Prices are 2026 installed averages from our materials cost breakdown; wood runs $15–$25 in pressure-treated pine and $20–$35 in cedar.
Privacy and Security Are Not the Same Fence
A privacy fence stops eyes; a security fence stops people. For both, build 6 ft (or the tallest your code allows — often 6 ft in back yards and 3–4 ft in front), keep horizontal rails on your side so there is no ladder facing out, and use a self-latching gate that locks from inside. Solid panels with no gaps also hide what is worth taking. Board-on-board beats a simple stockade here: the overlap stays closed as boards shrink, where butted boards open up gaps within a season or two.
Boost Privacy Cheaply
Add 1×2 top-cap trim or a lattice extension to gain 12" without a permit rebuild. And a solid-color stain hides seams between pickets far better than semi-transparent — see Fence Staining Guide.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What is the best fence for privacy and security?
A solid 6 ft wood or vinyl privacy fence handles privacy. For security as well, height and what the fence is made of both matter: vinyl and wood are easy to cut or climb, while ornamental aluminium with close pickets is hard to climb but offers no privacy at all. A solid fence with a trellis top is the usual compromise.
How tall does a privacy fence need to be?
Six feet blocks the sightline of someone standing at ground level next to it. Four feet does not. If the neighbouring ground is higher, or there is a deck or an upstairs window overlooking, no practical fence height will solve it and planting is the better answer.
Is a shadow box fence private?
Partly. Head-on it reads as solid, but the offset boards open up as soon as you look along it at an angle. It is a good-neighbour fence rather than a privacy fence. For a true screen, build solid or board-on-board.
What is the cheapest privacy fence?
Pressure-treated pine pickets on a treated frame, built solid. Panels are faster but cost more per foot and rarely last as long as a stick-built fence, because the panel frames are lighter. Bamboo and reed screening attached to an existing chain link fence is cheaper still but is a few-season solution.
Can I add privacy to a chain link fence?
Yes, with slats woven through the fabric or with a privacy screen fastened to it. Slats give perhaps 75 to 90 percent coverage depending on the type, and both options turn the fence into a wind sail, so check that the posts and footings can take the extra load first.
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Prices as of Oct 19, 2026, 4:37 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
