| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Feitore Deer Fence Netting |
| Best Premium | Tenax Deer Fence (1A120244) |
| Best Heavy-Duty | Tenax Premium Deer Fence (1A120390) |
| Best Lightweight | Jobe’s Easy Gardener Deer Barrier Fencing |
| Best Electric | Zareba Heavy-Duty Sure Shock Aluminum Polywire Fence |
Deer can cause significant damage to gardens if they are left unchecked. They browse on new vegetation and consume plants, flowers, and vegetables. They often trample or eat small saplings, young trees, and shrubs. This can be very frustrating for homeowners and gardeners. It is often painful to discover a significant setback in your garden vegetables and fruit harvest because of a deer invasion. And yet, the deer are just being what nature made them — herbivores who enjoy eating plants! So, the best humane solution to prevent deer from destroying your garden is to get a deer fence.
Mesh fencing is typically the best choice if you want to protect your garden from hungry deer. Mesh fences provide excellent protection, are relatively affordable, and are easy to install. Additionally, this type of fence will last a long time without needing any maintenance.
However, there is a wide range of deer fence products ranging from lightweight fencing to electric deer fences. We’ve reviewed the best deer fences so you can find the right one that suits your taste and gets the job done.
Check Amazon- Keeps deer out of gardens and also can be used to protect crops and plants
- Lightweight but heavy-duty
- Rust- and rot-proof
- Tangle-proof
- Easy to customize the size
- Affordable price
Check Amazon- Medium-weight design
- Can sustain up to 600 lbs
- Made of durable high-quality High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Lasts up to 10-15 years
Check Amazon- Tensile strength of up to 700lbs
- Sleek design is purposeful and attractive
- UV-treated material makes it rust- and rot-resistant
- Affordable pricetag
Check Amazon- Lightweight but durable design
- Easy installation
- 7-foot fence
- 300lb tensile strength
- Prevents deers, rabbits, and other small animals from accessing garden
Check Amazon- Electric fence is made of heavy-duty polywire laced with conductive aluminum wire strands
- Easy installation and repair
- 1,320 feet per spool
- Rust- and corrosion-resistant
Top Picks: The Best Deer Fences to Protect Your Garden Today
#1 Best Overall: Feitore Deer Fence Netting
The Feitore Deer Fence Netting ranks as our best overall product because of its multi-purpose function. Aside from keeping deer off your garden, it can also be used to net your plants like fruits and vegetables against birds and other animals.
The Feitore Deer Fence Netting has a size of 7 feet by 100 feet, making it the right height to deter deer and keep them from invading your garden. Also, the mesh size is about 0.75 inches, which is one of the smallest you can find for a deer fence of this size. This also contributes to its ability to keep out other animals.
It is made of polypropylene material, which is lightweight yet heavy-duty, making it very durable and tear-resistant. Also, it doesn’t rust or rot like wood and metal do. It also doesn’t tangle after use, which makes it easily reusable for extended protection.
Installation is not too complicated. This fencing can be easily cut to any desired size. However, it doesn’t come with stakes or posts. It is economical, and its mesh size provides maximum protection for your garden plants, berries, shrubs, and fruits without harming birds and other small animals. And it doesn’t interfere with your plant growth, so you can enjoy your harvest fully!
As a bonus, this fencing comes with a bonus of 10 installation nails and 50 cable ties. So, you are getting extra value for your money, and that doesn’t sound bad.
Pros and Cons of the Feitore Deer Fence Netting
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You can use this netting as a fence to keep out deer or to cover your plants for protection. | It doesn’t come with stakes or posts. |
| It also works to keep out other animals and birds. | |
| The fencing is 7 feet by 100 feet. | |
| The mesh is about 0.75 inches, which helps to keep smaller animals away from your plants as well. | |
| This fencing is made of polypropylene material that is lightweight, heavy-duty, durable, and tear-resistant. | |
| It doesn’t rot or rust like metal or wood fences do. | |
| The fencing does not tangle after use, so you can roll it up and use it again later. | |
| It can be cut to a desired size. | |
| This fencing provides protection without interfering with plant growth. | |
| It does not harm animals. |
- Keeps deer out of gardens and also can be used to protect crops and plants
- Lightweight but heavy-duty
- Rust- and rot-proof
- Tangle-proof
- Easy to customize the size
- Affordable price
2. Best Premium: Tenax Deer Fence (1A120244)
The Tenax Deer Fence Select 1A120244 is our premium choice because it perfectly serves as a bridge between heavy and light-duty deer fences. This fence is certified up to more than 600 pounds. It also has a breaking load of 107 pounds per tensile. That means it is built to last and won’t sustain damage if an animal runs into it.
With its high-quality materials and reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the Tenax Deer Fence is designed to last for a long time. For at least a period of 10 to 15 years, you can be assured that your garden is safely guarded. It is durable, reinforced at the joints, and tear-resistant against most forces. However, if you hit it with something like a lawnmower, the fence may tear.
The Tenax Deer Fence is also UV treated and easy to install. The mesh measures 1.77 inches by 1.97 inches, and the fencing comes in many different sizes. You can choose one that is as small as 6 feet by 100 feet, or as large as 8 feet by 330 feet. It is sturdy but flexible, which helps to keep deer out without harming them.
However, the fence is much easier to install if you have an additional person to help you since the large rolls of fencing can be awkward to handle. You can cut the fencing to the length you need, but you may want to wear gloves since cut sections can scratch. Any fencing you don’t use can be easily stored for later.
Pros and Cons of the Tenax Deer Fence (1A120244)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This fence has a breaking load of 107 pounds per tensile. | You may need an additional person to help you set up the fence. |
| It is certified up to more than 600 pounds. | If you cut the fencing, the edges can scratch. |
| The fencing is made with high-quality and reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE). | |
| It is also reinforced at the joints and UV treated. | |
| This fence is designed to last for up to 10 to 15 years. | |
| The fence is tear-resistant against most forces. | |
| The mesh is 1.77 inches by 1.97 inches. | |
| The fence comes in several different widths and lengths. | |
| It is flexible to keep deer out without causing them harm. | |
| Any extra fencing not used can be easily stored. | |
| You can cut the fencing to the size you need. |
- Medium-weight design
- Can sustain up to 600 lbs
- Made of durable high-quality High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Lasts up to 10-15 years
3. Best Heavy-Duty: Tenax Premium Deer Fence (1A120390)
The Tenax Premium Deer Fence (1A120390) is specifically designed with high tensile strength. It has a tensile strength of over 700 pounds with a sleek rounded design.
Its strength contributes to its neat and durable installation. There is added tensile reinforcement for the bottom and top security as well. The fencing is also treated with UV making it resistant to rust, rot, and corrosion. It is lightweight but durable, strong, and tear-resistant.
The recommended height for a deer fence is 7 feet. The Tenax Premium Deer Fence (1A120390) is 7.5 feet tall and provides adequate protection for your garden from deer invasion. The mesh measures 1.77 inches by 1.97 inches. The fencing comes in three different sizes: 7.5 feet by 100 feet, 7.5 feet by 164 feet, and 7.5 feet by 330 feet.
The fence is easy to install, but you will probably need some extra help since the large rolls can be hard to handle for just one person. When cutting the fencing, gloves can be worn to protect against sharp ends. Any leftover fencing that you don’t use can be easily rolled up and stored for future use.
Pros and Cons of the Tenax Premium Deer Fence (1A120390)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is a heavy-duty fence with a tensile strength of over 700 pounds. | You will likely need some extra help when installing this fencing. |
| There is added tensile reinforcement at the bottom and top for extra security. | If you cut the fencing, the ends can become sharp and scratchy. |
| It is treated with UV and is resistant to rust, rot, and corrosion. | |
| The fencing is strong and durable while still being lightweight and safe. | |
| The mesh measures 1.77 inches by 1.97 inches. | |
| The fencing comes in three different sizes, each of which is 7.5 feet tall. | |
| It is easy to install. | |
| You can easily cut the fencing to the size that you want. | |
| Extra unused fencing can be rolled up and stored easily for later. |
- Tensile strength of up to 700lbs
- Sleek design is purposeful and attractive
- UV-treated material makes it rust- and rot-resistant
- Affordable pricetag
4. Best Lightweight: Jobe’s Easy Gardener Deer Barrier Fencing
If you need a lightweight fence, Jobe’s Easy Gardener Deer Barrier Fencing is just the right product. It is still strong but lightweight and easy to use. It’s about half as strong as Tenax, with a tensile strength that’s closer to around 300 pounds. But it is also a lot lighter and still functional.
This deer fence is easy to install, and its lightweight design makes it minimally visible from the street. Its total height is 7 feet, and it comes with 100 feet of fencing. The grid openings in the mesh are 5/8 inches by 5/8 inches, which makes it a perfect tool to keep out rabbits and other small animals. Its material is built to last for years because it’s treated with UV and will not corrode or rust like metal or wood.
Jobe’s Easy Fencing is easy to install and can be cut to fit. You can roll up and store any extra material that you don’t use. However, it’s important to note that since this option is much more lightweight, it can rip if you pull it too tight and apply pressure against it.
Pros and Cons of Jobe’s Easy Gardener Deer Barrier Fencing
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Jobe’s Deer Fencing is much more lightweight than other options, but can still work as an effective way to keep deer from eating your plants. | Although it still works as an effective deterrent for deer, this fencing is much more lightweight and not nearly as strong as many of the other options. |
| This fencing is minimally visible from the street and very easy to install. | If you pull the fencing too tight and push against it, it can rip. |
| You can easily store extra material. | |
| The fencing is 7 feet tall and 100 feet wide. | |
| The mesh has 5/8 inch square openings, so it’s great for small animals as well. | |
| It is treated with UV and will not rust or corrode. |
- Lightweight but durable design
- Easy installation
- 7-foot fence
- 300lb tensile strength
- Prevents deers, rabbits, and other small animals from accessing garden
5. Best Electric: Zareba Heavy-Duty Sure Shock Aluminum Polywire Fence
The Zareba Heavy-Duty Sure Shock Aluminum Polywire Fence kicks deer fencing up a notch with this electric deer fence model. It is made of a heavy-duty polywire with aluminum conductor wire to deliver a stronger shock.
Each spool contains up to 1,320 feet of polywire laced with three highly conductive strands of aluminum wire. This combination delivers a shock that is 20 times as powerful as stainless steel, making it a highly effective barrier to keep deer from invading your garden. It can also be used to keep your horses and other livestock contained in a particular area.
The Zareba Heavy-Duty Sure Shock Fencing uses a quality PVC-coated, high-density fiberglass construction that provides long-lasting UV protection, so you can be sure that your deer fence will remain strong for a long time, no matter the weather. This feature also makes it resistant to rust and corrosion.
It is also lightweight and easy to install in just a few minutes. This is especially great if you need to move it and set it up quickly somewhere else. It is also easy to repair and splice while in the field. It can also be used with a solar-powered wire energizer. As the earth is a poor conductor of electricity, if you need to put this fence underground, you can use a splicing device to splice the wire into an insulating material that stays underground and does not affect its conductivity.
Customers reported that the wire is thinner and more delicate and broke more easily than they expected. Because of this, it is also hard to roll up and reuse year after year. In addition, it is designed for deer and horses and is not made for smaller animals.
Pros and Cons of the Zareba Heavy-Duty Sure Shock Aluminum Polywire Fence
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This fencing is made of a heavy-duty polywire with aluminum conductor wire to deliver a stronger shock that’s 20 times more powerful than stainless steel. | Customers reported that the wire is thin and delicate, and often breaks more easily than they expected. |
| Each spool contains up to 1,320 feet of polywire laced with three highly conductive strands of aluminum wire. | This fencing is designed for large animals like deer and horses and should not be used on smaller animals. |
| The fence also uses quality PVC-coated, high-density fiberglass, making it strong, durable, and resistant to rust and corrosion. | |
| It can also be used to contain your horses and other livestock. | |
| The fencing is lightweight and easy to install. | |
| It is easy to repair and splice while in the field. | |
| You can use it with a solar-powered wire energizer |
- Electric fence is made of heavy-duty polywire laced with conductive aluminum wire strands
- Easy installation and repair
- 1,320 feet per spool
- Rust- and corrosion-resistant
Choosing the Best: What to Look For
What do you need to consider before choosing a deer fence product for your garden? We’ve done the research and compiled a list of the most important things you need to look out for to get the best deer fence for your garden:
- Fence height
- Durability
- Mesh size
Fence Height
The height of your deer fencing is one of the most important things you want to consider. Deer are high jumpers and can easily hop over a short fence. Choosing a fence less than 7 feet is more like trying to keep yourself in rather than keep the deer out. The recommended height for a deer fence is 7 feet or more for maximum effectiveness.
Durability
Yes, durability is one of the factors you need to consider. You are trying to keep animals out, and you’ll most likely not be around when they are trying to invade your garden. A durable fence should be able to resist aggressive animal behavior (such as bumping into it) without sustaining damage. You don’t want to keep changing fences week after week.
Mesh size
The grid size of the mesh is not an overly significant factor, but if you plan to use your fence for more than keeping deer out, you need to consider the mesh size. There are many fences of different mesh sizes. A mesh size of about 0.75 inches, as seen in our best overall product, can keep out birds and other animals without interfering with your plant growth.
Different Types of Deer Fencing: Pros and Cons Compared
The many different types of deer fences vary in cost, effectiveness, durability, and visibility. But in most cases, your budget ultimately determines what you’d finally choose. In general, there are two main types of deer fencing — metal and polypropylene deer fencing.
- Metal Deer Fencing: This was the most common and go-to type of deer fencing for years. It consists of a wire mesh made from heavy-gauge metal and attached to posts at intervals. Some options can deliver a shock, while others do not.
- Polypropylene Deer Fencing: This is a kind of plastic-like fencing. It is currently the more popular choice, as it is more humane and safer for both humans and animals. Polypropylene is used as mesh and is also attached to vertical posts.
| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Feitore Deer Fence Netting |
| Best Premium | Tenax Deer Fence (1A120244) |
| Best Heavy-Duty | Tenax Premium Deer Fence (1A120390) |
| Best Lightweight | Jobe’s Easy Gardener Deer Barrier Fencing |
| Best Electric | Zareba Heavy-Duty Sure Shock Aluminum Polywire Fence |
The Best Deer Fence to Protect Your Garden FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is the electric deer fence dangerous to man?
No. It can deliver a sharp bolt of electricity through your body but it has a low current and is not enough to cause any significant damage.
How tall should a deer fence be?
Whatever type of deer fence you use, it should be at least 7 feet tall. Deer can jump over this height but rarely do so unless they are being chased. If you are using one on a slope, be sure to add a few inches on the uphill side.
Can deer crawl under fences?
Yes! In fact, many times deer prefer to crawl under a fence or through a small opening rather than jump over the fence. That’s why it’s important to not only have a fence that is at least 7 feet tall, but to also make sure you secure the fencing along the ground as well.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.
