Cedar vs. Pine Fences: Pros, Cons, and Costs

Pressure-treated pine is one of the most popular materials for wood fencing due to its affordability and availability, but it doesn’t quite match up to some other wood types in terms of visual appeal. Cedar offers natural beauty, eco-friendliness, and impressive durability due to its humidity-resistant oils, but it also comes with a steep price tag. Cedar is also considered environmentally friendly, as it doesn’t require chemical treatments.

If you’re ready to build a fence on your property, deciding between a cedar vs. pine fence can be a bit tricky. We’ll help you pick sides in this epic pine vs. cedar fence match-up so you can make the best decision for your project. 

Cedar vs. Pine Fences: Key Differences

The key differences between cedar and pine are their prices, durability, and longevity. There are also noticeable differences in their appearance. Cedar is more expensive than pine, but is more durable and lasts longer. Pine is less expensive but more prone to damage and decay. Cedar has a red look, whereas pine has a pale yellow color.

What Is Cedar Wood?

Cedar’s natural resistance to decay and pests, as well as its rich red look, make it an ideal material for fencing and, for many, worth the comparably higher cost that comes with it.

Best for: 

• Big-budget projects

• A rich, sophisticated look

• Regions with wet weather 

Pros of Cedar Fences

Cedar is one of the best woods for fences because it naturally resists damage from moisture and insects, and also resists shrinking, twisting, and warping in the face of changing temperatures and humidity. Cedar requires less maintenance than other wood fencing materials. Cedar has an attractive rich brownish-red appearance with a tight grain pattern and few knots—so it’s beautiful, too. To top it off, cedar is also a sustainable natural resource. 

Cons of Cedar Fences

One of the biggest drawbacks of cedar fences is their price. Cedar costs up to $5 more per linear foot than pine fencing. It also requires sealing every few years to prevent it from turning a gray color. Although it’s tough in wet weather, it does tend to rot when embedded in soil. If you do need to replace sections of your cedar fence, it’ll be hard to find the material in your local home improvement stores.

What Is Pine Wood?

Pressure-treated pine is a popular material for fencing because it’s much more wallet-friendly than other options and lasts for up to 15 years. 

Best for: 

• Budget-friendly projects

• Properties with wet soil

• Homeowners who can take on more frequent maintenance

Pros of Pine Fences

The biggest pro of a pine fence is that it’s an inexpensive fence material, at $1 to $5 per linear foot. Unlike cedar, pine stands up well—literally—when embedded in soil. If you need to replace any areas of the fence, you’ll likely have no problem tracking down the material in your local home improvement store. 

Cons of Pine Fences

Some drawbacks to consider about pine fences are that they don’t last as long as other fencing materials, and their pale yellow color isn’t as conventionally beautiful. Pine fences will twist, warp, and shrink in changing humidity and temperatures, requiring frequent maintenance to prevent rot.

Pine vs. Cedar Fences: Every Aspect Compared

While both cedar and pressure-treated pine will add security and value to your property, they vary in durability, price, and appearance. Let’s break down these important differences so you can choose the best option for your home and your wallet. 

Appearance​: Cedar

With its deep, dark red color, tight wood grain, and smaller knots, many feel a cedar fence has much more curb appeal than a standard pressure-treated pine fence from the moment you install it. There’s usually no need to apply stain or paint to improve the appearance of a cedar fence (though you’ll need to seal it periodically to keep it from graying).

A new pressure-treated pine fence is pale yellow and has a visible greenish tint to it that isn’t everyone’s favorite look. While pine fencing will take on a more natural, weathered look as it ages, some feel that it’s still not as pleasant to the eye as cedar fencing. 

Cost​: Pine

The cost to install a wood fence ranges considerably depending on whether you choose pine or cedar. You can expect to pay between $6 and $8 per linear foot for materials when building a Western red cedar fence.

Pressure-treated pine is one of the most affordable material options you can choose for a fence at just $1 to $5 per linear foot. While cedar will make up for that cost on the back end by lasting longer, it’s a much larger bill to foot upfront.

You can save money by doing the job yourself or hire a local wood fence installer to handle it for you at a cost of between $10 to $30 per linear foot. 

Durability​: Cedar

With the exception of redwood, which has similar weather-resistant properties, cedar is unique in its ability to endure moisture and pests. That’s because the natural oils in cedar protect it from rot and repel insects. Unlike pine, cedar requires no chemical treatments to survive outdoors. 

Cedar also does a great job of resisting rot when it’s in the open air. However, it has poor soil resistance, which means it’s prone to rot when below ground level. In comparison, pressure-treated pine fencing does a good job of resisting rot even when buried underground. For this reason, most fence installations use pine posts even when the panels are made of a different species of wood. 

Lifespan: Cedar

Pressure-treated pine fences will last about 15 years. While that lifespan is by no means short, it simply doesn’t compare to the 30 years you can expect to get out of a cedar fence. The natural oils in cedar make it highly resistant to humidity, pests, and rot, all of which can shorten the lifespan of your fence. Whichever material you choose, make sure to perform regular maintenance on your fence to extend its lifespan as long as possible.

Stability: Cedar

Cedar is among the most stable woods, meaning it resists shrinking and expanding, so you can worry less about pickets warping and working their way loose from rails over time. 

Pressure-treated pine isn’t nearly as stable. Over time, it will warp and twist as the humidity changes. All this expanding and contracting will cause the wood to split and the pickets to pull free from their rails, ultimately requiring you to spend more time on repairs or more money to hire a local fence repair company.

Maintenance​: Cedar

You’ll need to seal a pressure-treated fence about once every two to three years to prevent it from rotting. With its natural weather-resistant qualities, cedar doesn’t require as much upkeep.

You’ll only need to seal your cedar fence about once every three to five years. The long time between necessary sealings means you’ll spend fewer afternoons and weekends and less money repairing, maintaining, and pressure washing your fence, leaving you with more time to admire the wood’s natural beauty.

Availability: Pine

You’ll find pressure-treated pine fencing of varying sizes and styles at most home improvement stores. Cedar, on the other hand, is more difficult to find and sometimes requires you to seek out a specialty wood store.

Since it’s rarer, it’s also more difficult to price comparison shop for cedar. If you choose cedar, you’ll also need to be more meticulous about ordering the right amount of materials since it may be challenging to find more if you’re short a few pickets.