Picket Fence Designs

Want Even More Curb Appeal?

Iconic picket fence - Photo courtesy of PrettyOldHouses.com

Pickets are so named because the individual vertical boards resemble pointed stakes that were often used in pre-modern warfare to repel Calvary units. We hope you don't need a picket fence for that reason.


We asked our Facebook fans what the sight of a picket fence conjures up in their mind and here's what they told us:

• "Wish I lived where I had a white picket fence"
• "The movie "It's a Wonderful Life"
• "A small Southern town....."
• "Aunt Bea, Andy and Opie..."
• "Picket fences are just so welcoming...as if to say 'Come on in'"

A picket fence definitely adds lots of charm.

Picket Fence Design Options

Classic picket fence design with pointed pickets

Pickets with spade-like design

Dog-eared pickets

Narrow and smaller pointed square pickets

Dog-eared pickets with centered half-holes
(they do not penetrate through the wood)

Sawtoothed pickets

Combination saw toothed tops and dog-eared pickets with holes through centers

Gothic shaped fence pickets -Post tops match the design of the pickets

Saw toothed and rounded pickets with an arched gate design

Sawtooth pickets in a scallop designed fence (with tight spacing)

Sawtoothed pickets spaced further apart

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Picket Fence Design Considerations

Pickets

• Width: Pickets usually are between 2-4 inches and can be as wide as 5 inches. Thinner pickets tend to have a more delicate look while wider boards appear more substantial and are often used when a bit more privacy is warranted or to contain landscaping in some cases.
• Style: As you can see from our photos, pickets come in a variety of styles. From Victorian, Gothic, Saw toothed, Dog-eared, to a design of your choosing, you are only limited by your imagination (for wood pickets, that is). You will probably be more limited if purchasing vinyl or metal pickets which usually come in standard sizes.
• Spacing: The general rule of thumb for thinner pickets is that the space between them is equal to the width of a board (picket). You will want to decrease the spacing if containing pets or safeguarding children. Opt for wider spacing for flower gardens. Since there is no hard and fast rule we recommend you try various spacing configurations to determine which one you like most.

Fence Style

• Height:You can also vary the height of your picket fence. Normally, they stand 3 to 4 feet in height but depending on your specific requirements, you may install your fence higher or lower (or a combination of both). You can achieve this by varying the height of the pickets themselves.
• By doing so you can create concave, round, scalloped, or fences with an ornamental look. For example, you may want to use a low picket fence for edging around a garden or build it higher for more privacy.
• Decorative Fence Options: Your fence posts can be adorned with decorative caps which vary in design. They can be simple wooden caps, copper, or even solar lighted.

Picket fence with scalloped gate

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Picket Fence Materials

• Cedar: The most common and insect resistant picket fence material is perhaps cedar. Its natural appearance takes paint well or can be stained easily.
  
  Whether staining or leaving it natural, I personally recommend preserving it with Sikkens stain. It comes in a wide variety of colors to include clear. It is more expensive than other wood preservatives but in my experience it has been well worth it.
• Disadvantage of Cedar: The disadvantage of cedar is that, like any wood, it requires regular maintenance and will decay over time. It will need to be replaced periodically. That being said however, is that you can find a multitude of design options. You can even create your own.
• Treated lumber: Treated lumber can be used for fencing. It will last longer than cedar; however, it does not take stain well. If you are contemplating stain, I recommend you try it first on your scrap lumber as the end color usually does not match the original stain. Depending on your specific circumstances, I recommend painting treated lumber rather than staining.
  
  You can use treated lumber for the posts and rails and add cedar pickets to make it more economical.
• Vinyl Picket Fencing: A white vinyl picket fence is probably the most popular. Vinyl fencing is almost maintenance free and requires little care.
  
  The disadvantage of vinyl is you have limited options for both color and style. Dark colored vinyl tends to fade over time and thus is difficult to find (nor recommended). You can find vinyl in white, tan, and almond along with variations for each color.
  
  Interestingly, certain colors are more popular in specific areas of the country. White is the choice for those living in the northwest, south, and the middle of the country. Almond colors can be found predominately on the west coast while southwest folks seem to prefer beige and almond colors.
• Aluminum Picket Fence: Aluminum fencing won't rust and is extremely durable. Finishes are baked on to keep them looking great for years. You can also find them in many different colors like black, white, beige, khaki, bronze, and forest green to name but a few.
  
  Most come in standard lengths of 6 feet and heights of 48, 54, 60, or 72 inches; however, you can order custom heights as well.

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