Fence Material Comparisons

Wood vs. vinyl vs. chain-link vs. aluminum vs. composite — cost, lifespan, and upkeep trade-offs. Below are the Ballpark Lab guides in this topic — each one pairs plain-English answers with the calculator that gives you the number.

Material comparisons

Wood vs. Vinyl Fence: Cost, Lifespan & Maintenance

Wood costs less upfront ($33/lf vs. $40/lf for a 6-ft fence) but vinyl usually wins over 15 years once staining and repairs are counted. Here's the math.

Updated July 6, 2026