Wood and vinyl are the two materials most homeowners shortlist for a privacy fence. They block the view equally well at 6 ft, so the decision comes down to money: what you pay on installation day, what you pay every few years after that, and how soon you pay for the whole fence again. This guide walks through each of those for a typical 150 ft backyard fence, using the same prices as our fence cost calculator.
Installed price per foot
| Material | Per linear foot | 150 ft, 6 ft tall | Typical average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine (pressure-treated) | $17 - $45 | $2,550 - $6,750 | $4,650 |
| Cedar | $20 - $55 | $3,000 - $8,250 | $5,625 |
| Vinyl | $25 - $60 | $3,750 - $9,000 | $6,375 |
Prices include materials, posts set in concrete and labor, but no gates. A walk gate adds $150-$400 in either material. Where your number lands inside the range depends mostly on local labor rates: the same fence costs noticeably more in California or Hawaii than in Arkansas.
On the day you pay the installer, pine is the clear winner: roughly 25-30% cheaper than vinyl at both ends of the range.
Upkeep: where wood gets expensive
Wood needs a coat of stain or sealer every 2-3 years to keep water out and slow graying. A pro charges about $5-$12 per linear foot for one side, so $720-$1,800 for 150 ft; doing it yourself costs $180-$360 in stain and a weekend. Add the odd replacement board or picket after storms, and a leaning post or two as the fence ages.
Vinyl never needs paint or stain. It does need a wash with a hose or soft brush once or twice a year to keep mildew and grass stains off, especially on white panels. Cheaper thin-walled vinyl can crack from a hard hit in freezing weather, and a cracked panel has to be replaced rather than patched, so it pays to ask the installer about wall thickness and the warranty.
How long each one lasts
- Pressure-treated pine: 10-15 years. Posts in wet soil are usually the first thing to go.
- Cedar: 15-25 years. Naturally resists rot and insects better than pine.
- Vinyl: 20-30 years. Many manufacturers offer long limited warranties, often transferable to the next owner.
20-year total cost for a 150 ft fence
Here is a rough lifetime estimate using the average installed prices above and a pro staining one side every 3 years (about 6 rounds in 20 years, roughly $7,500 at mid-range prices):
| Pine | Cedar | Vinyl | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installation | $4,650 | $5,625 | $6,375 |
| Staining over 20 years | ~$7,500 | ~$7,500 | $0 |
| Full replacement within 20 years | ~$4,650 | usually not | no |
| Total | ~$16,800 | ~$13,100 | ~$6,400 |
Two things move these numbers a lot. Staining it yourself cuts the wood upkeep line to about $1,600 in stain, and plenty of owners never stain at all and accept gray boards. And if you sell the house within 5-8 years, the wood fence never reaches its replacement, so pine's lower entry price wins.
Looks, repairs and resale
Wood reads as warm and traditional, takes any stain or paint color, and a broken picket is a $5 board and ten minutes with a nail gun. It also grays within a year or two if left bare.
Vinyl looks the same on day one and year fifteen, in a limited palette of white, tan, gray and a few wood-grain textures. Some homeowners find it looks too uniform; others like the clean lines. Repairs mean ordering a matching panel, which can be hard once a style is discontinued.
Climate matters
In humid and rainy areas, wood rots faster at the posts and needs more frequent sealing, which tilts the math further toward vinyl. In very cold climates, choose a heavier-gauge vinyl to avoid impact cracks in winter. In hot, sunny regions, lighter vinyl colors hold up better than dark ones.
Verdict
Choose wood (pine or cedar) if you want the lowest price today, like a natural look, want to change colors later, or expect to move within about 8 years.
Choose vinyl if you plan to stay 10+ years, never want to stain a fence again, or live somewhere wet enough that wood posts rot early.
To see both options for your exact length, height and state, run them through the fence cost calculator: it shows every material side by side.