
How much does it cost to fix a leaning fence?
The price follows the number of failed posts, since they are what lets the fence tip. One or two bad posts behind a lean puts the job in the standard row of the table. If most of the posts along a ranch-lot back fence have gone, replacing that whole run in one visit costs less than chasing posts one by one.
Why is my fence leaning, and can it be fixed without replacing it?
A leaning fence can usually be saved. In San Jose there are two usual causes. Posts rot right at ground level, where sprinkler water and soil meet the wood. And adobe clay shrinks away from the footing all summer, then swells and pushes on it in winter. When the rails and boards have life left, they go back up on new posts.
How much does it cost to replace a rotted fence post?
Replacing one or two posts usually falls in the national $300 to $900 band. We dig out the old post and its concrete, set a new post in a deeper footing with the top sloped so water runs off, and re-attach the rails. Dry adobe digs like brick in late summer, and a post beside a tree or a slab takes longer.
My gate sags and will not latch. Repair or replace?
Nearly always repair. Check the post the hinges hang on. When it leans even slightly, the latch side drops. Loose hinges and a frame that has racked in the heat are the other usual reasons. We re-set or replace the hinge post, square the frame with a diagonal brace and re-align the latch. Only a gate with a rotten frame needs rebuilding.
How much does a contractor charge to fix a broken gate latch?
That is a minor repair, $100 to $300 in the national 2026 numbers. Most fence companies have a minimum for coming out, so it makes sense to have loose boards and other small items handled on the same trip.
My fence posts shifted over the winter and the gate will not close. Can they be reset?
They can, though shoving them upright and packing dirt around them will not last. Frost is not the cause in San Jose, because the ground does not freeze. Clay is. It shrank from the footing in summer, water ran down the gap with the first rains, and the swelling soil moved the post. The fix that holds is a new, deeper footing.
My fence line goes wavy every winter. Is it the soil or a bad installation?
Usually it is the soil exposing a shallow installation. Adobe clay in this valley moves a surprising amount between August and February. Posts set deep enough to reach steadier soil mostly stay put. Posts set shallow ride up and down with the top layer. A replacement built to the old depth will wave the same way.
A branch bent my aluminum fence. Do I need a whole new panel?
Not always. Some aluminum fences are assembled from separate rails and pickets, and then only the bent parts are changed. Others arrive as welded or pre-assembled panels, so the damaged panel is replaced whole. A clear photo normally tells us which you have and whether a matching panel is still made.
We only give a firm price after measuring the line in person. The visit is free and you get the quote in writing. Call (408) 217-2790 or text a photo of the fence.