HORIZONTAL FENCE STYLES
A horizontal wood fence is a popular choice in Austin, TX if you’re after that clean, modern look that still feels warm and inviting. Instead of upright boards, the pickets run longways, creating smooth, linear lines that pair well with contemporary homes and updated outdoor spaces. You can keep the boards tight for full privacy or open the spacing a bit for a lighter, more architectural feel.
There are several go-to horizontal styles, each with its own personality and upgrade options, like cap and trim details, different board sizes, framed sections, and more. To make things easy, we’ve pulled together some common styles along with some ways to elevate them. Choose the one you like best to jump straight to that section.
Horizontal privacy fence
Horizontal board-on-board
Horizontal semi-privacy
Horizontal shadow box
Horizontal with semi-privacy top
horizontal fence gallery
With Paragon Fence and Outdoor, you’re in great hands. Our horizontal fence gallery features real projects (no AI images here) personally managed by Paragon’s owner — including pre-Paragon projects.
horizontal privacy fence
A horizontal privacy fence delivers a clean, modern look with full coverage and long, smooth lines.
A 2×6 cedar cap sharpens the top edge, while steel-framed sections keep everything straighter over time. For the most refined finish, pairing a 2×6 cap and trim with steel framing blends warm cedar with added strength.
Renderings below show how each upgrade changes the look.
Essential materials: Includes 5/8”×6" Japanese cedar pickets, treated pine posts, and basic hardware
Our standard: Includes 5/8”×6" Western Red Cedar pickets, steel posts, and high-quality hardware
Premium materials: Thicker, 3/4”×6” Western Red Cedar pickets, steel posts, premium hardware
Upgrade option: Standard horizontal fence framed with black or galvanized 3" steel posts
Upgrade option: Includes a 2x6 cedar cap along the top and framed with cedar trim on both sides
Upgrade option: Includes a 2x6 cedar cap and framed with black or galvanized 3" steel posts
horizontal semi-privacy
A horizontal semi-privacy fence defines the yard without shutting it in, letting more light through while keeping that sleek, linear look.
A 2×6 cedar cap adds a clean finish, steel-framed sections with a cedar cap boost long-term stability, and 3” or 4” pickets let you fine-tune how open the fence feels.
Renderings below help show the spacing and upgrades.
Essential materials: Includes 5/8”×6" Japanese cedar pickets, treated pine posts, and basic hardware
Our standard: Includes 5/8”×6" Western Red Cedar pickets, steel posts, and high-quality hardware
Premium materials: Thicker, 3/4”×6” Western Red Cedar pickets, steel posts, premium hardware
Upgrade option: Standard semi-privacy horizontal fence framed with black or galvanized 3" steel posts
Upgrade option: Includes a 2x6 cedar cap along the top and framed with cedar trim on both sides
Upgrade option: Includes a 2x6 cedar cap and framed with black or galvanized 3" steel posts
horizontal board-on-board
A horizontal board-on-board fence gives you total privacy with a layered look that feels more contemporary than a standard vertical build.
A 2×6 cedar cap adds a bold, finished top line, and steel-framed sections with a cedar cap bring extra rigidity while keeping the face fully cedar.
You’ll see the variations in the renderings below.
Essential materials: Includes 5/8”×6" Japanese cedar pickets, treated pine posts, and basic hardware
Our standard: Includes 5/8”×6" Western Red Cedar pickets, steel posts, and high-quality hardware
Premium materials: Thicker, 3/4”×6” Western Red Cedar pickets, steel posts, premium hardware
Upgrade option: Standard board-on-board horizontal fence framed with black or galvanized 3" steel posts
Upgrade option: Includes a 2x6 cedar cap along the top and framed with cedar trim on both sides
Upgrade option: Includes a 2x6 cedar cap and framed with black or galvanized 3" steel posts
horizontal shadow box
A horizontal shadow box fence offers privacy with a lighter feel — staggered boards create depth and allow airflow without fully opening the fence up.
A 2×6 cedar cap cleans up the top and ties the whole design together.
Check out the rendering below to see the layout.
Essential materials: Includes 5/8”×6" Japanese cedar pickets, treated pine posts, and basic hardware
Our standard: Includes 5/8”×6" Western Red Cedar pickets, steel posts, and high-quality hardware
Premium materials: Thicker, 3/4”×6” Western Red Cedar pickets, steel posts, premium hardware
Upgrade option: Includes a 2x6 cedar cap along the top and framed with cedar trim on both sides
Upgrade option: Includes a 2x6 cedar cap and framed with black or galvanized 3" steel posts
horizontal semi-privacy top
A horizontal fence with a semi-privacy top blends solid privacy on the lower half with a lighter, semi-open top section for a modern look that isn’t too heavy.
A 2×6 cedar cap finishes the top line and brings the whole design together.
A rendering is included below so you can picture the proportions.
Upgrade option: Includes a 2x6 cedar cap along the top and framed with cedar trim on both sides
How much does a horizontal wood fence cost?
Horizontal fencing has its own pricing rhythm. The boards are typically wider, the layouts can be more design-driven, and the framing varies a bit from a standard vertical build. Just like any fence, though, your final cost comes down to three things: the total footage, the materials you choose, and the style you have your eye on.
To give you a ballpark, here’s what most homeowners can expect. These ranges are based on a minimum of 200 feet of 6’ high horizontal fencing and don’t include fence removal, upgraded style options, or gates. While we can use essential materials, like treated pine posts and Japanese cedar pickets to help keep costs down, it’s not something we often recommend for horizontal fences. This style really benefits from higher-grade lumber for both appearance and longevity, and many Austin-area HOAs also require it.
If you want help comparing styles or dialing in what fits your space and budget, we’re happy to walk through it with you.
Essential materials
$30-42
per ft.
4×4 treated pine posts
2×4 treated pine rails
5/8”×6 Japanese cedar pickets
Exterior-grade screws
Stainless steel nails
Our standard
$43-56
per ft.
Galvanized steel posts
2×4 treated pine rails
5/8”×6” Western Red Cedar pickets
Exterior-grade screws
Stainless steel nails
Premium materials
$51-67
per ft.
Galvanized steel posts
2×4 treated pine rails
3/4”×6” Western Red Cedar pickets
Exterior-grade screws
Stainless steel nails