Split Rail Fence Styles and Rail Counts
Split rail is two to four rows of rough-cut horizontal rails between posts, with no pickets. It marks a line and frames a yard without blocking the view, which is why it shows up along front lawns and wooded lots. It doesn't give privacy or stop a small dog on its own.
Two-Rail Split Rail
Two rails is the cheapest and lowest version, about $15 to $20 per foot installed. It suits a front yard border, a corner planting or a driveway edge where the job is to show the line and keep cars off the grass.
Three-Rail Split Rail
A third rail adds height and a more finished look for about $20 to $25 per foot. Guides put fences meant to hold livestock at 4 to 5 feet, so a three- or four-rail run is the usual pick for a long boundary on a bigger lot. For a true horse or cattle line, see Horse Fencing or Farm and Ranch Fencing.
Split Rail with Wire Mesh
Welded wire fastened to the inside of the rails turns split rail into a pet fence while keeping the open look. Guides price pine split rail with mesh at $35 to $40 per foot and say a fence for a small pet is usually about 3 feet tall. A dog that digs needs more than this; see Dog Fences.
Vinyl Split Rail
Vinyl split rail costs about the same as wood, $15 to $30 per foot, and doesn't rot or need stain. Guides point out it holds up to humid weather and pests, which counts for something here. It also comes in more than one color.
Split Rail Gates
Gates come in matching rail styles: a single walk gate for a path or a double gate wide enough for a mower or trailer. Gate posts carry the swinging weight, so ask whether they will be set in concrete even if the line posts are not. A gate in mesh-lined fence needs mesh too, or the dog will find it.
Why Tallahassee homeowners call Tallahassee Expert Fencing
- The call and the form are free
- Your request goes to one contractor, not a list of bidders
- Ask for posts, gates, removal and cleanup priced line by line
- Hold the final payment until the gates swing and latch
Split Rail Fence Cost by Material
National installed ranges per linear foot from HomeGuide's split rail guide. Labor is about $5 to $15 of each foot.
| Material | Installed per linear foot | Typical life |
|---|---|---|
| Pine | $15-$25 | 10-15 years |
| Cedar | $25-$35 | 20-25 years |
| Vinyl | $15-$30 | |
| Composite | $20-$35 | |
| Aluminum | $20-$40 | |
| Steel | $25-$45 |
Pine is the cheapest wood but needs stain or paint to last; see Fence Staining and Sealing.
Post Setting in Wet Ground
Split rail posts can be set two ways, and the quote should say which. In well-drained soil, guides say posts hold fine in tamped dirt over gravel, which is cheaper. In wet ground, or where a strong storm could tip the line, they recommend concrete. Low spots that hold water after a summer rain are the places to ask about.
Wood posts
Ask for ground-contact treatment; why it matters is covered on Wood Privacy Fences.Wind
Guides list split rail as a weak choice for high-wind storms. What storms do to fences is on Storm Damage Fence Repair.Digging
Call for a utility locate before any post hole (see Chain Link Fences).Replacing an old run
Tear-out and haul-away are priced on Fence Removal and Replacement.