Wood costs less up front, at $20 to $50 per foot installed in the national figures against $30 to $60 for vinyl. Vinyl saves you the sealing. In Scottsdale neither one is the default. Block and steel are, because summer heat is severe on wood and on plastic alike.
The dollar ranges on this page are national figures that HomeGuide published for 2026. They are not quotes from us. Labor rates in the Phoenix area, material prices and the conditions on your lot push a Scottsdale job higher or lower. Last checked October 2026.
| Wood | Vinyl | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost per foot | $20 to $50 | $30 to $60 |
| Upkeep | UV sealer or stain, renewed as it weathers | Hose off dust |
| Weak point | Shrinking, splitting, termites at the posts | Heat and UV on thin or dark panels |
| Repairs | Board by board | Mostly panel by panel |
| Look | Natural grain, any stain | Even color, few choices |
Cedar or pressure-treated pine?
Cedar is the steadier wood in dry heat. It shrinks less, stays flatter and has natural resistance to insects and decay. Pressure-treated pine is cheaper and is protected against termites and rot, yet it is prone to twisting and surface cracks as the desert dries it. A frequent Scottsdale build is cedar boards carried on galvanized steel posts.
Which fence lasts longest in desert heat and monsoon wind?
Powder-coated steel, aluminum and masonry outlast everything else here. Sun cannot dry them and termites have no use for them. Freeze and thaw is not a concern in Scottsdale. For wood, long life comes from sealing, dry footings and steel posts. For vinyl, it comes from a UV-stabilized product in a pale color.
What type of fence is best for my yard?
| You want | Good choices | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | Block wall, 6-foot wood or vinyl | Solid surfaces take the full monsoon wind |
| A large dog | 5 or 6 foot steel, chain link or a wall | Close the gap under gates |
| Small children | Narrow-picket or solid fence, self-latching gate | Put the latch out of reach |
| A pool | Steel or aluminum built to the pool barrier rules | Height, spacing and gate hardware are inspected |
| Lowest cost | Chain link | Often barred by HOAs where visible |
| Low upkeep | Powder-coated steel or aluminum | Higher first cost |
| Keeping the view | Open steel view fence | Commonly required beside golf and open desert |
| Keeping wildlife out | Tall fence with a sealed bottom edge | Coyotes jump, javelina push under |
Is aluminum fencing strong enough for a large dog?
Yes for most dogs. Height and picket spacing matter more than the metal. A jumper needs a taller fence, and a small dog needs closer pickets near the ground. Bear in mind that metal in full July sun is hot to touch.
We have a large dog, want privacy and do not want to spend a fortune. What makes sense?
Spend on privacy only where someone can see in. Most Scottsdale yards have block on two or three sides already, so the cost is in closing what is open: a solid gate at each side yard and perhaps one short run of wood or vinyl. Elsewhere, a plain steel or chain link section does the job where your HOA permits it.
My neighbor has wood and wants me to match it so we can split the cost. I want vinyl.
One shared run can be only one material. You two must agree on it and put in writing who pays for what. Nothing in Arizona statute makes either neighbor contribute. Without agreement, you may build what you like a little inside your own boundary and pay for it yourself.
Will the new fence look the same on my neighbor's side?
It depends on the design. Steel view fence, shadowbox, board-on-board and nearly all vinyl are the same on both faces. A basic board fence shows its rails on one face. Settle which face points where with the neighbor, and read your HOA's rule on it if there is one.
A real price needs someone to stand on your lot and measure. That visit is free. Call (480) 530-6409, or text a photo of the fence line to the same number.