Gear · buyer's guide
The Best Deer and Rabbit Fencing for Gardens (2026)
Nothing is more demoralizing than walking out to a garden the deer stripped overnight. Wildlife is one of the few problems that can end a season in one night, and the only sure fix is a barrier. Here is the right fencing for deer, for rabbits, and the posts to hold it up.
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How we picked
Different animals need different fences. Deer jump, so height is everything. Rabbits and groundhogs dig, so the bottom matters more than the top. We picked for the right height per animal, a buried or staked bottom for diggers, and quick setup.
Match the fence to your real problem. There is no point in an 8-foot deer fence if your thief is a rabbit, and a low rabbit fence will not slow a deer for a second.
Our picks
- Best for deer
Deer Netting and Fence
Best for deer
- Deer can clear a 6-foot fence, so go 7 to 8 feet. Lightweight black netting is nearly invisible from a few feet away and is far cheaper than welded wire.
- Easy for one person to string between posts in an afternoon.
- Downside: netting can sag and snag, and a determined deer will test it, so keep it taut and check it after storms.
- Best for rabbits and groundhogs
Rabbit and Critter Fence
Best for rabbits and groundhogs
- A 2 to 3 foot fence of 1-inch mesh stops rabbits. Bury the bottom 6 inches and bend it outward so groundhogs cannot dig under.
- Hardware cloth is stiff enough to hold its shape around a bed.
- Downside: burying the bottom is real digging, and that step is exactly the one people skip and regret.
- Best posts to hang it on
Garden Fence Posts
Best support
- Steel U-posts or fiberglass rods drive in by hand and hold netting or wire tight. Space them about 8 to 10 feet apart.
- Reusable season after season, and they pull back out when you move the garden.
- Downside: a rubber mallet and some sweat are needed to set them, especially in dry or rocky ground.
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Questions, answered straight
7 to 8 feet. Deer can jump a 6-foot fence from a standstill, so anything shorter is a suggestion, not a barrier. Tall netting is the cheapest way to get the height.
A 2 to 3 foot fence of 1-inch mesh, with the bottom 6 inches buried and bent outward. The buried lip is what stops them digging under.
Sprays and scent repellents help a little and need reapplying after rain, but for steady deer or rabbit pressure, only a fence reliably protects the garden.
No. Row covers stop insects, not mammals. A hungry deer walks right through fabric. Use fencing for wildlife and row covers for bugs.
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