Best Wood for Fencing: Cedar vs Pine vs Redwood

The best wood for fencing is Western red cedar. It resists rot and insects naturally, lasts 20 to 25 years, and costs $27 to $43 per linear foot installed. Pressure-treated pine is the cheapest option at $20 to $30 per linear foot, but it needs more maintenance and only lasts 15 to 20 years. Redwood is the premium choice at $35 to $50 per linear foot installed and lasts 25 to 30 years. Cedar wins the best all-around value. Pine wins on budget. Redwood wins on longevity and appearance. This guide compares all three species on cost, lifespan, appearance, and Akron climate performance.

Cedar vs Pine vs Redwood Comparison

Cedar Fencing

Cedar is the most popular wood fencing species in the United States for good reason. It resists rot and insects naturally, holds stain beautifully, and delivers a warm reddish-brown color that looks great from day one.

Cedar Cost

Cedar costs $15 to $40 per linear foot for materials, according to the Daily Iowan's 2026 pricing guide. Fully installed, a cedar privacy fence runs $27 to $43 per linear foot, according to HomeAdvisor. That places it about 20% to 40% higher than pressure-treated pine but $8 to $15 less per foot than redwood.

Cedar Lifespan

Western red cedar lasts 20 to 25 years with regular staining. Some quality installations push past 25 years with proper maintenance. Eastern white cedar lasts slightly less at 15 to 20 years but costs less to source.

Why Cedar Works So Well

Cedar contains natural oils (thujaplicin) that repel insects and resist fungal rot without chemical treatment. This makes cedar the safest option for gardens, vegetable planters, and areas where kids or pets contact the fence. Cedar also holds stain colors well and ages into a beautiful silver-gray patina if left unstained.

Cedar Downsides

Cedar is softer than pine, so it can dent or scratch more easily. Cedar boards can also cup or twist slightly as they dry out over time. Premium tight-grain Western red cedar handles these issues better than budget-grade cedar with more knots and looser grain.

Pressure-Treated Pine Fencing

Pressure-treated pine is the cheapest full-height wood fence option. It gets its durability from chemical preservatives forced deep into the wood under pressure, not from natural properties like cedar or redwood.

Pine Cost

Pressure-treated pine costs $10 to $15 per linear foot for materials, according to the Daily Iowan. Fully installed, a basic pine privacy fence runs $20 to $30 per linear foot, according to HomeGuide. That makes pine roughly 30% to 40% cheaper than cedar and about half the cost of premium redwood.

Pine Lifespan

Pressure-treated pine lasts 15 to 20 years with regular staining. Untreated pine only lasts 5 to 10 years. Skipping stain cycles cuts treated pine's lifespan noticeably. In Akron's freeze-thaw climate, pine needs more frequent maintenance than cedar to hit the top of its lifespan range.

Why Choose Pine

Pine wins on upfront cost. For a 150-foot backyard fence, pine saves $1,000 to $3,000 over cedar and $2,000 to $4,000 over redwood. For rental properties, temporary fencing needs, or budget-constrained projects, treated pine is a reasonable choice. Pine also takes stain in a wider range of colors than cedar because the wood is lighter in tone.

Pine Downsides

Freshly treated pine can look greenish or yellow-brown and needs 3 to 6 months to weather before it takes stain properly. Chemical treatment chemicals can leach out over time and reduce protection. Pine also warps and twists more than cedar or redwood as it dries. For a fence that lasts and looks great, cedar is worth the extra cost.

Redwood Fencing

Redwood is the premium wood fence choice. It resists rot, insects, and warping naturally like cedar but performs better on all three metrics. Redwood also delivers the richest color and the smoothest grain of any common fence wood.

Redwood Cost

Redwood costs $40 to $75 per linear foot for materials, according to the Daily Iowan. Fully installed, a redwood privacy fence runs $35 to $50 per linear foot for common-grade redwood, according to HomeGuide. Premium grades with tighter grain and fewer knots cost more.

Redwood Lifespan

Redwood can last 25 to 30 years or longer with proper maintenance. Some redwood fences in dry climates push past 40 years. In Ohio's wetter climate, expect 25 to 30 years with regular staining.

Why Choose Redwood

Redwood is the top choice for homeowners who want the best-looking, longest-lasting wood fence available. The rich reddish tones look premium from day one and age beautifully. Redwood also handles moisture better than any other common fence wood, which matters in Akron's humid summers and wet springs.

Redwood Downsides

Redwood is grown primarily in the Pacific Northwest, so it costs more to ship to Ohio. Availability can be limited depending on the season and supplier. For Akron homeowners, redwood is usually a special-order material rather than something available off the shelf. The higher cost also puts redwood beyond many budgets.

Does the Type of Wood Really Matter for Cost?

Here is something most cost guides miss. According to Ergeon's 2026 data from over 32,000 real installs, the installed cost per foot is remarkably similar across species. Pressure-treated pine runs about $49 per foot installed. Cedar runs about $52 per foot installed. Redwood runs about $54 per foot installed. That is only a $5 per foot spread.

Why? Lumber makes up only about one-third of the total installed cost. Labor, posts, concrete footings, hardware, and project overhead stay roughly the same no matter which wood you pick. The lumber premium gets diluted by everything else. This means upgrading from pine to cedar costs less than most people expect, and the cedar's longer lifespan more than pays back the difference.

Which Wood Should You Choose

Choose Cedar If...

• You want the best balance of cost, looks, and lifespan
• You plan to stay in the home for 10 or more years
• You want natural rot and insect resistance
• You have kids, pets, or a garden near the fence
• You want the fence to look great from day one

Choose Pressure-Treated Pine If...

• You want the lowest upfront cost
• The fence is temporary or for a rental property
• You plan to stain regularly to protect the wood
• You want maximum stain color flexibility
• You are on a tight budget for a large yard

Choose Redwood If...

• You want the longest-lasting wood fence available
• Budget is not a constraint
• You want the richest natural color
• Your fence is a major architectural feature
• You are willing to wait for special-order delivery

Other Wood Options to Consider

Cypress

Cypress is a rot-resistant softwood grown in the southeastern US. It costs slightly less than cedar and lasts 20 to 25 years. Availability in Ohio is limited but growing. If you can source it locally, cypress is a strong alternative to cedar at a similar price point.

Ipe (Brazilian Walnut)

Ipe is an ultra-dense tropical hardwood that lasts 40 to 75 years with almost no maintenance. It costs $50 to $100-plus per linear foot installed, making it the most expensive wood fence option available. Ipe is stunning but overkill for most residential fences.

Spruce

Spruce is a cheap softwood used mostly in pre-built fence panels. It lasts only 5 to 10 years even with treatment and staining. Skip spruce unless the fence is truly temporary.

The Best Wood for Akron Fences

For most Akron homeowners, Western red cedar is the top pick. It handles Ohio's freeze-thaw winters well because of natural moisture resistance, holds stain colors through wet springs and hot summers, and lasts 20 to 25 years with reasonable maintenance. Cedar also fits nearly every Akron neighborhood style, from historic Highland Square to modern subdivisions in Copley or Fairlawn.

Pressure-treated pine works for budget builds but demands strict adherence to the stain schedule. Redwood is worth the premium for high-end properties in Hudson, Bath Township, or Silver Lake where the appearance matters as much as function.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Wood Lasts the Longest for Outdoor Fencing?

Redwood lasts the longest of common fence woods at 25 to 30 years with maintenance. Some redwood installs push past 40 years in dry climates. Ipe hardwood lasts 40 to 75 years but costs 3 to 5 times more than redwood.

Is Cedar or Pine Better for Fencing?

Cedar is better than pine for most fencing projects. Cedar resists rot and insects naturally, holds stain better, and lasts 5 to 10 years longer than pressure-treated pine. Pine is only better on upfront cost.

Does Cedar Fence Need to Be Stained?

Cedar fences do not have to be stained but perform much better when they are. Left untreated, cedar turns silver-gray within 6 to 12 months. Stained cedar lasts longer, holds color, and resists moisture better. Plan to stain cedar every three to five years for best results.

Is Redwood Worth the Extra Cost?

Redwood is worth it if you value long lifespan, premium appearance, and low warping. For homeowners planning to stay in the home for 15-plus years or building a fence as a major architectural feature, redwood pays back through longevity and looks. For short-term projects or tight budgets, cedar delivers 80% of redwood's benefits at a lower price.

Can You Use Untreated Wood for a Fence?

Untreated wood works only for cedar or redwood, which have natural rot and insect resistance. Untreated pine, spruce, or fir fail within 5 to 10 years and should never be used for outdoor fencing. Even cedar and redwood benefit from occasional staining or sealing for maximum lifespan.

What Wood Is Best for a Painted Fence?

Pressure-treated pine takes paint best because the light wood color lets any paint show through cleanly. Cedar can be painted but often looks better stained to show the natural grain. Redwood is almost always stained or left natural, not painted, because painting hides the wood's beauty.

The Takeaway

Cedar is the best all-around wood for fencing in Akron. It delivers the right balance of cost, appearance, natural rot and insect resistance, and lifespan. Pressure-treated pine wins on upfront cost but demands consistent maintenance. Redwood is the premium pick for high-end projects and long-term ownership.

Whatever species you choose, staining on schedule and using proper hardware make the biggest difference in how long the fence lasts. A cedar fence installed poorly fails faster than a pine fence installed right.

We help homeowners across Akron, Ohio pick the right materials and the right build for local conditions, and it makes a real difference in how the fence performs over the years.

Stand Strong Fencing is here to help you find the right fence, the right style, and the right price for your property.

Call us at (330) 899-3278 to schedule your free estimate.