Explore Your Fencing Options

Component fences are sometimes called stick-built fences. You assemble the fence from individual pieces, such as boards and rails. These fences take longer to build than panel fences, but can follow the contours of the landscape with a technique called racking. Some types of wood fencing are also available in components. Components include the three main building blocks for a fence: the posts, pickets and backer rails.

Preassembled panel fences can be easier to assemble than component fences but may not be able to follow the landscape like a component fence, so they’re a good choice for people who have an even surface for installation. You can rack some adjustable panels, but others must be stair-stepped to accommodate slopes. Metal, vinyl and some wood fences are available as panels.

Vinyl fencing is both attractive and low maintenance. It’s one of the best fences since the materials typically don’t rot, fade or suffer from other effects of weather and time, requiring only an occasional rinsing. One advantage is the availability of premade panels, which can help lower vinyl fence costs.

Vinyl fencing is available in styles like wood panel, picket and rail fencing. Like wood fencing, vinyl fencing is also available in solid panels to create boundaries and privacy, or shadowbox panels that create visual interest and durability. Picket panels add a decorative look and work well for creating boundaries and containing pets. Vinyl rail fencing is made to mimic wooden boards and is a durable choice for defining boundaries and other areas of the landscape.

Typical panels can be 4 feet to 6 feet tall and 5 feet to 7 feet wide. Some panels allow limited racking, but others need to be stair-stepped. Vinyl rails range from 8 feet to 16 feet long. See How to Install a Vinyl Fence for instructions on creating a vinyl fence.

Wood fences have a traditional look but require ongoing maintenance. You may need to paint or stain it every few years. There are several types you can choose based on your preferences.

• Wood-panel fencing, sometimes called stockade fencing, improves privacy and security and is a good choice for setting boundaries for children and pets. Individual components, including boards and rails, and prebuilt panels come in sections 4 feet to 6 feet tall and 6 feet or 8 feet long. There are two basic types of panel fence styles: a solid-panel fence, which is good for concealing unattractive areas or hiding a roadway from view, or shadowbox panels that use alternating boards on each side of the fence rail to give the fence the same look on both sides. Shadowbox panels also allow air circulation and provide partial views.
• Picket fencing adds a decorative element, but isn’t the best choice if you have small pets due to the wide gaps. These fences have spaced boards or pickets running along one side of the fence rail and are generally a maximum of 4 feet tall. They’re available in preassembled panels up to 8 feet in length and as individual components.
• Split-rail fencing, also known as post-and-rail fencing, adds a rustic look to a landscape. Use this type of fence to define specific areas in your yard or provide an easily visible separation along property lines. The horizontal rails are available either split or round in lengths from 8 feet to 11 feet. 

Depending on the region and style, the best wooden fence materials available are cedar, pine, redwood or spruce. Cedar and redwood are naturally resistant to decay and insects, while spruce and pine are typically pressure-treated to deter insects and decay. You can learn more about having a wood fence with our article How to Build a Fence: DIY Wood Privacy Fence Plans.

Chain link fencing is one of the most affordable, low-maintenance, durable and strong fencing options. These fences, sometimes called hurricane fences, can help keep children and pets in and nuisance animals — like raccoons, coyotes and foxes — out. Tall chain link fencing can also improve security. The material, referred to as fabric, is weather-resistant, made from galvanized-steel wire and available from 3 feet to 12 feet in height and in 10-foot or 50-foot rolls. Chain link fabric comes in different mesh sizes and wire thicknesses or gauges (the smaller the gauge number, the heavier the wire).

If you don’t like the silvery look of a bare fence, you can find fabric with a weather-resistant green or black vinyl coating. You can also weave special plastic slats into the fence fabric for privacy or to block unsightly areas of a landscape.

See Install a Chain Link Fence for installation steps and diagrams.

Decorative metal fencing draws attention to areas of your landscape and is a great way to enhance curb appeal. It gives you the formal appearance of a wrought iron fence but is made from powder-coated steel or aluminum for durability and minimal maintenance. Metal fencing is lighter and more manageable than wrought iron fencing. This fence type is available in a variety of styles and sizes, and the components are relatively easy to assemble. Metal fences can even be custom molded and framed in a design of your choosing.

Metal fences are low maintenance and long lasting. They’re stronger and more durable than wood fences and can stand up better to the elements. They’re impervious to insects too, and won’t rot, warp or stain.

Metal fence panels are a durable and cost-effective fencing option. With proper care and maintenance, metal panels for fences can last 25 years or more. Some metal panels allow for limited racking to follow landscape contours. You might also consider a metal fencing gate. 

If you’re concerned about security and like the look of wood but want a more durable material that will endure, a metal privacy fence may interest you. Privacy metal fence panels add security and value and are the perfect way to create private areas in and around your property. A decorative metal fencing gate serves double functions — it provides decoration and keeps your property secure.

You can find fencing that doesn’t require digging so you don’t have to worry about tearing up your yard during installation. Just drive an anchor into the ground and attach the fence post.

Garden fencing can contain pets and keep wild animals — like raccoons, deer and rabbits — out of gardens. The material is available in rolls 2 feet to 5 feet high and lengths up to 150 feet. Sometimes referred to as hardware cloth, it’s also available with a green or brown vinyl coating. When used with rail fencing, welded wire functions as a pet-containment fence for large areas. 

Hex netting or chicken wire is often used to fence in poultry, but can also work for containing small pets, such as rabbits. Plastic is a lightweight alternative to metal garden fencing for light-duty or seasonal use. 

Decorative garden fencing is also available in a range of widths and heights and can be used to establish boundaries or as landscape accents. Some types don’t require digging for installation, while others include gates for easy access. Read Garden Fence Tips for more details on garden fencing and for installation advice and instructions. 

Homeowners often use U-posts to support garden fencing. A U-post has a U-shaped cross section that gives it strength and a series of holes and tabs that make it easy to connect the fence fabric.

An automatic driveway gate helps provide safety and privacy for you, your family and your pets by preventing unwanted guests or cars from entering your driveway. 

Driveway gates come in a variety of materials and finishes, including aluminum and steel, to match the accompanying fence. They pair with driveway gate openers you can use from inside your car so you can conveniently open and close the gate during inclement weather. A gated driveway lends an estate look to a home of any size and may even increase property value. 

If your driveway is straight, a standard electric driveway gate will be sufficient. However, if your driveway curves, or if you'll need to pass through with a boat, trailer or recreational vehicle (RV), it’s a good idea to choose a wider gate for more comfortable maneuvering.