How Much Does An Invisible Fence Cost? Your Complete Price Guide

Quick Summary

• The invisible dog fence itself generally costs $100 to $400, but with professional installation it can cost between $100 to $2000. 
• Factors that will affect the costs of an invisible fence include the brand of the fencing system, the number of different receivers that you need, and the overall size of the area in which your dog will be fenced. 
• Hiring people to install the invisible dog fence system as well as trainers to train your dog also add to the overall cost.

As a dog owner, it makes sense that I would want to give my dog a safe place to roam. Unfortunately, it’s not possible for me to build a traditional fence even if I wanted to. If traditional fencing doesn’t work as an option for you too because of HOA regulations or for other reasons, I highly recommend using an invisible dog fence—today’s modern way of protecting dogs from escaping homes or any area you want them confined. Before you do so, though, you may want to figure out this question, how much does an invisible fence cost?

How Invisible Dog Fences Work

Contrary to what the name might suggest, there’s no real fence in an invisible dog fence. So how does an invisible fence work? Instead, there are four parts to the system—a transmitter, a receiver, a monitoring device, and underground boundary wiring. Also called an underground fence, the wires of invisible fencing are buried under the ground and charged with electricity. When your dog’s receiver passes over these charged wires, a signal will be sent from the transmitter to your dog’s collar, which in turn will emit an alarm. If your dog is not discouraged by the alarm, the collar will then transmit a small shock that’s akin to a static shock. The other type is a wireless pet fence which works similarly, except that there are no wires you have to bury.

Electric fences are designed to safely discourage dogs from leaving a specified boundary area. These pet containment system types work in a similar way to the best bark collars and the best dog GPS trackers, delivering mild correction to dogs in order to train them to cease a specific type of behavior. 

Why Choose an Invisible Dog Fence?

One of the best reasons to choose an invisible dog fence is that an underground electric dog fence, is more effective than a traditional fence in many circumstances. If you have a space that simply cannot be fenced in or cannot be fenced in economically, an invisible fence may well be your best option. 

Even if you can afford a traditional fence, an invisible fence may be more durable. These fences don’t need the kind of maintenance that a traditional fence needs, nor are they typically impacted by weather or wildlife. While these fences aren’t totally without upkeep, the cost of keeping one running is far less than you might imagine. 

What Determines the Cost of an Invisible Fence?

There are a few major factors that are going to impact the invisible dog fence cost. The biggest one is the type of space that you want to fence in. There is a huge difference between a flat, relatively open field and a rocky, hill bit of terrain. After that, you’ll have to look at factors like the brand of the fencing system, the number of different receivers that you need, and the overall size of the area in which your dog will be fenced. 

Getting a price for your fence will almost always involve talking to a professional installer. He or she will come to your home and take a look at the area in which your dog will stay so that he or she can give you an estimate on the fencing. The average invisible fence cost itself is generally anywhere between one and four hundred dollars, while professional installation will cost between one hundred and two thousand dollars. 

Note that the more advanced the system you need, the more that you will end up paying. Bigger and more stubborn dogs need fences with multiple correction levels, while those who have multiple dogs might need to have a system that can handle multiple settings. You will of course need to learn how to introduce an invisible dog fence while training your pet. Others find the need to pay to have your dog trained to get used to the use invisible fence, which can cost up to another five hundred dollars. 

In total, the average dog owner is probably going to end up paying around two thousand dollars for the fence, installation, and dog training. You should also expect to pay about a hundred dollars a year for batteries and fence maintenance. 

What Specific Features Impact Invisible Fence Cost?

No two invisible fences are likely to be priced the same. While things like brand name do influence the cost, there are a few other factors that are likely to end up influencing how much you pay for your fence. 

Fence Size

The bigger the fence kit, the more that it will usually cost. It’s vital that you buy a big enough fencing kit to keep your dog and others safe, so make sure that you’re looking for something that’s at least the size of the area in which you would like to contain your dog. 

Wiring Quality

The cost of wiring is the primary cost in the fencing system and it’s going to end up being the most varied. It can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars to fence in a single acre of land, so you do need to pay attention to the kind of wiring that you want to use if you need to stay on budget. 

Try to remember that most of the costlier wire is also the wire that’s going to last longer. It’s often worth paying a bit more if you are really worried about your dog getting out or if you have any kind of issues in your fencing area that could end up causing damage to your wires. 

Fence Collars

The heart of your invisible fence system is your dog’s receiver collar. These collars are usually fairly light and comfortable, usually designed with the twin goals of keeping your dog happy while also making sure he or she doesn’t really know that the receiver is there. Most collars are made to be tough enough to deal with a little bit of chewing but are still sensitive enough to ensure that they can transmit signals even from the maximum range of your fence. 

As you might imagine, more advanced types of receivers will end up costing you more. Whether this means collars that let you adjust the fencing areas on the fly or even collars that work with multiple pets, the more features that you seek out, the more that you will end up paying. It’s important to remember that receiver costs can really start to skyrocket when you have multiple pets, so it might be better to invest in simpler receivers if you are trying to keep costs down while still keeping several dogs safe. 

Are Invisible Dog Fences Really Effective?

The short answer here is that invisible electric fences really are quite effective for most dogs. With that said, you’ll definitely want to keep a few things in mind if you want to use one of these tools with your dog. 

First and foremost, you’ll need to remember that not every dog reacts the same way to the shock of the invisible fence. Some dogs will be scared off of running away by the initial jolt of the collar, while others dogs might need a higher setting in order to pay attention. You’ll need to keep an eye on your dog early on to figure out which settings work. 

You should also remember that invisible fence systems are highly reliant on working collars. If your dog’s collar has dead batteries inside, he or she may wander off when he or she doesn’t feel the tell-tale buzz of the collar. As such, you’ll want to make sure that your dog’s collar is in working order before you let him or her go off-leash [1]. 

You should also remember that these fences can and do break. Wires, for example, can break over time. Figuring out if the wires are breaking is as easy as checking your transmitter, but you will have to actually remember and go out and check the transmitter from time to time to figure out if the fence is in working order. If the line does end up breaking, you’ll have to figure out how to repair the system or find out who to call to get the system fixed. 

Other Costs to Keep in Mind

In addition to the basics, there are some other common costs that homeowners might want to keep in mind. Each of these extra factors can cause the price of your fence to jump up. 

Solar Energy

Solar power is becoming increasingly popular among invisible fence owners. Some use this type of power because they want to go green, while others simply cannot afford to run power lines out to the areas where their fencing will be used. In either case, it’s vital that you make sure that the way your solar power installations are installed will actually work with your fence. 

Note that solar power can be a little more expensive in the short term, but the savings can be quite significant. If you’re looking for a solution that’s going to help you to recoup costs over time, this might be one of the best to talk about with your installer. 

Electronic Interference

It is uncommon but not impossible for your invisible dog fence to cause interference with other types of electronics on your property. Not only can this make your life a little less pleasant, but it can interfere with the working of the fence as well. If you’re noticing interference, you’ll need to work with a professional to find a solution that works on your property. 

Dog Training

Dogs don’t automatically know how an invisible fence works. You may want to work with a trainer to get your dog acclimated to the fence quickly. Costs will vary greatly on this count, largely depending on the number of trainers who feel comfortable working with invisible fences in your area. 

Installation Costs

While invisible fence installation is something you can do on your own, you may not want to do so. Instead, you may opt for a professionally installed invisible fence that’s done quickly and efficiently. While it will definitely take the professionals less time to get the fence set up, you are going to have to pay for their expertise. Costs vary greatly on this count as well, so you’ll need to get a quote before you can build your budget. 

Extra Associated Costs

Most of the items that go into making up the price of an invisible fence are fairly standard, but there are also some optional extras that can help to both improve your dog’s quality of life and help to keep you feeling safe at the same time. Such accessories might include items like back up power systems that can help keep the fence running even in bad weather, higher-quality wiring that can help to ensure that the fence stays active longer, or even power surge protection systems that can help to secure the fence against lightning strikes. 

As you might imagine, invisible fence costs of each of these extras can vary quite wildly. As such, I highly recommend that you have a frank discussion with your installer about costs before you decide on which accessories are right for you. Some people find using the best wireless dog fence and the best GPS dog fences easier to install and use, so you might want to consider these instead. A wireless dog fence eliminates the work that goes with burying wires underground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Invisible Fence cheaper than a regular fence?

Yes, invisible fences are definitely cheaper than typical fences. Fencing in one acre with a traditional wood fence would cost about seven thousand dollars on average while having an invisible fence professionally installed in an area that’s the same size would cost around two thousand dollars on average.

Is Invisible Fence Brand worth the money?

Invisible Fence is definitely one of the better-known brands of this type of fencing. It’s hard to say if the brand is necessarily worth the money, though. Instead, it’s vital to look at the individual product in order to determine whether or not it is the best fit for you and for your dog. 

How much is an invisible electric fence?

An invisible fence system usually costs between one and four hundred dollars, depending on the type of fence and the number of receivers. Having the fencing installed professionally can cost between one and two thousand dollars depending on the size of the area to be fenced in as well as the type of terrain in which the fence will be installed. If you do it yourself, you can easily buy and install an electric fence for under five hundred dollars. 

How long does an invisible fence last?

Most invisible fences are designed to last around twenty-seven years, though this largely depends on the quality of wire used in the fence. It should be noted, though, that the batteries in the fence receiver typically only last around three to four months at the longest and will usually run pet owners about one hundred dollars per year. Still, these fences do tend to last significantly longer than their more traditional above-ground counterparts.