Swing for the fences and choose the best style of pickets and posts
The type of wood fencing you choose for your yard does more than just section off your property. The best type of fence for your home enhances your privacy, cuts down on noise, and offers a place to grow climbing plants along the edges of your yard. Wood fences are a popular choice for homeowners looking to blend their natural style with enough strength and durability to fight the elements. Explore these 14 common types of wood fences, from the fencing style to wood varieties.
Wood fence construction is just as versatile and stylish as any metal, vinyl, or aluminum fence. You have a say in everything from its height to how much sunlight peeps through each picket.
The style of your wood fence also affects its:
Cost
Appearance
Privacy
Noise buffering
Durability
Each of these fence styles comes in a range of wood material and colors as well as with added treatments that protect against the elements, pests, and the occasional backyard baseball game.
This ranch-style fence is the type you'd imagine on a farm 200 years ago. The term split-rail comes from splitting logs lengthwise either into two or four long pieces. In this design, just one, two, or three rails connect individual posts several feet apart. The cost of a split-rail fence is $10 to $28 per linear foot, but you can save over $1,000 on labor if you have the skills and time to build it yourself.
Split-rail fences are best for:
Simple, rustic style
Marking property
Enclosing fields with large livestock
We all know the picket fence from the images of 1950s suburban dream homes. They are often lower than privacy fences, sitting just three to four feet off the ground. Picket fences offer a welcoming vibe while still fencing in the dog. You'll pay between $10 and $75 per linear foot for a picket fence depending on the type of wood and whether you add gates and high-end hardware.
Picket fences are best for:
Fencing in a property without cutting off yard views
Planting fence gardens
Increasing home curb appeal
The delicate criss-cross pattern of a lattice fence finds that tricky balance between style and privacy. Choose from either full panels of lattice or lattice accents at the top of the gates of your fence. Keep in mind that lattice fencing is often much thinner than other types of posts and rails, making this an ideal option for surrounding vegetable gardens or adding to the top of a sturdier style as an accent. Lattice panels cost just $2 to $6 per linear foot for materials plus $30 to $50 an hour to hire a local fencing contractor.
Lattice fences are best for:
Flower and vegetable gardens
Deterring local wildlife
Adding minimal privacy to your yard
The remaining types of wood fences on our list get into privacy fence territory. Starting with one of the most air-tight fence styles, board-on-board fences layer each picket so that it overlaps with its neighbor.
The board alternates the side where it overlaps, creating a patchwork appearance that doesn't allow any light through either side of the fence. It also looks attractive on both sides, making it ideal for front yards and when you want to make a good impression on your neighbor. Since you need more materials to create the look, board-on-board fences cost $15 to $21 per linear foot including labor.
Board-on-board fences are best for:
Complete privacy
Poolscapes
Wind- and storm-prone areas
While very similar to the board-on-board fence style, shadow box wood fences include a slight gap between the alternating pickets. They offer complete privacy when viewed straight on, but offer a bit of a view from an angle. Shadowbox fences offer a nice balance between constructing a wall of wood and letting in enough light to plant shrubs on the edge of the perimeter. Shadowbox fences can be difficult to install precisely, so you'll pay between $17 and $35 per linear foot between materials and labor.
Shadowbox fences are best for:
A balance of light and privacy
Durability against rough weather
Curb appeal on all sides of the fence
Add a touch of subtle modern style to your lawn with a louvered fence. The louvered pattern places either vertical or horizontal pickets at a slight angle, allowing in a bit of light and air while still maximizing privacy.
A louvered fence is not an ideal DIY project and you'll need to hire a specialist familiar with its construction. And while the price will widely vary depending on its height, material, and the cost of labor in your area, assume it will cost close to the average cost of a privacy fence at $35 per linear foot.
Louvered fences are best for:
Letting in sunlight and breezes
Near-complete privacy
Adding a modern look to your lawn
Keep your privacy fence simple by placing the sides of the pickets right up against one another without overlap or angling. Also known as a stockade fence, side-by-side wood construction is a simple approach to a privacy fence without spending extra on complex installation. Between installation and materials, side-by-side fences cost between $15 and $20 per linear foot.
While simple in construction, this style can warp slightly over time, creating small spaces between boards or splintering under pressure.
Side-by-side fences are best for:
Budget-friendly privacy
Poolscapes and private patios
DIY installation
A horizontal plank fence is a wood fence with planks that run horizontally as opposed to vertically. These types of fences can be built as both privacy and non-privacy fences because they can either feature gaps between the planks, or very small gaps. The tighter the gaps, the more privacy you’ll enjoy in your yard. Horizontal plank fences also tend to be more durable, because they require higher-grade lumber, which is stronger than traditional vertical fences. They’re also a bit pricier for this reason.
Horizontal plank fences are best for:
Homes with a modern aesthetic
Bigger-budget projects
Homeowners seeking extra privacy
A post-and-rail fence is all in the name: it consists of two to three horizontal rails between each post. Simple and rustic in design, these fences don’t provide much privacy and are mainly used on rural properties to designate boundaries or contain livestock. If you’re yearning for that rustic look and feel and aren’t concerned about the lack of privacy, it’s a good decorative option.
Post-and-rail fences are best for:
Decorative fencing, especially for a rustic look
Homes living on a lot of acreage looking to easily mark property lines
Wood fences are incredibly popular for their average 20-year lifespan, stylish appearance, and customization options, but the perks vary by material. Some woods, for example, are more prone to damage from termites, warping, sun damage, and the effects of local salt water.
Seven of the best wood fence materials on the market are:
Cedar
Cypress
Pressure-Treated Pine
White Oak
Redwood
Spruce
Composite Wood
Cedar is best for customizable options since it comes in multiple colors and absorbs paint and stain. Like cedar, cypress has a natural rustic appearance ideal for adding to the style of your home. Pressure-treated pine lasts a long time because it goes through an extra phase of processing, adding chemicals that can protect the wood against weathering, pests, and rot.
White oak is a popular choice for long-lasting and attractive fences as it can stand up against rot for decades and is easy to stain and customize. Homeowners in search of a rich red color can opt for richly hued and durable redwood, which stands out for its fight against rot, water damage, pets, and decay from UV rays. You should add the price of staining the fence and treating the wood over time, however, as it can turn gray when not protected.
While popular for its soft gray color and attractive price, homeowners should keep an eye on spruce fences because they can warp, rot, or attract pests without treatments.
Last but certainly not least, composite wood fences combine wood fibers with recycled plastic to mix that natural beauty of natural wood with far more perks. Composite wood fences are sure to stand up against the elements, pests, and warping.
A simple side-by-side fence made of cedar or pressure-treated wood is the most common type of wood fence you’ll find. These have a classic design that can match almost any outdoor style and are commonly found in most hardwood stores.
Wood fences last an average of 20 years but can have a life span of up to 40 years, depending on various factors. You’ll get more longevity out of your fence if you choose a more durable wood, like cedar or redwood and regularly maintain it. But if you live in an area with a lot of wet, windy, or snowy weather, your fence will likely break down faster than if you lived in a region with a mild climate.
Fences made out of redwood, cedar, or pressure-treated pine are the most durable. These materials can last anywhere between 15 to 40 years so long as they are properly maintained. Make sure to clean your fence regularly and pressure wash once a year. After pressure washing, apply a sealant and/or fresh paint to keep it looking fresh.
