Wood remains the most popular residential fencing material in the United States, accounting for over 65% of new fence installations. It offers natural beauty, full privacy when built as a solid panel, and a lower upfront cost than vinyl, aluminum, or wrought iron. But not all wood is the same — species, treatment, and style dramatically affect both the upfront price and the long-term maintenance cost.
Last updated: June 2026 — Lumber prices verified against Home Depot, Lowe's, 84 Lumber, and 2026 RSMeans construction cost data. Note: lumber is a commodity and prices fluctuate weekly with supply and tariffs.
Wood Fence Cost Calculator
Wood Fence Cost by Species — Complete Price Comparison
The wood species you choose is the single biggest cost driver for a wood fence — more than style or height. Here's how each species compares for a standard 6-foot privacy fence, including materials and professional labor:
| Wood Species | Cost/LF Installed | Materials Only | Rot Resistance | Insect Resistance | Lifespan | Best Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-Treated Pine | $12–18/LF | $5–9/LF | High (treated) | High (treated) | 10–15 yrs | All regions, national availability |
| Cedar — Western Red | $14–32/LF | $7–17/LF | Very High | High | 15–25 yrs | West Coast, PNW, nationwide |
| Redwood | $18–35/LF | $10–20/LF | Very High | Very High | 20–30 yrs | California, West Coast |
| Cypress | $13–25/LF | $6–14/LF | High | Moderate | 12–18 yrs | Southeast, Gulf Coast |
| Douglas Fir | $11–20/LF | $5–11/LF | Low | Low | 8–12 yrs | PNW, must be treated |
| Spruce — Budget | $10–16/LF | $4–8/LF | Low | Low | 6–10 yrs | Budget, must be treated |
Wood Species Deep Dive — Cedar, Pine, Redwood & Cypress Compared
Pressure-Treated Southern Yellow Pine
The most widely used fence wood in America. SYP (southern yellow pine) is chemically treated under pressure with copper-based preservatives (CA-C or ACQ) that make the wood resistant to rot, decay, and termites. The treatment penetrates the sapwood but not the heartwood — this is why PT posts sometimes rot from the center out after 10+ years. Available at every lumber yard and home center in the country. The drawback: PT lumber is often delivered wet from the treatment process, and as it dries over the first 6–12 months, it can warp, twist, check (crack), and shrink. Proper installation — using ring-shank nails, allowing drying time before staining, and selecting straight boards at the yard — minimizes these issues.
Western Red Cedar
Cedar is the premium fence wood for homeowners who want natural beauty without chemical treatment. Its natural oils and tannins provide built-in resistance to rot and insects — no pressure treatment needed. Cedar is 30% lighter than PT pine, making it easier to handle during installation. It accepts stain beautifully and weathers to an attractive silver-gray patina if left unfinished. Cedar comes in grades: #2 (knotty, more affordable at $14–22/LF installed), #1 (fewer knots, $20–28/LF), and clear (no knots, premium appearance, $25–32/LF). For fencing, #2 grade is perfectly adequate and what most contractors use unless you specifically request an upgrade.
Redwood
Redwood is the ultimate premium fence wood — but it's primarily available on the West Coast. Its deep red-brown heartwood contains extractives that make it the most rot-resistant domestic softwood, outperforming even cedar. Redwood comes in heartwood grades (all heartwood, deep red, 25–30 year lifespan) and sapwood/con-common grades (mix of heartwood and lighter sapwood, 15–20 year lifespan). Heartwood redwood fence costs $25–35/LF installed; con-common costs $18–25/LF. Outside of California and the Pacific Northwest, redwood is expensive to ship and may be special-order only — plan on a 20–30% premium over local cedar pricing if you're east of the Rockies.
Bald Cypress
Cypress is the Southeast's version of cedar — naturally rot-resistant, light in color (pale yellow to light brown), and widely available from Florida to Texas. It's actually more rot-resistant than cedar in continuously wet conditions, which is why it's the traditional wood of choice for Gulf Coast fences and docks. Cypress fencing costs $13–25/LF installed. The tradeoff: cypress is not as dimensionally stable as cedar and may develop more surface checks (small cracks) over time. It also has a less dramatic grain pattern than cedar or redwood, which some homeowners find less visually appealing.
Wood Fence Styles — Cost Per Linear Foot by Design
The fence style determines how much lumber is used, how many posts are needed, and how much labor is required. All prices below assume pressure-treated pine to isolate the style cost difference:
| Style | Cost/LF (PT Pine) | Materials/LF | Privacy Level | Best Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy (Board-on-Board) | $15–18/LF | $7–10/LF | Complete — zero visibility | Backyards, pool enclosures |
| Shadowbox (Good Neighbor) | $14–18/LF | $7–10/LF | Near-complete — angled view only | Shared property lines |
| Picket | $12–16/LF | $5–8/LF | None — wide gaps | Front yards, curb appeal |
| Lattice Top | $16–22/LF | $8–12/LF | Partial — lattice section open | Decorative gardens |
| Split Rail (2-rail) | $10–14/LF | $5–7/LF | None — decorative only | Large lots, rural properties |
| Post-and-Rail (3-rail) | $12–16/LF | $6–9/LF | None — ranch style | Ranches, estate boundaries |
What Makes Privacy Fencing More Expensive Than Picket?
A board-on-board privacy fence uses approximately 2.5–3× more board-feet of lumber per linear foot than a picket fence. A 6-foot privacy fence needs ~17 pickets per 8-foot section (each 5.5 inches wide with 1-inch overlap), while a picket fence uses ~13 pickets with 2–3 inch gaps between them. Multiply by hundreds of linear feet and the material difference is substantial. Privacy fences also require three horizontal rails (top, middle, bottom) vs two rails for picket, adding another ~0.5 LF of 2×4 per linear foot of fence.
The Hidden Cost of Wood Fencing — Maintenance Over 15 Years
The upfront cost of wood is only part of the story. Wood fencing requires significant ongoing maintenance — staining, sealing, and eventual board replacement. Here's how the true 15-year cost compares between wood species, including professional staining every 3 years:
| Cost Category | PT Pine Privacy (200 LF) | Cedar Privacy (200 LF) | Redwood (200 LF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Installation | $3,000–3,600 | $4,000–6,400 | $5,000–7,000 |
| Initial Stain (year 1) | $400–600 | $400–600 | $400–600 |
| Re-stain × 4 cycles (years 4,7,10,13) | $1,600–2,400 | $1,600–2,400 | $800–1,200 |
| Board Replacement (years 8–15) | $500–1,500 | $200–500 | $100–300 |
| Total 15-Year Cost | $5,500–8,100 | $6,200–9,900 | $6,300–9,100 |
| 15-Year Cost Per LF Per Year | $1.83–2.70 | $2.07–3.30 | $2.10–3.03 |
Surprising finding: While redwood costs 45–55% more upfront than PT pine, the 15-year total cost of ownership is nearly identical ($6,300–9,100 vs $5,500–8,100). Redwood's superior durability means fewer board replacements and less frequent re-staining. For homeowners planning to stay 10+ years, redwood may actually be the better value despite the higher upfront price. Cedar, by contrast, has the highest 15-year total due to its mid-range durability requiring similar maintenance to PT pine at a higher initial cost.
Wood Fence Cost by Region — Where You Live Changes the Price
Wood species availability and labor rates create significant regional price variation. A cedar fence that costs $18/LF in Portland might cost $28/LF in Miami — not because the cedar is more expensive, but because it must be shipped cross-country and local labor rates differ:
| Region | Best Value Wood | PT Pine Installed | Cedar Installed | Market Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | PT Pine (local) | $11–16/LF | $18–28/LF | Pine mills abundant; cedar is shipped in |
| Pacific Northwest | Cedar (local) | $14–18/LF | $14–22/LF | Cedar priced near PT pine locally |
| California | Redwood (local) | $16–22/LF | $20–30/LF | Redwood is 10–15% cheaper than cedar here |
| Southeast (GA/FL/AL) | Cypress (local) | $12–18/LF | $18–28/LF | Cypress is often cheaper than cedar here |
| Northeast (NY/NJ/CT) | PT Pine | $17–24/LF | $24–36/LF | Highest labor rates in the country |
| Midwest | PT Pine | $12–16/LF | $18–24/LF | Lowest combined cost region |
Replacing an Old Wood Fence — Demolition, Disposal & Post Reuse
Replacing an existing wood fence adds costs that new construction doesn't have, but may also offer savings opportunities.
Demolition & Removal — $3–6/LF
Most contractors charge $3–6 per linear foot to demolish and haul away an old wood fence. This covers cutting the fence into manageable sections, pulling posts, and disposing of the debris. For a 200-foot fence, budget $600–1,200. Some contractors include removal in their quote; others itemize it separately. Always ask. If the old fence contains pressure-treated lumber (pre-2004 CCA-treated wood), disposal may cost extra because it cannot go to standard landfills in some areas.
Post Reuse — Can Save $3–5/LF
If the existing fence posts are still solid and properly set in concrete, you may be able to reuse them for a new fence — saving $3–5 per linear foot in post material and concrete costs. This only works if the posts are the right height for your new fence, aren't rotted at ground level (the most common failure point), and are spaced correctly for the new style. Posts older than 8–10 years are usually too deteriorated to reuse. Any contractor who suggests reusing posts should check each one by probing the wood at ground level with an awl — soft wood means replacement is needed.