How to Make a Chain Link Fence Taller

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There are many reasons why you might be wondering how to make a chain link fence taller. Maybe you moved to a new home, and the fence is too low for your dog. Or maybe you have a commercial property that needs a little more security.

The good news is that there are several answers to the question of how to make a chain link fence taller. Here’s everything you need to know.

Check If You Need Permission

If you are planning to raise your chain link fence height, the first thing you need to do is contact the building department for your city or area.

Usually, people will build fences to the maximum height that local bylaws allow, so if you want to make your chain link fence higher, you might need special permission to do that.

In some cases, when your fence goes above a certain height, you might also need to submit drawings or plans for the fence.

Option 1: Add An Overhang

The first answer to the question of how to make a chain link fence taller is the simplest option: adding an overhang.

An overhang or extension is a bracket that fits onto the top of the fence that is used to add barbed or smooth wire (or electric fence in some cases) to add to the overall height of the fence.

In this case, you would need to remove all the post caps from your fence, install extension brackets instead, and then add your wires to the fence.

The problem with this option is that most overhang and extension brackets for fences only add about a foot to the height of the fence. So if you want to add more height to your fence, this probably won’t work.

Option 2: Extend the Whole Fence

The second answer to the question of how to make a chain link fence taller has more steps, but it allows you to add more height to your fence and does not require you to have barbed or smooth wire on an overhang or extension. Here are the steps you will need to take to extend the height of your chain link fence this way.

1. Find a company that can manufacture chain link post extension sleeves, like the attached downloadable sketch at the bottom of this article.
2. Chain link fence post extension sleeves should have an inner, smaller diameter piece of pipe, usually about 6 inches long, welded into the outer pipe, which is the same diameter as the fence post.
3. You will need fence post extension sleeves for terminal and line posts, so that means two different sizes. Be sure to count how many of each size you need. Be sure to measure the outside diameter of the fence posts as well as the wall thickness, so your sleeves can be made to fit.
4. Order the chain link mesh for your newly extended mesh at the same time, along with additional tension bars, tension bands and bolts. These items are required whenever you extend the height of a fence, and you will need to calculate the heights, lengths and quantities based on how much you are extending the chain link fence height.
5. Once your material arrives and you are ready to extend your chain link fence height, you will need to take down your existing mesh, remove your top rails and post caps, and remove tension bars.
6. If the fence material you take down is in good condition, you might be able to resell it as second-hand fencing material. You might also be able to sell it to a metal recycling company.
7. Once your fence has been taken down and only fence posts remain, slip the inner part of the chain link extension sleeve into the existing post. This can be tack welded in place, or you can use a construction adhesive to secure them in place. Tech screws are another option but bear in mind that they will allow some water into the post, which is a bad idea if you have winter freezes.
8. Once the chain link fence post extension sleeves are in place, start rebuilding the fence using the new chain link materials and the materials reserved when you took the fence down.

Once your chain link fence height has been extended this way, if done properly, it should be just as secure and sturdy as it ever was.

Is It Cheaper to Make a Chain Link Fence Taller?

While extending your chain link fence, as mentioned above, is not exactly cheap, it is cheaper than removing your existing fence and replacing it with a completely new fence.

You or your fence installer will not have to pull posts, and you won’t need new posts, rails or concrete bases for your posts, all of which will save money. There is still some cost to take down the old mesh and tension bars, but that shouldn’t be a big part of the labor to extend your chain link fence this way.

Should You Extend Your Chain Link Fence Height This Way?

An important question to consider while you’re finding out how to make a chain link fence taller is whether you should do this instead of installing a new fence.

In this case, the condition of your fence posts and rails is the biggest deciding factor. If all your posts and rails are in great shape and still straight and level, then this is a great choice. However, if your posts are damaged, bent or rusted, it might be better to replace the whole fence.

As always, if you’re not sure what the best solution for your chain link fence is, talk to a contractor or installer who specializes in this type of service.

If you do decide to extend the height of your chain link fence, don’t forget to download our chain link fence extension sleeve sketch! It will make getting your fence post extension sleeves made a lot easier.