Wood costs less up front, $20 to $50 per foot installed against $30 to $60 for vinyl. Vinyl asks for almost no care afterward. Add years of sealing and post repairs to the wood price and the gap narrows.
Price ranges are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026, not our own quotes. Labor, material prices in Montana and the ground in your yard move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
| Wood | Vinyl | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost per foot | $20 to $50 | $30 to $60 |
| Upkeep | Seal or stain every few years; strong sun dries it out | Rinse off dust |
| Weak point | Posts rot at the soil line | Can crack from hail or a hit in deep cold |
| Repairs | One board at a time | Usually a whole panel |
| In wind | Stiff if posts are heavy and deep | Needs reinforced rails and deep posts |
| Look | Natural, any stain color | Even, a short list of colors |
Cedar or pressure-treated pine?
Cedar for the boards, treated pine for the posts, is a common and sensible mix. Cedar resists rot and stays flatter as it dries, which matters in low humidity. Treated pine is cheaper and handles ground contact. All-pine fences cost least but warp and check more in the Montana sun.
Which fence lasts longest through freeze and thaw?
The one with the deepest, best-drained posts. Aluminum, steel and vinyl do not rot, so they have the edge above ground. Below ground every material depends on the same thing: a post set under the frost line in a footing that frozen clay cannot grip and lift.
What type of fence is best for my yard?
| You want | Good choices | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | 6-foot cedar or vinyl | Solid panels catch wind; posts must be heavy |
| A large dog | 5 or 6 foot wood, vinyl or chain link | Close the bottom gap |
| Small children | Any solid fence with a self-latching gate | Latch out of reach |
| A pool | Aluminum or vinyl that meets the barrier rules | Gate hardware is inspected |
| Lowest cost | Chain link | Slats add privacy and wind load |
| A windy, open lot | Aluminum, chain link or shadowbox wood | Open styles let gusts through |
| Horses or acreage | Rail, pipe or woven wire | Different from a yard fence; ask us |
Is aluminum fencing strong enough for a large dog?
Yes for most dogs. Height and picket spacing matter more than strength. A jumper needs a taller grade, and a small or narrow dog needs tighter spacing near the ground.
We have a large dog, want privacy and do not want to spend a fortune. What makes sense?
Build a 6-foot treated pine or cedar privacy fence only on the sides where people can see in, and run chain link on the rest. That gives the dog a secure yard and puts the lumber where it earns its cost. On a large Billings lot the savings add up fast.
My neighbor has wood and wants me to match it so we can split the cost. I want vinyl.
A shared line gets one fence, so the two of you have to pick one material for that stretch and write the split down. Your other sides can be vinyl. If you cannot agree, you can put your own fence just inside your line and pay for it yourself.
Will the new fence look the same on my neighbor's side?
With shadowbox wood, most vinyl and chain link, yes. A standard picket or dog-ear privacy fence has a face side and a rail side. The usual courtesy, and often the covenant rule, is that the face side looks outward.
A free visit to your property is how you get a real number. Call (406) 303-4455 or text us a photo of the fence line.