Best Wood for Fences: Top 5 Homeowner Rankings

Installing a new wooden fence on your property costs between $2,500 and $6,000 per 100 linear feet. That’s a wide margin — and much of the difference depends on the type of wood you select for your fence.

Cost vs. durability is the dominant factor when selecting the best wood for fences. Our research indicates that choosing a durable wood is the right decision. While you’ll spend more upfront, you’ll save money over the 15-20 year lifespan of your fence on reduced maintenance costs.

We analyzed and ranked 5 popular types of wood across 6 key categories, and found that redwood is the best wood for most residential fences. Cedar and white oak ranked 2nd and 3rd.

Here’s how we ranked the top 5 best types of wood for residential fences:

• Redwood is among the most expensive woods used regularly to build fences. It’s desired for its relatively low maintenance and upkeep compared to other fence woods.
• Cedar is a beautiful reddish wood that looks stylish on any fence. Cedar fence owners must consistently seal and stain their fence to prevent color fading and a gray patina.
• White oak is a uniquely durable, dense wood fence option that provides similar advantages to redwood. It’s not advisable for dry, arid climates.
• Cypress is an excellent fence material for residents of the southeastern United States, where it’s easily sourced. It’s not cost-effective outside this region.
• Pressure-treated pine is the most inexpensive fencing option, but you get what you pay for. Even with pressure and chemical treatments, it’s prone to warping and rot.

How do all these wooden fence materials stack up against buying vinyl? Check out our guide to wood fences vs vinyl fences and see which you prefer.

How We Selected the Best Wood for Fences

We researched consumer data to find the 3 most widely purchased types of wood for fences by American homeowners. These results were pressure-treated pine, cedar, and redwood.

We also surveyed professional fence builders and residential contractors for specific recommendations of other good types of wood for perimeter and privacy fences. These builders recommended white oak and cypress as excellent options in specific regions of the country.

Each of these 5 types of wood for fences were analyzed against 6 criteria:

1. Cost vs. Durability: The overall cost of your wooden fence doesn’t stop at the initial investment. How does the upfront cost of fence installation and construction compare to the ongoing maintenance, repair and sealing costs of each type of wood?
2. Maintenance Requirements: The need for regular staining, sealing, or other upkeep can be a deterrent. Homeowners prefer options that require minimal maintenance and care — and less cost over time.
3. Aesthetics: Curb appeal matters! Each type of wood was assessed on its overall aesthetic appeal — both on installation, and how it ages over time.
4. Climate Considerations: Different woods perform better in various climates. We analyzed each type of wood’s ability to withstand distinct weather conditions and climates in various parts of the country.
5. Sourcing: Is the wood able to be sustainably sourced? Also, how readily available is each type of wood in all parts of the United States?
6. Insect and Rot Resistance: Homeowners want a fence that will withstand ground-based pests and termite infestation. Wood was also judged on its innate ability to withstand rot and mildew with regular sealing.

What’s the Right Type of Wood For My Fence?

We believe redwood is the best overall choice for most homeowners building a wood fence. While redwood is among the more expensive types of wood for fencing upfront, its overall durability reduces the cost to own and maintain your fence over time. Redwood is also highly desired for its beautiful reddish-brown hue and its relative ease of sourcing.

However, our selection isn’t ideal for all homeowners — particularly those concerned with upfront budget. Here’s a top-level guide to which type of wood is best for your fence:

• Choose redwood if you value durability and low maintenance, and don’t mind spending the extra money.
• Choose cedar if you value aesthetic beauty and don’t mind keeping an eye on warpage and color fading.
• Choose white oak if you desire a durable, dense wooden fence with a unique look to redwood fences — if you don’t live in a dry, arid climate.
• Choose cypress if you live in the southeastern United States, where it’s easily sourced.
• Choose pressure-treated pine if you want an inexpensive fence and don’t mind frequent upkeep.

🥇 Redwood Fences Are Well Worth the Upfront Cost

Redwood is our top choice for best overall wood fence material. It offers an unbeatable combination of durability, availability and aesthetic value that easily makes up for its elevated price vs. other wood fencing materials.

Yes, you’ll pay 3-5x more for a redwood fence than a pressure-treated pine fence. But you’ll get the quality you pay for — that means extended savings on maintenance and upkeep over the lifespan of your redwood fence.

The average redwood fence lasts 5-15 years longer than a pine fence, and requires less routine staining and sealing than pine over a longer lifespan.

Pros and Cons of Building a Redwood Fence

Pros:

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• Durability: Redwood is naturally resistant to rot, decay, insects, and warping. This means it can last for many years with minimal maintenance.
• Beauty: Redwood has a rich, reddish-brown color that adds natural beauty to any property.
• Environmental Friendliness: Redwood sourcing is increasingly more eco-friendly, with significant improvements made to afforestation efforts.
• Low Maintenance: Unlike other wood types, redwood requires minimal staining or sealing, saving you time and money.

Cons:

• Cost: Redwood is generally more expensive than other fencing materials like pressure-treated pine or cedar.
• Color Change: Over time, redwood can fade if not properly stained and sealed. While many people find this aesthetically pleasing, others prefer the original color.
• Availability: Redwood is occasionally difficult to source in regions like the Southeast. This currently isn’t a major problem in most of the country.

Buy Certified Redwood! Be sure to purchase redwood from certified growers! Certifications like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) ensure that redwood is sourced from responsibly managed forests.

🥈 Choose a Cedar Fence For High Visual Appeal

Cedar placed 2nd in our overall wood fence material rankings. Its natural beauty and strong defense against pests scored high. However, its overall durability and ability to retain its color without regular maintenance didn’t quite match up with redwood.

Cedar fences are desired for their curb appeal and natural color. Retaining this rich color requires some effort, as cedar develops a silvery patina if left untreated over time. Make sure to stain and seal your cedar fence every 12-18 months to keep its natural beauty intact.

The natural oils within cedar offer an added benefit — inherent resistance against invasive insects and boring pests. This includes termites!

Pros and Cons of Building a Cedar Fence

Pros:

• Natural Beauty: Cedar has a warm, reddish hue that adds a natural aesthetic to your property.
• Durability: Cedar offers above-average durability against rot, mildew and pests.
• Pest Resistance: Cedar’s natural oils are an insect deterrent, aiding in the fight against infestation and termite damage.

Cons:

• Buyer Confusion: There are distinct durability differences between hardwood cedar and softwood cedar. Be sure you know what you’re buying!
• Color Change: Over time, cedar can develop a silvery patina. While many find this attractive, others prefer the original color. Use paint or stain to resist this change.
• Warpage: Like other wood types, cedar can warp if not properly dried or installed. This is especially true with softwood cedar varieties.

🥉 White Oak is a Durable Fence Material — In the Right Climate

If white oak was easier to source, it would challenge redwood at the top of our rankings. This incredibly durable, dense wood makes a fantastic fence material in most parts of the country.

White oak isn’t just durable, it’s beautiful. It looks best when used on a classic split-rail or picket fence. And since most of your neighbors aren’t using white oak, your fence will naturally stand out on your block.

White oak is native to the eastern US, and it performs best in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. It does tend to struggle outside its comfort zone — white oak checks and splits in dry, arid climates like the Southwest.

Pros and Cons of Building a White Oak Fence

Pros:

• Exceptional Durability: Known for its hardness and resistance to rot, white oak is incredibly durable.
• Beauty: White oak has a classic, elegant appearance that can add a touch of sophistication to a property.
• Density: White oak is exceptionally dense, adding to its natural resistance against rot and mildew. It’s also more difficult for insects to bore holes into white oak.
• Uniqueness: White oak isn’t among the most popular types of wood used to build fences. This makes a white oak fence stand out as unique in your neighborhood.

Cons:

• Cost: White oak is a premium hardwood, making it significantly more expensive than other fencing options.
• Weight: Due to its density, white oak is heavy, which can make installation more challenging.
• Check and Splitting: White oak is prone to checking (surface cracks) and splitting, especially in dry climates.
• Limited Availability: White oak may not be readily available in all regions.

Cypress Fences: Great for Southeastern Homeowners

Cypress is an outstanding fence material for homeowners in the southeastern United States, but is far less cost-effective in other regions. When used in its native growing region, cypress is fairly priced, extremely easy to source, and highly resistant to humidity and high winds.

Outside the southeast, cypress becomes costly to source and install. It does still stand up well against harsh weather conditions — if budget isn’t an issue, consider cypress for particularly humid or arid climates.

TLDR: If you live in areas where cypress grows naturally, move it up the rankings! If you don’t, it’s not a strong contender for your new wood fence construction.

Pros and Cons of Building a Cypress Wood Fence

Pros:

• Natural Resistance: Cypress contains natural oils that protect against rot, decay, and insects, making it highly durable.
• Adaptability: It thrives in humid climates, making it an excellent choice for coastal or southern regions.
• Aesthetics: Cypress offers a warm, natural appearance that can enhance your property's curb appeal.

Cons:

• Cost: Cypress can be more expensive than pressure-treated pine but generally less costly than redwood.
• Availability: Cypress is less readily available in regions outside the southeastern United States.
• Challenging to Cut: Cypress has a unique grain pattern that is often difficult to cut for builders unaccustomed to working with it.

Pressure-Treated Pine Fences Aren’t Worth the Savings

Pressure-treated pine scored at the bottom of our wood fence rankings. It’s a perfectly fine building material for other projects — but it doesn’t deliver the aesthetic value or the overall durability we look for in a great fence wood.

Also, be cognizant of the chemical treating process used to create pressure-treated pine. The current process involves chromated copper arsenate (CCA), which has arsenic as one of its core components.

That said, pine is the cheapest of all 5 materials we reviewed. Budget-conscious homeowners can build a pressure-treated pine split-rail fence without much stress.

Pros and Cons of Building a Pressure-Treated Pine Fence

Pros:

1. Affordability: Generally, pressure-treated pine is the most budget-friendly option for fencing materials.
2. Availability: Pressure-treated pine is widely available, making it easy to find and purchase.

Cons:

• Appearance: Pressure-treated pine often has a less appealing appearance compared to other wood types like cedar or redwood.
• Maintenance: While it's more resistant to decay, it still requires regular maintenance, such as staining or sealing, to protect against weathering and maintain its appearance.
• Chemical Treatment: The pressure-treating process involves chemicals, which might be a concern for some homeowners.
• Potential Warping: Pressure-treated pine can be prone to warping, especially in climates with significant fluctuations in humidity.

Conclusion

We think redwood fences are the best option for most American homeowners, due to their exceptional durability and curb appeal. They cost more upfront, but you’ll make that money back in reduced maintenance and extended lifespan.

If you live in particular regions where white oak and cypress grow naturally, consider them as strong native contenders for a uniquely durable property fence.