A good fence gallery does more than show pretty pictures. It gives you a side-by-side reference for height, material, board spacing, post detail, and gate placement so you can pick a style that fits your yard, your budget, and your local code. Pinterest boards are easy to scroll, but they rarely tell you that a 6-foot cedar board-on-board fence costs three times more than a 4-foot pressure-treated picket, or that a horizontal cedar fence needs kiln-dried boards or it will cup within one summer. This guide walks through the styles you will actually see when you build a fence gallery for a real project.
- How to Use a Fence Gallery When Planning
- Classic Wood Picket Fences
- Privacy Fence Styles
- Modern Horizontal Fences
- Vinyl and Composite Options
- Metal Fences: Aluminum, Steel, and Iron
- Pool and Safety Fencing
- Gate Styles and Hardware That Last
- Cost Snapshot Across Materials
- Putting Your Own Gallery Together
How to Use a Fence Gallery When Planning
Treat your gallery as a worksheet rather than a mood board. For every photo, note the material, the visible board width, the post style, the gap between pickets, and the approximate height. Most residential fences in the United States fall between 36 inches in a front yard and 72 inches in a back yard, with 96-inch privacy fences allowed in some municipalities with a permit.
Photograph your own property line from the angles where the new fence will sit. Sun direction, slope, and existing landscaping change which styles will look right once installed. A flat-top horizontal fence reads modern on a level lot but looks awkward stair-stepping down a hill.
Classic Wood Picket Fences
The white picket fence remains the most recognized residential style in America. Standard dimensions use 1×4 pickets cut to 36 to 48 inches, spaced 2 to 3 inches apart, attached to two horizontal 2×4 rails between 4×4 posts set 8 feet on center.
Material options run from pressure-treated pine at about $8 to $12 per linear foot installed, to western red cedar at $18 to $25 per linear foot, to cellular PVC at $30 to $40 per linear foot. Cedar resists rot and insects without chemical treatment, while PVC delivers a paint-free finish that holds its color for 20 years or more.
Decorative options include dog-ear, French gothic, and scalloped tops. A scalloped run with French gothic posts looks expensive but only adds about $1.50 per linear foot in material.
Privacy Fence Styles
Privacy fences are the workhorse of suburban backyards. Three configurations dominate any modern fence gallery.
- Stockade: 5/8-inch dog-ear pickets butted edge to edge on a single side. Cheapest privacy option at $20 to $28 per linear foot installed.
- Board-on-board: Pickets overlap by one inch, eliminating gaps when boards shrink. Adds 25 to 30 percent more lumber but stays opaque for the life of the fence. $28 to $40 per linear foot.
- Shadowbox: Alternating pickets on each side of the rail. Looks identical from either yard, which neighbors appreciate. $25 to $35 per linear foot.
Cap rails on top finish the look and protect end grain from rain. Add a 1×6 cap and a 2×4 trim for about $3 per linear foot more.
Modern Horizontal Fences
Horizontal fences took over high-end residential design between 2015 and 2025. Boards run parallel to the ground instead of vertical, which makes a yard read longer and wider. Build them with clear or No. 2 kiln-dried cedar in 1×4 or 1×6 widths with a quarter-inch gap between boards.
Posts are usually steel or 4×6 cedar to resist the rotational stress horizontal boards apply. Expect to pay $35 to $55 per linear foot installed, and budget extra for a high-quality oil finish such as Penofin or TWP every two to three years.
Vinyl and Composite Options
Vinyl panels solved the maintenance problem of painted wood. Major brands like Bufftech, Veranda, and CertainTeed sell pre-routed panels in 6 by 8-foot sections that slide into channeled posts. Standard white vinyl runs $25 to $40 per linear foot installed, while wood-grain composite or cellular PVC panels climb to $45 to $65 per linear foot.
Composite fencing made from recycled wood fiber and polymer, like Trex Seclusions, offers the look of stained wood without splinters or sealing. Plan on $50 to $70 per linear foot installed and a 25-year fade warranty.
Metal Fences: Aluminum, Steel, and Iron
Ornamental aluminum has largely replaced wrought iron for residential work because it never rusts. A typical 4-foot aluminum fence with 3/4-inch pickets and 2-inch posts costs $30 to $45 per linear foot installed and comes in pre-welded 6-foot panels.
Galvanized steel chain link still wins on price at $12 to $18 per linear foot for a 4-foot run. Add vinyl-coated wire and privacy slats to soften the industrial look. True wrought iron, custom forged, jumps to $80 to $200 per linear foot and is reserved for historic homes or estate driveways.
Pool and Safety Fencing
Pool codes in most states require a 48-inch minimum fence height, self-closing gates, and openings small enough that a 4-inch sphere cannot pass through. Mesh pool fences from Life Saver or Protect-A-Child slide into deck sleeves and remove for parties. Budget $15 to $25 per linear foot for removable mesh, or $35 to $55 per linear foot for permanent aluminum that meets BOCA pool code.
Gate Styles and Hardware That Last
Most fence failures start at the gate. A 4-foot single gate weighs 40 to 60 pounds and swings thousands of times a year, so cheap hinges sag within a season. Spend on heavy-duty self-closing hinges from D&D Technologies or Lockey at $40 to $90 per pair, plus a true gate post set in 36 inches of concrete.
For openings wider than 4 feet, use a double gate with a drop rod or a single gate with a steel anti-sag frame kit. Both add about $80 to $150 to the project but eliminate the slow lean that ruins curb appeal.
Cost Snapshot Across Materials
- Chain link: $12 to $18 per linear foot
- Pressure-treated picket: $15 to $22
- Cedar privacy: $25 to $40
- Vinyl privacy: $25 to $40
- Horizontal cedar: $35 to $55
- Aluminum ornamental: $30 to $45
- Composite privacy: $50 to $70
Permits run $50 to $400 depending on jurisdiction, and HOAs often require pre-approval of color, height, and style.
Putting Your Own Gallery Together
Drive your neighborhood with your phone and shoot every fence that catches your eye. Note the address so you can revisit in different light. Then narrow your gallery to three styles, request quotes from two contractors per style, and compare apples to apples on post depth, picket thickness, and rail count. A thoughtful gallery and a good contractor will deliver a fence that looks right the day it goes in and still looks good a decade later.
