Wood costs less up front, at $20 to $50 per foot installed on national figures, compared with $30 to $60 for vinyl. Vinyl saves on stain and sealer over the years. Pick wood if you want the lower first cost or a yard with a lot of slope. Pick vinyl if you want to wash it and forget it.
The prices on this page are national ranges published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not quotes from The Akron Fence Company. What a fence costs in Summit County depends on local labor and material prices and on your own yard. Last checked October 2026.
| Wood | Vinyl | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost per foot | $20 to $50 | $30 to $60 |
| Upkeep | Seal or stain every few years | Rinse with a hose |
| Weak point | Posts rot at the soil line | Brittle when struck in deep cold |
| Repairs | One board at a time | Usually the whole panel |
| On a hill | Cut to the grade on site | Racks a little, steps on steep ground |
| Road salt | Marks the finish near the drive | No effect |
| Look | Natural, takes any stain | Even, a few set colors |
Cedar or pressure-treated pine?
Cedar for the boards, if the budget allows. It resists rot and insects naturally and moves less as it dries. Pressure-treated pine is cheaper and is rated for contact with the ground, so it is a sensible post. A fence with treated posts and cedar boards uses each wood where it performs best.
Which fence lasts longest through freeze and thaw?
The one with the best footings. Frost goes after the post, whatever it is made of, so depth and drainage count for more than material. Above ground, aluminum and vinyl cannot rot, and galvanized or coated chain link lasts a long time. Wood does well when it is sealed and its base is kept clear.
What type of fence is best for my yard?
| You want | Good choices | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | 6-foot wood or vinyl | Solid panels take the wind on a hilltop lot |
| A large dog | Tall chain link, wood or vinyl | Follow the grade so no gap opens below |
| Small children | A solid fence and a self-latching gate | Put the latch out of reach |
| A pool | Aluminum or vinyl to pool code | Height is measured from the outside ground |
| Lowest cost | Chain link | Some towns limit its height or place |
| Low upkeep | Vinyl or aluminum | Costs more to start |
| Near the street | Open metal or wood picket | Height near the right of way is limited |
Is aluminum fencing strong enough for a large dog?
Yes for most dogs. Height and picket spacing matter more than strength. A jumper needs a taller panel, and a small dog can slip between standard pickets, so ask for the puppy-picket style with closer spacing at the bottom. Aluminum also racks to a slope, which keeps the bottom tight.
We have a large dog, want privacy and do not want to spend a fortune. What makes sense?
A 6-foot pressure-treated pine privacy fence. It is the lowest-cost solid fence and it is tall enough for most big dogs. You can trim the total by putting privacy fence only where neighbors overlook the yard and chain link along the rest.
My neighbor has wood and wants me to match it so we can split the cost. I want vinyl.
A shared run can only be one fence, so the two of you need to settle on one material. If you do, write down the split. If you cannot agree, you are free to build vinyl a little inside your own line and leave the wood fence alone.
Will the new fence look the same on my neighbor's side?
It depends on the style. Shadowbox and most vinyl panels look the same from both yards. A standard stockade or picket fence has a face side and a rail side. Some towns settle the question for you: Cuyahoga Falls requires the finished side to face the adjacent property or the street. Where no rule applies, facing the good side out is the usual courtesy.
A measured, written quote is the only number you can rely on, and ours is free. Call (330) 521-3641 or text a photo of the yard.