A fence shapes how a yard feels before a single plant goes in. Picking between the types of wood fences available is part aesthetic, part budget, and part long-term commitment, since a fence lives on the property for 15 to 30 years depending on species and style. The wrong fence looks out of place, rots early, or picks a fight with your HOA. The right one defines the yard, delivers the privacy or openness you actually want, and holds up through a couple of decades of Midwestern winters or Gulf Coast humidity. Costs range wildly from $8 to $45 per linear foot installed, so knowing the styles up front helps you budget accurately.
Privacy Fence
The most common backyard choice. Vertical boards run tight against each other, typically 6 feet tall, creating a solid visual barrier. Boards are usually 5.5 inches wide with dog-ear or flat tops.
- Height: 6 to 8 feet
- Cost: $15 to $30 per linear foot installed
- Best species: Cedar, redwood, or pressure-treated pine
- Lifespan: 15 to 25 years with proper maintenance
- Best for: Backyards, pool enclosures, urban lots with close neighbors
Upgrades like horizontal kickboards at the base, decorative caps, and lattice toppers add visual interest and help shed water at the weakest points.
Picket Fence
The American classic. Spaced vertical pickets between 3 and 4 feet tall, typically with pointed or rounded tops. It defines a yard without blocking sightlines.
Picket spacing matters. A 2 inch gap creates a formal look; a 4 inch gap feels more open. Materials run the same gamut as privacy fences, though cedar and white-painted pine dominate the New England look.
- Height: 3 to 4 feet
- Cost: $10 to $25 per linear foot installed
- Best for: Front yards, colonial homes, dog containment for small breeds
- Maintenance: Annual paint touch-ups or biennial stain refresh
Shadow Box Fence
Also called good neighbor fence. Boards alternate on either side of the rails, creating a pattern that looks finished from both sides. Small gaps between boards allow airflow, which extends lifespan in humid regions.
This is the style to pick when you share a fence with a neighbor and both sides will be visible. No one ends up stuck with the “ugly” rail side.
- Height: 6 to 8 feet
- Cost: $18 to $35 per linear foot installed
- Privacy level: Slightly less than solid privacy, but enough for most yards
- Wind resistance: Better than solid privacy fences
Split Rail Fence
Rustic, classic, and often associated with ranches and country properties. Two or three horizontal rails pass through mortises in vertical posts. Minimal containment value, major aesthetic payoff.
Split rail pairs well with acreage, wildflower borders, and homes with a farmhouse aesthetic. For pet containment, add welded wire mesh on the yard side, which brings the utility without losing the look.
- Height: 3 to 4 feet
- Cost: $8 to $18 per linear foot installed
- Best species: Cedar for Northeast, locust for the Mid-Atlantic
- Lifespan: 20 to 30 years
Lattice Fence
Cross-hatched wood strips forming a diamond or square pattern. Usually used as toppers on privacy fences or as stand-alone garden screens. Grows beautifully with climbing plants like jasmine and clematis.
Lattice alone is rarely a full property boundary. It is best thought of as a decorative element, a privacy screen for patios, or a top section above a solid privacy base.
Board-on-Board Fence
A heavier cousin of shadow box. Overlapping boards with no visible gaps create full privacy from both sides. More material means more cost but also higher wind resistance because layers can flex independently.
- Height: 6 to 8 feet
- Cost: $22 to $40 per linear foot installed
- Wind rating: Handles 50 to 70 mph gusts when properly anchored
- Best species: Western red cedar for warp resistance
Horizontal Plank Fence
Modern, sleek, and increasingly popular in contemporary and mid-century modern homes. Boards run horizontally between metal or wood posts. Gaps range from tight privacy to wide slat for a more open feel.
Horizontal fences need extra attention to board flatness and post spacing. Warped boards show more in horizontal runs than vertical ones. Budget for higher-grade, kiln-dried lumber.
- Height: 4 to 8 feet
- Cost: $25 to $45 per linear foot installed
- Best species: Western red cedar, ipe for highest-end projects
- Aesthetic fit: Modern, mid-century, contemporary
Choosing the Right Wood Species
Species selection drives lifespan more than style does. Match the wood to your climate and maintenance appetite.
- Western red cedar: Best rot resistance for the price, natural oils repel insects. 20 to 25 years
- Redwood: Premium option on the West Coast, beautiful color, 25 to 30 years
- Pressure-treated pine: Most affordable, 15 to 20 years, can warp if not kiln-dried after treatment
- White oak: Dense, strong, great for split rail
- Cypress: Southeast regional favorite, handles humidity well
- Ipe and tropical hardwoods: 40+ years but 3 to 4 times the price of cedar
Post Installation Makes or Breaks the Fence
Most fences fail at the post line, not the boards. These steps double the life of any wood fence.
- Dig post holes 24 inches deep minimum, 36 inches in frost zones
- Set 4×4 or 6×6 posts on 4 inches of gravel for drainage
- Use concrete only for the top 2/3 of the hole; leave gravel at the bottom to let water escape
- Crown concrete away from the post to shed water
- Consider galvanized steel post inserts for pressure-treated lumber, which extends life by 10+ years
Maintenance Schedule That Adds Years
Seal or stain within 30 days of installation. The mill glaze and weather exposure in the first month make subsequent applications less effective. Reapply every 2 to 3 years in sunny climates and every 4 to 5 years in shade.
Every spring, walk the fence line. Check for loose boards, rot at the base, and hardware failures. Early repairs cost under $100. Waiting until the fence leans or falls costs $1,500 to $3,000 to rebuild sections.
Permits and Property Lines
Most municipalities cap fence heights at 4 feet in front yards and 6 to 8 feet in backyards. Pull the permit if required, even for simple installs. A neighbor dispute or city enforcement action costs far more than the permit fee. Also verify property lines with a recent survey. A fence installed 2 feet on the wrong side becomes the neighbor’s property by adverse possession in some states after enough years pass.
