Which Dog Fence is Right for Your Budget?

by Jaron Lukas February 26, 2023

Adding a dog fence to your yard provides your pup with a convenient and safe space to explore and enjoy the outdoors, but it can also require a hefty investment. A handful of factors influence the cost of your fence installation, including aesthetics, durability, ease of installation, maintenance costs, and the geographical layout of the land where the fence is installed.

Before you can determine what it will cost to install a dog fence, you must first establish what type of fence you are interested in and what fence type is best for your land.

Wood Dog Fences

Wooden fences are a quality, durable, and affordable choice for homeowners, but they can vary widely in cost. The cost of wooden fences depends on the type of wood used, the height and length of the fence, the installation cost, the company you purchase from, and where you live. Angi.com lists the average wooden fence between $1-$15 per foot of lumber and the average completed fence costing between $3,060 and $8,000.

There are several benefits to installing a wooden fence. Wood fences have a higher quality appearance than vinyl fences and can increase property value – as long as they’re cared for properly. Wooden fencing is also quite sturdy and can provide a privacy shield for homeowners.

There are, however, some drawbacks to installing a wooden fence. Wood fences can be quite costly in some cases and require expensive maintenance every decade or so. Additionally, wooden fences aren’t guaranteed to keep dogs contained since dogs can dig underneath or jump over fence panels. Lastly, it is important to remember that a wooden fence is not portable, so once in place, it is not moveable without major construction work.

Vinyl Dog Fences

Vinyl or PVC fences are plastic fences and tend to age better than wooden fences, but they’re often not as sturdy as their wooden counterparts. Traditional vinyl fences stand 4’ or 6’ tall and vary in price from $3,000 to $8,000 to fence in one acre of land. Vinyl fences are usually available in .135” and .15” thickness, although most homeowners invest in the thicker of the two so that the fence has a sturdier construction.

Vinyl fences often appeal to homeowners because they require less maintenance and age better than wooden fences. Vinyl fences also come in a wider variety of styles which appeals to those looking for a less traditional or plain fencing solution.

Unfortunately, vinyl fencing can be costly and less durable than wooden fencing. Some believe that vinyl fencing looks cheap and lowers the value of a home or neighborhood. Plus, like wooden fences, dogs can dig under or jump over vinyl fences. They also have maintenance costs, are expensive if you want to move or adjust and are not a portable containment solution.

Chain Link Dog Fences

Most often seen in rural areas, chain link fences offer containment with increased visibility and are a cheaper fencing solution. The cost of a chain link fence depends on the fence height (the average height is 6’,) the gauge of wire used, and the fence mesh and diamond size. According to Angi.com, a chain link fence costs an average of $2,233 per acre when professionally installed.

A chain link dog fence is appealing to some homeowners because it is an affordable fencing solution that requires little maintenance and does not block the property line of sight.

The biggest drawback to chain link fencing is it’s not an attractive fence, dogs can jump over or dig under and it is not portable if you move.

Invisible Fence®

The invisible fence creates an invisible containment area that is easier for homeowners with HOA organizations to install. These fences do require property owners to dig trenches for wiring, however, and can cost between $1,300 to $2,500 per acre – most of which is the labor cost.

Invisible fences appeal to homeowners because they provide an invisible fencing solution that does not block property views or cause HOA disturbances.

Invisible fences have drawbacks though – for example, they are costly to repair and limited by the terrain. Invisible fences are also cost-prohibitive for large properties, unmovable without significant construction work. Lastly, this type of fence requires training for the dog to understand how the fence and collar work.

GPS Dog Fences

GPS dog fences are the most recent addition to the fencing market. You can create a fence in 2 minutes by drawing it on a smartphone. Think of it as a virtual fence your dog wears; all the GPS tech is in the collar.As your dog gets close to the boundaries, it emits alert and warning tones to deter your dog from passing through the boundary lines. If your dog tries to cross the boundary, the system can give a vibration or optional static correction. The SpotOn GPS Dog Fence costs $1,495 and the price does not increase with yard size like other fencing options.

The GPS dog fence is appealing to homeowners because it provides invisible containment without digging trenches for wiring – and even after being drawn, homeowners can edit the fence boundaries. There are also no maintenance costs. It is also portable since the fence is on a collar and phone. It can be taken when moving or used at other properties such as a family member’s home or a vacation rental.

GPS dog fences are also the only fence option that enable you to see where your dog is on your phone. They send notifications if your dog breaches the boundary and you can track your dog to their location on your phone.

GPS fencing has a few drawbacks, as it requires training for dogs to understand the boundary tones, and GPS does not work well for small properties.