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. Source: US national average installed-cost references. Last verified: June 2026.
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.