8 Privacy Fence Ideas for Yards of All Sizes (2024)

FAQs

What is the cheapest privacy fence to build? ›

Picket wood fencing is a popular and cheap fencing type in the United States that provides privacy and protection to your property.

Privacy fences, by design must be tall enough to obstruct the view into your property. For that reason, privacy fences are typically between 6-8 ft. tall in residential areas. The maximum privacy fence height is 8 ft in most cases.

Simple Vinyl Privacy Fence

One of the most effective privacy fence styles on the market, these vinyl fences are made of tall vinyl panels that completely block the line of sight.

When there is no gap to compensate for these changes, the planks are forced into each other to the point of warping, cracking, or breaking. This is why it's always advised to leave a tiny gap of around 3/8 or 1/4 inches even for privacy fences where you don't want anyone peeking.

The least expensive type of fencing is chicken or hog wire. It's great for keeping pests out of your garden and animals contained, but these wire fences aren't the most aesthetically pleasing—although we have ideas below on how to spruce them up.

In summary: premade fence panels, in most cases, are cheaper and requires less installation time. However, it is best suited for yards without hills or slopes.

So, how far apart should fence posts be? The standard spacing for fence posts is 8 to 25 feet apart, depending on the type of fence. A standard wood fence would require posts 8 feet apart, while a high-tensile wire could span 25 feet.

How Close To The Property Line Can I Build? Fences are typically built between 2 and 8 inches from the line between properties. Some areas will allow the building of fences directly on the property line, but in this case, you'll have to cooperate with your neighbor and potentially share the cost of the fence.

Side and rear boundary fences must not be higher than 1.8 m, or higher than 1.2 m if the fence is built from masonry. Fences along a boundary of, or in the setback area of, a primary or secondary road must not be taller than 1.2 m (this includes the front of the site and any side boundary on corner sites).

Spite fences are fences constructed purely to annoy a neighbor. They're usually tall, ugly, or both.

What is a good neighbor style fence? ›

A Good Neighbor Fence is a wood privacy fence that divides two properties, where the finished side of the fence (i.e. the more attractive, smooth side) faces the neighbor's property. The homeowner building the fence then has a view of the rails and posts from inside their yard.

What Type of Fence Lasts the Longest? Chain-link fences with a galvanized finish that doesn't rust are the longest lasting fences. All other components of the fence are made of steel and are also galvanized, so there is relatively no maintenance.

Wood fencing, without a doubt, has the cheaper upfront pricing. According to HomeAdvisor, a wood fence costs $12 per linear foot on average. On the other hand, a vinyl fence costs about $17 per linear foot. The cost of materials for your unique project may vary based on style, terrain, and other factors.

Premium Vinyl fencing will outlast the wood fencing by years, requires no maintenance upkeep, is impervious to insects, and over the long run, VINYL IS LESS EXPENSIVE THAN WOOD! Not only will it be less expensive than wood over 10 years, but it will also have about 6-1/2 times the Return On Investment over wood.

Building your own fence can potentially save you money, but it also depends on several factors. If you have experience in construction and have access to tools, it can be a cost-effective option. However, if you need to purchase tools and materials, it may end up being more expensive than hiring a professional.

What is the Easiest Fence to Install Yourself? Did you know: with the right tools and planning, vinyl fences are among the easiest fences to install yourself! This is due to the fact that you install this material with essentially a no-dig design rather than needing to dig posts bases and fill them with cement.