How much silt fence can be installed in a day?
Missouri DOT's 2004 contract time guide averaged 1,036.5 linear feet of silt fence per day, from surveys of its districts and the AGC taken 1993 to 2000. Its low-production and accelerated averages were 331.3 and 1,925 LF per day. Installation method, terrain, traffic and crew change the rate, so use your own crew records when you have them.
What changes silt fence production per day
- Installation method: hand-trenched and backfilled fence or fabric sliced in with a silt fence plow.
- Site conditions: MoDOT's low-production category includes heavy traffic, urban areas, tight working conditions and mostly hand work.
- Hours and crew: its accelerated category assumes more than 8 hours a day, more than 5 days a week, and possibly added workers.
- Fence type and layout: wire-backed fence adds posts and wire, and short runs across phases add setup moves.
Estimate silt fence crew days from a takeoff
Divide the measured LF for each phase by the rate you choose. At the MoDOT average, 3,000 LF ÷ 1,036.5 LF per day = 2.9, or about 3 crew days.
Sources
Checked 2026-11-02.