Wood Fencing

Report Overview

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This study analyzes US demand for wood fencing by market. Fencing demand is provided in value terms (current US dollars) and in linear feet for the following market segments:

• residential buildings (single-family, multifamily, and manufactured housing)
• commercial buildings:
  • office, trade, and lodging
  • institutional
  • industrial
  • other commercial buildings (e.g., transportation, government buildings)
• nonbuilding, consisting primarily of power generation and transportation infrastructure, as well as parks and playgrounds
• agricultural

Scope and Summary

Demand is segmented by new and improvement and repair (I&R) for each market.

Also included are:

• pricing per linear foot at the manufacturers’ level
• installation cost estimates
• value data for demand by type (privacy, picket, post and rail, and split rail and other) and construction method (prefabricated panels and on-site assembly)

Historical data for 2009, 2014, and 2019 and forecasts for 2024 and 2029 are presented in dollars and linear feet.

For purposes of this study, fencing demand in linear feet is a measure of the horizontal length of fencing, not the length of the material used in its construction.

US demand for wood fencing is projected to grow 2.7% annually through 2024 to $2.4 billion. In volume terms, demand is forecast to rise slightly to 319.3 million linear feet. Although wood fencing sales are expected to fall in 2020 due to the drop in construction activity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, demand will turn upward again in subsequent years as economic and market conditions improve.

However, the use of wood fencing in nonresidential markets – where security and durability are more important than aesthetics and cost – is expected to remain limited, preventing wood from posting larger sales increases as business activity climbs.

The Residential Market Will Drive Wood Fencing Market Advances

The residential market will account for most wood fencing demand gains through 2024, fueled by both the addition of new fences and the need to repair existing ones. The majority of existing home fencing is wood – among the least durable of materials used – and the upkeep and repair necessary on these fences will support sales increases.

Additionally, rising homeowner interest in outdoor living will boost demand for fencing that is more aesthetically pleasing and that provides more privacy than traditional products, contributing to overall value growth.

Wood Fencing Will Remain Widely Used Despite Increasing Competition from Plastic & Metal

Wood will continue to be the second most popular fencing material behind metal because of its aesthetics and lower material and installation costs compared to competitive materials. However, the greater durability and minimal maintenance requirements of plastic fencing, which can closely mimic the appearance of wood, will restrict overall wood fencing demand growth. Competition from long-lasting ornamental metal products will also have a dampening effect on increases in wood picket fence sales.

Prefabricated Wood Fencing Will Climb Faster Than Fences Assembled On-Site

Prefabricated wood fencing will record faster market advances through 2024 than individual components assembled on-site:

• Using prefabricated panels helps reduce time and labor costs during fence construction.
• Shortages of trained installers will also encourage fencing contractors to use prefabricated panels that can be more easily installed by workers with less training.

As a result, demand for individual wood fencing components assembled on-site will largely be limited to:

• smaller jobs where the benefits of using prefabricated panels are not as pronounced as in larger installations
• fencing projects requiring more customized designs