Types of Fences: Styles, Materials & Costs Compared
Part of Decks, Fences & Roofing
Quick answer
The main fence materials are wood (most popular, $15–$45/ft), vinyl (low-maintenance, $25–$60/ft), chain link (cheapest, $10–$25/ft), aluminum (ornamental, $25–$50/ft) and composite ($25–$60/ft). Common wood styles are privacy, picket, board-on-board (shadowbox) and split rail. Pick by your goal: privacy, security, looks or budget.
Choosing a fence is really two decisions: the material (which sets cost and upkeep) and the style (which sets the look and how much privacy you get). Here's how the common options compare.
Materials compared
| Material | Cost / ft | Privacy | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | $15–$45 | High (privacy style) | Stain/seal every 2–3 yr |
| Vinyl / PVC | $25–$60 | High | Wash occasionally |
| Chain link | $10–$25 | Low | Minimal |
| Aluminum | $25–$50 | Low (decorative) | Minimal, rust-free |
| Composite | $25–$60 | High | Low |
| Wrought iron | $30–$80 | Low (ornamental) | Repaint to prevent rust |
Common wood styles
- Privacy: solid pickets, no gap — full screening, 6 ft typical.
- Picket: spaced boards with a 2–3 in gap — classic, defines a yard without blocking views.
- Board-on-board (shadowbox): overlapping boards that look finished from both sides; uses nearly double the boards.
- Split rail / ranch: posts and 2–3 horizontal rails — decorative boundaries and large lots.
- Lattice-top: a privacy fence with a decorative lattice strip on top for height and style.
Once you've picked a style and height, the fence calculator turns your run into a full material list, and the cost guide breaks down installed versus DIY pricing by material.
FAQs
What is the cheapest type of fence?
Chain link is the cheapest durable option at $10–$25 per foot installed. Among wood, a spaced picket or split-rail fence uses fewer boards than a solid privacy fence, so it costs less per foot.
What is a board-on-board fence?
A board-on-board (shadowbox) fence overlaps the pickets so there are no gaps and it looks the same from both sides. The overlap means it uses roughly 1.8–2× the boards of a solid privacy fence.
Which fence is best for privacy?
A solid 6 ft wood or vinyl privacy fence, or a board-on-board fence if you want it to look good from both sides. Chain link and aluminum offer little privacy without added slats or screening.