Let your front yard fence beckon you home
A front yard fence can provide your home with the perfect combination of privacy, safety, and elegant decoration. But with so many choices on the market, from classic picket to modern metal, it may be hard to figure out which fence is best for your outdoor space. Not to mention the decision of whether to DIY or hire a local fence installation company.
Start by scrolling through these front yard fence ideas to kick off your journey and create the yard of your dreams.
Once you determine what you want to get out of a front yard fence—be it privacy, an extra level of safety, or just an added aesthetic—you can shift your focus to deciding the best fence type for your yard.
Timeless and traditional, there may be nothing more all-American than a white picket fence. This fence type has been successfully enclosing front yards across the country for decades and adding extra charm to the homes within them.
If privacy is your No. 1 objective, you can rest assured with a standard vertical batten fence. Tall and sturdy, this wooden fence will ensure that your pets and children remain safely within the perimeters of your front yard.
Maybe you’re not trying to keep anything in—or out—of your yard, and if that’s the case, consider a split-rail fence. This fence option may look familiar if you live in a farming area, as they often enclose large fields. Though they’re easy to get through and over, split-rail fences offer a rustic aesthetic to any front yard.
A trellis fence can be used in a front or back yard, and is often used as part of a garden fence. Built with beautiful lattice features, these fences are ideal for growing flowers around, and they won’t block out a summer breeze.
Much like vertical batten fences, horizontal slat fences are equally as impenetrable and offer maximum privacy. If you’re not keen on nosy neighbors peeking their heads into your yard, this type of fence is certain to help get your point across.
Wood and wire fences have historically worked wonders around chicken coops and for good reason. This fence structure is exceptional at keeping unwanted critters out while allowing for visibility, unlike those with solid wood fence panels. If you want to achieve the ultimate farmhouse vibe, a wood and wire fence may be the finishing touch you need.
Tall wooden fences are fabulous for privacy, but subsequently are often standard in size and shape. If the one-size-fits-all look isn’t quite for you, opt for a wooden fence with varying heights to mix it up and stray from the wood fence norm.
If varying panel height isn’t enough customization for you and your wooden fence, you can always get even more creative with a wavy top. You’ll get to showcase your flair and boast the funkiest fence in the neighborhood.
Wrought iron fences offer a clean and classic look. Extend yours out from the front yard by adding a driveway gate for the full, classy home exterior package.
Chain link fencing is a tried-and-true option for yards of all kinds, but if the standard metal version doesn’t appeal to you visually, black chain link is a sleek upgrade that will get the job done while looking fresh and modern.
A metal fence may not sound very posh, but there’s an unexpected elegance to these types of fences, especially when ornately decorated.
Brick is a sophisticated and durable material to use if you want your fence to stand strong for years to come. Plus, it’s an easy choice to make if your home is also built of bricks.
Whether it’s short and stout or looming, a fence built of stone is the epitome of rustic charm.
Get the best of both worlds by combining two materials, such as iron and stone, for an ideal front yard fence style. Since they’re both such strong elements, you’ll have double the durability—and the combination of the two makes for an almost enchanted look.
Concrete precast fences can have a fortress-like appearance, which makes them excellent for homeowners who prioritize privacy. Using concrete as a fence material is also a safe bet for longevity and the ability to successfully combat the elements.
Are you searching for the missing element to your modern landscape design? Take an alternative approach by browsing through metal fences. Sturdy? Check. Allows for privacy? Check. Plus, they’ll withstand the elements if you live in an area prone to flooding or snow.
Another modern fence option is a combined wood and metal composition for your front yard fence. Using both elements adds extra structural support while achieving a contemporary style.
If you’re leaning toward a concrete front yard fence but aren’t sure which style is right for your home exterior, stucco-style concrete is a beautiful secondary option— especially if you’re not sold on concrete precast.
While you’re shopping for fencing designs, you’ll likely come across privacy screens. Privacy screens can be easily attached to chain link fences for an added layer of—you guessed it—privacy. From dark green mesh to faux leaves, they come in many different varieties. The best part is, you can remove the screens on days when you want a little less seclusion.
Calling all nature lovers! This fence type is perfect for homeowners with a green thumb. Whether you prefer them short in height or tall and mighty, the density of a hedge works successfully as a privacy barrier and is lovely to gaze at as well. Keep in mind, however, that having one around your front yard might call for some additional yard work and landscaping.
Vinyl fences (also referred to as PVC fences) are a popular choice because they’re affordable and they get the job done. This material works wonderfully for front or backyard fences because it’s easy to clean, generally long-lasting, and fences built from it are typically tall enough to keep unwanted animals out.
Corten steel fences offer a unique look with their orange-brown patina and long-term durability thanks to their resistance to rain, snow, fog, ice, and more. This steel is silver in its original state but quickly develops a coating of orange-brown oxidation when exposed to weather that removes the need for further rustproofing or repainting.
If your house has stone or masonry features already built into its design, it’s a great idea to mirror those colors and textures in your front yard fence. Try limestone, marble, brick, or concrete, depending on what meets your budget and vision.
X fences are similar to the split-rail fence, but instead, they cross each rail in an “X” formation between each post. This style looks gorgeous as a modern farmhouse-style fence when painted white or more sophisticated in a dark grey or black color. They also provide plenty of space for your front yard garden to grow below, through, and around them.
If you live in a southwestern climate, you’re probably used to seeing walls employed as fences to cut through the wind, achieve the most privacy possible, and avoid soaking in the heat of the desert sun. Low-wall fences often come in stucco or adobo and help create a Spanish-influenced courtyard feel with their curved edges and light colors.
While the cost of a hog wire fence is low, there are ways to build them that look anything but cheap. Use hog wire between wooden fence posts to create panels with plenty of room for plants and grasses to poke through, plus visibility between your property and the outside world.
If the cost of installing a wooden fence is outside your budget, you should consider the popular DIY project of building a pallet fence. They’re easy to collect for free from small businesses, and upcycling makes them the most environmentally friendly option. They look great when lined up cohesively or painted in a fun color.
Woven fences can be made of sticks, like a wattle fence, or something more intricate, like a basket weave fence. Either way, they bring movement and a natural aesthetic to your front yard and help welcome visitors with an unconventional but gorgeous fence.
Bamboo is a super strong building material, which is why it’s great for front yard fences. Whether you live in a tropical climate or just want to channel one, bamboo fences are an affordable alternative to wood and picket, and they stay incredibly strong against the elements.
A gabion fence consists of a metal cage or basket-like structure that holds tons of rocks and stones. This creates the unique look and feel of a stone wall around your yard without any mortar or masonry required.
Paul F. P. Pogue contributed to this article.
Yes, in most places. A front yard fence is allowed by local zoning laws more often than not, but it always helps to check before building just to make sure. There may be restrictions around how tall the fence can be, what it can be made from, or where it can be built.
The most common height of a front yard fence is around 3 feet high, but it can vary depending on your zoning laws. If your fence is meant to create privacy, something closer to 6 feet or higher will do the trick. Most of the time, the highest fence you’ll see is 8 feet tall.
The cheapest fence to install is likely to be a wire fence, whether it’s hog wire or chicken wire. Closely following that is something repurposed that would be free to collect, like a DIY pallet fence. Most wire fences are available in large quantities at a low cost, so they’re great for homes with a tight budget.
