This shadow box fence guide allows you to compare your shadow box fence cost, options for style, features and price with all the popular types we’ve covered in our guides.
| Shadow Box Fence Cost for a 164 Linear Foot Project | |
| Low Cost | $1313 – $3116 |
| Medium Cost | $3116 – $4756 |
| High Cost | $4756 – $6232 |
| Average Cost | $2000 – $4000 |
Compare Shadow Box Fence Costs with Other Fence Types
Shadowbox fences offers aesthetics that are more interesting than standard privacy fences though without providing quite the same level of seclusion from the world beyond. They’re available in a variety of materials in a range of styles and prices.
You’ve got a selection of material options to meet your budget or give you the look you want. They range from affordable wood that requires moderate maintenance to low-maintenance vinyl shadow box fencing that costs a bit more. A nice selection of styles is available too.
Jump: Shadow Box Fence Cost | Details & Style | Maintenance & Upkeep | Ideas
How Much Does a Shadow Box Fence Cost?
This fencing ranges from affordable to moderate in cost based mostly on the material. Here are shadow box fence costs per linear foot for the most common grades of fencing:
- Pressure treated pine and basic cedar shadow box fence price: $6-$11
- Quality cedar shadow box fence: $15-$24
- Vinyl shadowbox fence: $22-$32
When you receive fence estimates, they should be broken down into costs for material, supplies and installation. This will let you know what you can save by installing the fence yourself. Here are approximate estimates for what you can expect. We use a standard 164’ installation in all our guides for easy comparison of prices.
Table 1: Comparison of Shadow Box Fence Costs
| Fence Type | Cost Of Materials | Installation Cost | Total Project Cost | Cost Per Linear Foot |
| Basic Shadow box Fence | $984-$1804 | $328-$648 | $1312-$2452 | $8.00-$14.85 |
| Quality Cedar Shadow box Fence | $2460-$3936 | $615-$820 | $3075-$3756 | $18.75-$22.90 |
| Vinyl Shadow box Fence | $3608-$5248 | $768-$984 | $4376-$6232 | $26.70-$38.20 |
Table 2: A Price Comparison of Shadow Box Fence Costs from Around the Web
| Company | Cost Per Linear Foot | Total Project Cost |
| Improvenet | $8 – $12 | $1313 – $1968 |
| Fence Guides | $8 – $38 | $1312 – $6232 |
| Remodeling Expense | $14 – $19 | $2296 – $6232 |
| Homewyse | $15 – $29 | $2406 – $4756 |
| Home Fence Solutions | $19 – $23 | $3116 – $3772 |
| Note: Our pricing data are carefully calculated from industry averages as well as submissions from our own readers. This allows us to provide you with the best idea of the likely cost for your fence project. The above data is costed on an average of 164 linear foot. If you have a price we’re missing from our price comparison then please submit it on our price submission page for display above. | ||
Factors Affecting the Cost of Shadow Box Fence
Shadow box fence is a popular type of fence due to it’s attractive appearance, and is most often chosen in wood (other types of wood fence are covered in our wood fence cost guide). It carried style as well as being purposeful in it’s design and function. However, when you’re considering buying a shadow box fence then there are a few things you need to think about which may affect the cost to install a shadow box fence.
- Length of the Fence – Fence projects are priced per linear foot, so the larger the perimiter, expect to pay more due to the larger amount of materials required and more labor involved.
- Height of the Fence – The standard shadow box fence comes in 4 f.t. panels which is what you’ll usually be quoted for, however larger panels are available in 5 and 6 f.t. heights. Due to their larger construction these will obviously cost more, usually by a third.
- Shapes & Styles – Shadow box fences come in a few different shapes, some with flat tops and some with curved and more ornate tops. Styles vary to match the type of homes across the U.S such as contemporary, colonial, rach, victorian, cape-cod style etc. More ornate and attractive panels will cost more.
- Fence Material – These fence types usually come in wood and vinyl, whilst vinyl is often more costly than wood shadow box, there are different grades of wood which will affect the price. Expect to pay an additional $8-$14 per linear foot for vinyl in comparison to quality wood fencing.
- Lattice Tops – Lattice tops can be added to shadow box fencing to provide a little extra height to the fence without having to spend more on a higher fence, such as a 5 or 6 f.t. fence. The cost of lattice fence will vary, with lattice tops adding an extra $2.00-$4.25 per linear foot for cheap wood lattic fence and $8-$20 for quality wood lattice fence.
- Landscape – The general landscape of your yard, field or garden will affect the labor cost. If there are many hills, scopes, ditches or tress, then clearing of these areas and making them suitable for fence installation will be more labor intensive.
Considerations for this Fence Installation
Installation requires sinking 4”x4” pressure treated or cedar posts into the ground anchored with concrete for strength. This is done even with vinyl. The vinyl posts fit over wood or steel posts and remain flush with the ground. A manual or powered post hole digger is an essential tool. If you have clay in your soil, the ground can be very hard during months with little rain, so you may want to plan installation for wetter months, typically spring or fall.
Where the terrain is slightly rolling, a stick-built fence will allow you to maintain a uniform, level top even as the ground dips and rises slightly. This is not possible when installing pre-made fence panels or when there is significant change in elevation. Onsite, stick-build fences cost more, but they can be tailored to your exact requirements.
If you’ve had experience with fence installation or are comfortable using a level and doing the hard dirt work required, then installing your own fence can be a money-saving option.
Bare cedar should be stained within a month of installation unless you plan to allow it to weather naturally which will reduce its lifespan. Pressure treated wood should be given 4-6 weeks to completely dry from the process of forcing preservative into it before staining or painting. Wait until the forecast for the next several days is dry before staining or painting your shadowbox fence.
Shadow Box Fence Style, Details and Usage
Both wood and vinyl shadowbox fencing is produced in various styles. They include:
- Straight or dog-eared planks
- Straight top
- Straight top framed with a top fascia board
- Cut arch top (slight rise and fall)
- Rolling arch top (more pronounced rise and fall)
- Scallop top (slight fall and rise/reverse cut-arch)
Most styles feature matching gates. Accessories include decorative post tops, gate hardware and attractive top rails.
The most common fence heights are 6’ and 8’, though any height can be custom made. Panels are typically 6’ to 8’ wide when used in place of a stick-built fence where every plank is installed individually on site.
Wood fencing is usually unfinished, but prefinished cedar is available from some suppliers. Choosing prefinished fencing costs more upfront, but since the stain is applied at the factory before panels are assembled or the fence is stick-built, the stain goes on more uniformly in much less time and with fewer runs. You might save time and money in the long-run with prefinished wood.
Shadowbox fences offer semi-privacy. You can get a limited view through the fencing at an angle but not when looking straight at it. The space also allows wind to pass through, so shadowbox fences are less susceptible to wind damage then full-privacy fences.
Most commonly, a shadowbox fence is used to enclose an entire back yard, but they’re sometimes used for smaller areas such as around a pool, garden, patio or play area within a larger space.
Children and large dogs can be easily kept within an area enclosed with a shadowbox fence. Small dogs, cats and critters like squirrels or raccoons may be able to get through the spaces between fence slats, so other fence types may need to be considered and with pets an wireless invisible fence can definitely be considered as a much cheaper alternative.
Maintenance and Upkeep of Shadow Box Fences
Vinyl fencing is quite easy to maintain. Wash it as needed using a mild, neutral detergent and soft brush. Use the garden hose to rinse it. If your water has iron, and the sprinkler leaves rust spots, they should be promptly removed with a gentle cleaner.
Wood fences require moderate maintenance for the best long-term durability. Remove dirt, bird droppings and other debris first. Use mild detergent and a soft brush to wash the fence. A hose or a power sprayer on 1300psi or lower pressure can be used to rinse it. Use a stain with a sealer. The inclusion of UV inhibitors and algaecide can help maintain the looks of your fence too. Spraying on the stain or paint offers better coverage and saves time versus applying it with a brush.
Check for loose fence parts on a yearly basis and make repairs for safety and aesthetic purposes.
Shadow Box Fence Ideas on Our Pinterest Page
