1 The average barbed wire fence installation cost for a five-strand fence measuring between 1,000 and 1,500 feet is approximately $1 to $3 per foot.2  Depending on local material and labor costs, however, you could end up paying as much as $5 to $6 per foot. standard barbed wire fence for livestock usually stands around 50 to 55 inches high is supported by steel posts spaced 15 to 25 feet apart. The number of wire strands you’ll need per length of fence depends on the animal being kept in or out.