AnyFence fence type
Wood shadow box fences combine privacy and style, offering an elegant fencing solution that allows for airflow and light. Their alternating board design creates a distinctive look, making them a popular choice for homeowners seeking both function and aesthetic appeal.
Boards set alternately on each side of the rails, so the fence looks finished from your yard and from the neighbor's. The gaps bleed wind pressure instead of catching it, which keeps a run plumb on an open lot.
Let's Get Started On Your Fence Project...
The material read
Air is the whole difference. Both faces of every board dry after rain instead of one staying damp against a rail, so shadow box outlasts a solid fence of the same wood by several years here. Snow sifts through rather than drifting against the panel. Cedar is the usual pick; pine shows more twist.
Alternating boards on both faces of the rail, gapped for airflow. Finished on both sides, so it settles shared-line arguments, and open enough that wind passes through instead of pushing the run over. Screens straight on, not at an angle.
The decision guide
See where shadow box fits your property, your budget, and the upkeep you want.
Estimated cost
$17–$41
Per linear foot installed
Estimated installed range for planning. Fence height, board layout, gates, removal, and ground conditions shape the installed price.
Site planning
Dimensions, posts, local rules, and site conditions shape the plan for your fence.
More overlap screens better and breathes less. This is the dial we set with you on site.
Lower wind load than a solid panel, but the posts still carry the whole run through frost season.
Both faces are finished for a shared property boundary.
FAQ
Use $17 to $41 per installed linear foot as a planning estimate. Fence height, board layout, gates, removal, and ground conditions shape the installed price. Request a written quote for your fence and site.
Straight on, no. At an angle, yes. Walking past, someone gets brief glimpses through the gaps. If a neighbor's second-story window looks into your yard or a hot tub needs full cover, choose a solid privacy fence.
Considerably. The gaps let pressure bleed through instead of loading the panel like a sail, which is why exposed and hilltop lots get quoted this way. On open sites we have seen shadow box hold plumb through winters that leaned neighboring solid fences.
Yes, and it is more surface than a solid fence of the same length, since every board has two exposed faces plus edges. The upside is that all of it dries fully after rain, so the finish lasts longer between coats. Plan on spraying.
Keep comparing
See how cost, upkeep, privacy, and lifespan compare. Set what matters most and the table sorts to it.
You need true full coverage and nobody should be able to see through at any angle
Compare
You like the finished-both-sides look but never want to refinish it
Compare
Wind is severe on your lot and you want a fence with no solid surface at all
Compare| wood privacyWood | $15–$53/ft installed | 15–25 yrs | High | Full | Medium | Low | Yes | Yes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| composite privacyComposite | $43–$64/ft installed | 25–40 yrs | Low | Full | Medium | High | Yes | Yes |
| post and railWood | $9–$18/ft installed | 20–30 yrs | Low | None | Low | High | No | No |
| wood privacyWood | composite privacyComposite | post and railWood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $15–$53/ft installed | $43–$64/ft installed | $9–$18/ft installed |
| Lifespan | 15–25 yrs | 25–40 yrs | 20–30 yrs |
| Upkeep | High | Low | Low |
| Privacy | Full | Full | None |
| Security | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Wind | Low | High | High |
| Pets | Yes | Yes | No |
| Pool code | Yes | Yes | No |
