Chain Link vs. Wood Fence: Which Is Right for Your Sacramento-Area Property?

Last updated October 2026 · By Dominic Vella, owner of Fantastic Fence (CSLB #979657)

Chain link or wood: what’s the short answer?

Choose chain link when durability, containment, visibility or a long property line matters most. That’s why it shows up so often on foothill acreage in Placer and El Dorado County and along rural lines in Yuba and Yolo County. Choose wood (redwood) when privacy and the look of the yard matter more. That’s the norm on close-built valley lots in Sacramento, Elk Grove, Roseville and Davis.

The price gap is smaller than most people expect. At Fantastic Fence, see-through chain link runs about the same as a standard redwood dog-ear fence (around $40 per linear foot). Add privacy slats and chain link often costs 10–20% more than the most basic redwood fence. It costs a bit more, but its durability makes up for it. So don’t pick on price alone. Pick on what the fence has to do.

One more thing: a material name is not a specification. “Chain link” covers many gauges, coatings and frameworks, and “wood” covers many species, grades and post types. Those details decide your cost, your privacy and how long the fence lasts.

“When a customer can’t decide between chain link and redwood, your Fantastic fence consultant will give you there expert recommendation given what’s right for your property and purpose.”

— Dominic Vella, owner, Fantastic Fence

How do chain link and wood fences compare side by side?

Prices are installed, per linear foot, Sacramento region, updated October 2026. Gates, old-fence removal, slope and access change the total.

What does your fence actually have to do?

Answer these honestly before you compare materials:

• Do you need real privacy, or just containment? That one answer rules out a material for most people.
• Is it mainly for pets? Your dog’s behavior matters more than the material name.
• Are you fencing a long boundary or acreage? Cost per foot adds up fast on a 2-acre Placer County parcel.
• Is it street-facing? Looks carry more weight in a front yard than along a rear property line.

Is chain link cheaper than a wood fence in Sacramento?

Not necessarily, and this is the most common surprise at our estimates. Installed, see-through chain link usually lands right around the price of a standard redwood dog-ear fence. Once you add privacy slats, chain link is often 10–20% more than the most basic redwood fence. You pay a bit more up front, and the durability makes up for it.

“See through chain link is right on par with redwood dog-ear. Sometimes it’s actually a little bit more expensive than the redwood dog-ear, but it lasts practically forever, it seems, unless it’s damaged by something hitting it. It is super, super durable. You definitely get your money’s worth. Best value.”

— Dominic Vella, owner, Fantastic Fence

What moves the final price per foot: height, mesh gauge and coating (galvanized vs black), privacy slats, post size and spacing, wood species and grade, gate count and size, removing the old fence, site access, slope and soil. Foothill clay and rock in Placer and El Dorado County can change post-hole work more than the material does.

Redwood doesn’t have to be stained, since that’s cosmetic. If you want to keep the color, budget about $20 per foot each time. For a ballpark, use our Fence Price Calculator, or dig into what a wood fence costs in 2026 and what 200 feet of chain link costs. For a real number, book a free estimate and you’ll get flat pricing in writing with zero hidden fees.

Which fence gives more privacy, and should you add privacy slats to chain link?

Solid-board wood wins on privacy, and it isn’t close. On tight valley lots in Natomas, Elk Grove and West Sacramento, a redwood good neighbor fence gives both sides a finished face and real privacy.

If you choose chain link and want privacy, slats are the answer. But when you add them matters a lot:

The biggest mistake I see with chain link is skipping the privacy slats to save a little money. The problem shows up later. If the fence was built without slats, the posts often aren’t sized for the extra wind load they add, so putting slats in later can get the fence blown over. My advice: if you think you’ll ever want privacy slats, put them in from the start.

— Dominic Vella, owner, Fantastic Fence

Here’s why. Open chain link mesh lets wind pass straight through. Slats turn the fence into a sail. Valley winter storms and the Delta breeze push hard on a slatted fence, and posts and footings sized for open mesh weren’t built for that load. Plan for slats on day one and the posts get sized for them.

Rule of thumb: If there’s any chance you’ll want privacy on a chain link fence, put the slats in the original quote. It’s far cheaper than re-setting posts later.

Where do homeowners choose chain link vs. wood in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yuba and Yolo County?

“Definitely up in the foothills — Placer, El Dorado, Grass Valley, Penn Valley, Placerville — those kinds of areas, we see a lot more chain link.”

— Dominic Vella, owner, Fantastic Fence

Find your city on our service area page.

Wildfire note for the foothills: galvanized chain link is noncombustible, which is one reason it’s popular in Firewise areas of Placer and El Dorado County. Vinyl privacy slats are not, so if fire safety is your top priority, ask your estimator about slat choices and a metal section where the fence meets the house.

Which needs less maintenance, and which lasts longer?

Chain link is low-upkeep, not maintenance-free. Check posts, fittings, gate alignment and mesh tension once a year, and keep vines off the fabric. When it does get damaged (a car, a fallen limb, a break-in cut), chain link repair is usually a patch, not a replacement.

On wood fences, the boards usually aren’t what fails. The post is. Most of the wood fences we repair or replace across the region are on wood posts that rotted at the base. That’s why most of our customers choose hidden steel posts, which are galvanized steel wrapped in redwood and look like a normal 4×4 for about $7 more per foot. Post depth matters too: see how deep wood fence posts should go and how long a wood fence really lasts.

Sacramento Valley summers routinely top 100°F, and that sun is hard on wood finishes. If you want your redwood to keep its color, plan on periodic staining. If you don’t care about color, redwood weathers to gray and keeps working.

What do customers say about their chain link and wood fences?

“These guys from Estimate to Completion did an outstanding job. They repaired my commercial Slatted Chain link fence in a couple of places where thieves had entered and exited. Superior Fence is fast, reliable, professional…”

— Ray McGiever, Google review

“Team Esteban came on time as promised and finished the chain link fence repair job efficiently and with high quality.”

— Roger Aquino, Google review

Read more on our reviews page.

Should you mix chain link and wood on the same property?

Mixing makes the most sense on larger lots: wood privacy where people gather and where the fence faces the street, chain link along long rear or side boundaries. On most valley lots, though, homeowners prefer one material all the way around.

“Some people do mix materials and put wood up front, chain link in the back, or vice versa. It’s not super, super common, because people like their fences to match all the way around, but it does happen.”

— Dominic Vella, owner, Fantastic Fence

Can you replace chain link with wood using the same posts?

No, we don’t recommend it. Chain link posts are set about 10 feet apart, and a redwood fence needs posts every 8 feet for structural integrity. The spacing doesn’t line up, and solid boards add weight and catch wind that open chain link never did. When you switch from chain link to wood, plan on new posts set for the wood fence.

What permits and fence rules apply in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yuba and Yolo County?

• Building permits: the California Residential Code (R105.2) exempts fences up to 7 feet from a building permit, and most local agencies follow it. Zoning height limits still apply.
• Front-yard heights are set locally. In unincorporated Sacramento County, front yards generally allow 3 ft solid, 4 ft semi-open (chain link included) and up to 7 ft for open ornamental fencing. Each city and county sets its own numbers. Start with our Fence Ordinance Quick Links.
• HOAs can be stricter than the city, for example in El Dorado Hills and Sun City Roseville / Lincoln Hills. We provide drawings and specs; the homeowner submits for HOA approval.
• Pool fences: a regular wood or chain link fence doesn’t automatically qualify. Health & Safety Code §115923 calls for a 60-inch minimum height, no more than 2 inches of bottom clearance and a self-closing, self-latching gate. See pool fencing.
• Wildfire “Zone 0”: in August 2026 the State Board of Forestry adopted emergency rules for the first 5 feet around homes in State Responsibility Areas and local Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Under those rules, new combustible fencing is barred in that zone, and fences attached to the house generally need a 5-foot noncombustible section. Phase-in dates for existing homes vary.

This is general information, not legal advice. Researching and confirming the rules for your property (city or county zoning, HOA approval and your fire-hazard zone) is the property owner’s responsibility. Do it before your fence is built. Bring us the requirements and we’ll build to meet them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to put in a chain link or a wood fence?

In the Sacramento area, see-through chain link costs about the same as a standard redwood dog-ear fence (around $40 per foot). With privacy slats, chain link is often 10–20% more than the most basic redwood fence. It costs a bit more up front, but its durability makes up for it, since it lasts for decades with almost no upkeep.

Can I add privacy slats to my existing chain link fence?

Sometimes. But if the posts were sized for open mesh, slats can add enough wind load to blow the fence over. Have the posts checked first, or better yet, include slats in the original build.

What are the downsides of chain link fences?

Little privacy without slats, a utilitarian look, possible HOA or front-yard limits, mesh that some dogs can climb, and rust where the coating gets damaged.

How much does a 100-foot wood fence cost in Sacramento?

As a ballpark, 100 feet of 6-ft redwood dog-ear runs roughly $4,000 on wood posts or about $4,700 on hidden steel posts, before gates, removal of the old fence or slope work. Try the Fence Price Calculator, then get a free estimate for a flat price.

Does Fantastic Fence install new residential chain link, or only repairs?

Both. We install new chain link fences for homes and acreage across all five counties and handle chain link repairs, including same-day priority for break-in cuts.

Which fence is better in the foothills of Placer and El Dorado County?

Chain link is the more common choice on foothill acreage. It handles slope and rocky ground, lasts for decades and is noncombustible. Wood is still popular near the house where privacy matters.

Does a chain link fence lower property value?

No reliable study says it does. Wood has stronger curb appeal in a front yard, while chain link suits rear boundaries and large lots.

Still deciding? Let’s walk your property

Most people call us undecided, and that’s fine. The right fence usually becomes obvious once someone is standing in your yard. We serve Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yuba and Yolo County from three offices, and financing is available. Compare all our wood fences and chain link fences, or book your free estimate online.

• Rocklin: 916-790-7100 (Placer and the foothills)
• Sacramento: 916-248-5518
• Elk Grove: 916-345-0142