AnyFence fence type
Picket fences offer a blend of classic charm and practical functionality, ideal for enhancing the visual appeal of homes while providing boundary definition. Available in various designs and customizable options, they are a versatile and affordable fencing solution.
Spaced cedar or pine boards, three to four feet tall, marking the yard without hiding the house behind them. Profile and spacing set the character: a two-inch gap under a gothic top reads formal, a three-inch gap under a flat top reads farmhouse.
Let's Get Started On Your Fence Project...
The material read
Cedar earns its upgrade here more than anywhere else in the family. Picket boards are thin, and thin pressure-treated pine cups and twists as it dries through a first New England summer. Cedar stays flatter, which matters when every board is visible from the sidewalk. Salt spray strips paint faster on coastal runs, so those get a marine-rated primer.
Spaced cedar or pine boards, 3 to 4 ft, painted or stained. The style that carries a front yard: it marks the boundary, holds a small dog, and keeps the sightline open. The most paint surface per foot of any wood fence.
The decision guide
See where wood picket fits your property, your budget, and the upkeep you want.
Estimated cost
$10–$41
Per linear foot installed
Estimated installed range for planning. Fence height, picket spacing, corners, gates, removal, and ground conditions shape the installed price.
Site planning
Dimensions, posts, local rules, and site conditions shape the plan for your fence.
Under 4 in when the fence doubles as a pool barrier or has to hold a small dog.
Frost depth even on a short fence. A heaved post throws the picket line out of level and it shows.
Two coats on all four sides before the boards go up beats painting the fence in place.
FAQ
Use $10 to $41 per installed linear foot as a planning estimate. Fence height, picket spacing, corners, gates, removal, and ground conditions shape the installed price. Request a written quote for your fence and site.
Two to three inches for the classic look. Wider and the fence starts reading as a rail fence; tighter and you lose the rhythm that makes picket work. Drop under four inches if it has to hold a small dog or serve as a pool barrier.
A small or medium dog, yes, if the pickets sit under four inches apart and the fence stands at least four feet. A determined jumper or digger will beat it. For those we add a buried mesh apron or point you toward a taller solid fence.
Plan on a repaint every four to six years here, sooner on a south-facing run or near salt water. Picket has far more edge and end grain per foot than a solid fence, and edges are where paint fails first. Washing off winter grime buys time.
Keep comparing
See how cost, upkeep, privacy, and lifespan compare. Set what matters most and the table sorts to it.
You want the picket look with no repainting
Compare
Neighbors or a road are the real problem and 4 ft of open picket will not fix it
Compare
The fence has to satisfy pool barrier rules with a self-closing, self-latching gate
Compare| vinyl picketVinyl | $14.35–$41/ft installed | 20–30 yrs | Low | None | Low | High | Yes | Yes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| wood privacyWood | $15–$53/ft installed | 15–25 yrs | High | Full | Medium | Low | Yes | Yes |
| pool fencingAny material | $39–$84/ft installed | 25–40 yrs | Low | None | Medium | High | Yes | Yes |
| vinyl picketVinyl | wood privacyWood | pool fencingAny material | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $14.35–$41/ft installed | $15–$53/ft installed | $39–$84/ft installed |
| Lifespan | 20–30 yrs | 15–25 yrs | 25–40 yrs |
| Upkeep | Low | High | Low |
| Privacy | None | Full | None |
| Security | Low | Medium | Medium |
| Wind | High | Low | High |
| Pets | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pool code | Yes | Yes | Yes |
