Comparison Guide · Updated 2026
Wood fence vs. vinyl fence.
Honest head-to-head from a working install crew — cost, lifespan, maintenance, resale value, and which one actually makes sense for your situation. No upselling.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Wood (cedar) | Vinyl (heavy-wall) |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost (6 ft, installed) | $42 – $65 / lf | $55 – $85 / lf |
| Expected lifespan | 15 – 20 years (cedar) | 30 – 40+ years |
| Maintenance (over 15 yrs) | Stain every 2–3 yrs · ~$1,800–$3,000 in product/labor | Hose off occasionally · ≈ $0 |
| 20-year total cost of ownership | $8,400 – $13,000 (180 ft) | $9,900 – $15,300 (180 ft) |
| Wind resistance (90+ mph) | Excellent (panels can be replaced) | Good (heavy-wall) · poor (big-box) |
| Curb appeal / look | Warm, traditional, ages to silver-grey | Clean, uniform, never fades |
| Color options | Stain to any color | White, tan, khaki, grey, wood-grain |
| Resale ROI | ≈ 50% recovered at sale | ≈ 65% recovered at sale |
| Eco / recyclable | Biodegradable | PVC — recyclable, not biodegradable |
| DIY friendly | Yes (most accessible) | Harder — post placement is unforgiving |
Bold = winner for that row. "Tie" rows are highlighted in neither color.
Which one is right for you?
Pick wood if…
- You want the lowest upfront cost
- You like the warm, natural look (or plan to stain a custom color)
- Your HOA requires wood
- You're handy and might DIY
- You're planning to sell within 5–8 years (recover most before maintenance hits)
Pick vinyl if…
- You want zero maintenance for 30+ years
- You're staying in the house long-term
- You hate staining or have a busy schedule
- You want a lifetime material warranty
- Your yard has full sun (vinyl won't grey or warp)
The honest bottom line
Short-term in the house (≤ 5 years): Go cedar. You'll spend $2,300 less upfront on a 180 ft yard and won't be around for the staining-cycle expenses.
Long-term in the house (10+ years): Go vinyl. You skip 4–6 staining cycles, never re-build, and recover more at resale.
Tight budget, no flexibility: Cedar wins on raw price.
Hate maintenance more than spending money: Vinyl, every time.
Either way: do not buy big-box vinyl (0.080–0.100" wall) or pressure-treated pine. Both fail in 5–8 years and waste the install cost.
Installing in Kansas City?
We install both — cedar wood and heavy-wall vinyl — across the KC metro. Free on-site quotes with both options priced out.
Frequently asked questions
- Upfront, wood is cheaper — cedar 6 ft privacy runs $42–$65 per linear foot installed in 2026 vs $55–$85 for heavy-wall vinyl. Over 20 years, the gap closes because cedar needs staining every 2–3 years ($1,800–$3,000 in product and labor) and full replacement around year 15–20. Total 20-year cost ends up nearly identical for an average backyard.Link to this answer
- Yes, slightly. Real estate data shows vinyl fences recover roughly 65% of their cost at resale vs ~50% for wood, mostly because buyers see the lifetime warranty and zero-maintenance profile as a long-term savings. That said, in neighborhoods where every yard has cedar, a non-matching vinyl fence can actually hurt curb appeal — match what's around you.Link to this answer
- A properly stained cedar fence lasts 15–20 years before posts rot at the ground line. Heavy-wall vinyl with steel-reinforced bottom rails lasts 30–40+ years and carries a lifetime material warranty. The lifespan difference is the single biggest factor in long-term cost comparisons.Link to this answer
- Wood handles sustained high winds slightly better because individual cedar pickets can flex and broken pickets are cheap to swap. Heavy-wall vinyl is rated to 90–110 mph in most regions, but cheap big-box vinyl (0.080–0.100" wall) can crack in cold winds. For tornado-prone areas, ask your installer for the wind rating on the spec sheet.Link to this answer
- If you're staying in the house 10+ years, yes — you skip 4–6 staining cycles and never re-build. If you're selling within 5 years, wood is the better dollar move because you don't recover the vinyl premium fast enough. The break-even point is roughly year 8–10.Link to this answer
- Technically yes (with specialty PVC primer + acrylic latex), but you void the manufacturer warranty and have to repaint every 5–7 years — defeating the whole purpose of vinyl. If you want a specific color, buy vinyl in that color from the factory (tan, khaki, grey, wood-grain) instead of painting white.Link to this answer
- Cedar is biodegradable and grown from renewable forests, so it has the lower end-of-life impact. Vinyl is PVC — technically recyclable but rarely actually recycled, and manufacturing is more energy-intensive. Offsetting this, vinyl lasts 2x longer, so the per-year footprint is closer than people assume.Link to this answer
- Many HOAs in KC and the suburbs specifically require wood (often cedar, often stained a specific color). Some newer subdivisions require vinyl. Always pull the HOA covenants before signing a contract — installing the wrong material means tearing it out at your own expense.Link to this answer
Want both options priced for your yard?
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