A wood privacy fence is the solid, board-to-board fence most people picture around a backyard. It blocks the view, keeps pets in, and can be built in more styles than almost any other material. It is also a fence with real choices inside it — board style, height, post type, and finish — and those choices are where two quotes for the same yard start to differ. This page walks through them.
What a wood privacy fence costs
Published ranges for installed wood privacy fencing in the Baton Rouge area run between $15 and $30 per linear foot. Those are published ranges, not quotes — a real price takes someone measuring your line. Multiplied out for a few common lengths:
| Fence length | Published range × footage | Not included |
|---|---|---|
| 100 feet | $1,500–$3,000 | Gates, removal of an old fence |
| 150 feet | $2,250–$4,500 | Gates, removal of an old fence |
| 200 feet | $3,000–$6,000 | Gates, removal of an old fence |
The low end of the range is a straightforward fence on an open, level line. The high end is a taller fence, a heavier board style, more gates, or a line with trees, slopes, or an old fence in the way. The fence cost guide compares wood with every other material at the same length.
Board styles
Style changes both the look and the amount of lumber per foot, so it shows up directly in the price. The common ones:
- Dog-ear. Boards with the top corners clipped. The everyday backyard privacy fence.
- Flat top or capped. Boards cut square, often finished with a cap rail and trim board along the top for a cleaner line.
- Board-on-board (shadowbox). Boards overlapped on alternating sides of the rail, so the fence looks finished from both yards. More lumber per foot.
- Horizontal. Boards run sideways for a modern look. Ask how the installer supports long horizontal runs between posts.
- Picket. A shorter, spaced fence — not a privacy fence, but often quoted alongside one for a front yard.
If you like two styles, ask for both on the same quote. The difference per foot tells you what the upgrade actually costs.
Height
Taller fences use longer boards and posts, so height moves the price per foot. Decide what the fence needs to block — a sightline from a deck, a neighbor’s window, a street — and stand where you would sit to check it. Then ask the installer what heights apply where you live. Ask your installer who pulls the permit.
Posts, rails, and how it is built
The boards are what you see, but the posts are what keep a fence standing. Ask the installer to spell these out on the quote:
- Post material. Wood posts or metal posts, and if wood, what it is treated for. Ask whether the posts are rated for ground contact.
- Post spacing and setting. How far apart the posts are and how they are set in the ground.
- Rails. How many horizontal rails per section, which matters more as the fence gets taller.
- Fasteners. What the boards are attached with, and whether the hardware is meant for outdoor use.
- The bottom edge. How close to the ground the boards sit, which matters if you are keeping a dog in.
Stain, sealer, and upkeep
With wood, upkeep is part of the decision. Ask the installer whether stain or sealer is included, whether the wood needs time to dry before it can be finished, and how often they recommend refinishing. If no finish is included, that is not necessarily a problem — but it should be clear on the quote so you can plan for it.
How long a wood fence lasts depends on the wood, the posts, the finish, and how wet the ground around it stays. Ask the installer what they expect for your yard, and see fence repair for what usually needs attention first.
Sharing a fence line with a neighbor
A privacy fence has two sides, and on a backyard line the other side faces a neighbor. A few things are worth settling before the quote is signed: which side the finished face of the boards points toward (board-on-board avoids the question), whether an existing shared fence is coming down, and whether the neighbor wants to be part of the conversation at all. None of that changes the price much, but it is far easier to sort out before posts go in than after. If you are unsure where the line itself should run, raise it with the installer at the first visit.
Gates on a wood fence
Wide wood gates deserve extra attention on the quote. Ask how each gate will be framed and braced, what hinges and latch are included, and what the installer does if it starts to drag. Drive gates are their own line item. The gates section on the installation page covers widths and hardware.
Wood or vinyl?
Wood privacy and vinyl privacy fences do the same job. Published ranges put wood at $15 to $30 per linear foot and vinyl at $20 to $43 per linear foot, so wood starts lower, while vinyl skips staining and painting. If you are torn, ask for both on the same footage and gates — see vinyl fences for what to ask about that option.
What the quote should list
A wood privacy fence quote should separate these four lines, so you can see what each part costs and compare one bid with another:
- 1Footage & layoutTotal linear feet, fence height, and where the line runs — drawn or described so you can check it.
- 2Old-fence removal & haul-offTaking down and hauling away the existing fence, priced on its own line — or stated as not included.
- 3Materials & postsFence material and style, post type and spacing, and how posts are set.
- 4Gates & hardwareEach gate's width and type, plus hinges, latches, and any hardware upgrades.
On the materials line, look for the board style, the height, the post type and spacing, and whether any finish is included. If two quotes differ, those details are usually why.
Getting a quote
Call (225) 351-2857 or send the form with your rough footage, the height and style you have in mind, how many gates, and whether an old fence needs to come out. Your request goes to one local installer, who measures the line and puts a quote in writing. The quote, the contract, and the work are between you and that installer.