5 Best Nails for Wood Fence Pickets [2023 Reviews] Cheap Budget

Fence pickets, especially wood fence pickets, require many fasteners to keep them in place for years before repairing or replacing them. So, if the fastener isn’t right, you are doomed.

If we name the most available, easy-to-apply, and durable fasteners, nails will be first. So, today is all about nails.

To be more specific, the best nails for wood fence projects you are going to do. We’ll talk about different aspects of wood fence pickets and give you a complete overview of some of the best nails for wood fence pickets available in the market. Let’s get started.

Top 5 Nails for Fence: Comparison Table:

Top 5 Best Nails For Wood Fence Pickets In 2023

Let’s now read detailed reviews of the above-mentioned professional nails For wood fence pickets

1# Stainless Steel Nails For Fence Pickets

Specifications:

• Nail Angle: 15 degrees
• Shank Length: 1.75 inches
• Material: Stainless Steel 304
• Shank Diameter: .09 inches

These are some extremely effective fasteners for fence pickets, especially if you are using them for cedar fences. Before you dive deep, here is a quick look at the specifications of these nails.

We are most probably talking about one of the finest nails to be used for wood fencing.

The nails are slanted at a 15-degree angle for easy application on several different types of fences. They are hot-dipped galvanized nails that are suitable for most fence pickets.

The shank diameter isn’t that long, but the rink shank of these nails is extremely helpful for fastening pickets and keeping them in place.

Due to the rink shank, the chance of removal of the nails is too low, making them the ultimate choice.

A staggering 1200 nails come in the package, and they feed into the nail gun without making any errors. Due to the nail angle of 15 degrees, they are easy to fire on all wood fence pickets. So, you can do a large amount of fence picketing in less time.

All of them are lined with two wire coils so that the feeding gets easier. Due to the flat head of a greater diameter, hammering them into fence pickets is very easy.

And the grip on any wood fence is perfect for durable fencing projects. A great buy on the budget.

Highlighted Features 

• Very efficient to use.
• Double hot-dipped, so they won’t rust and leave marks on fence pickets.
• Gives a smoother finish than many other nails.
• Easy application due to the angle.
• Smooth feed and fire save time.

Downsides

• It might not be compatible with all common nail guns.

2# Coil Nails For Wood Fence Pickets

Specifications:

• Material: High-grade steel
• Nail Angle: 15 degrees
• Shank Length: 2 inches
• Shank Diameter: .092 inches

Metabo is a common name in manufacturing nailers and fasteners. The quality of this pack of steel nails is enough to prove the credibility of Metabo. Here’s what it does.

The build quality of Metabo coil nails is outstanding. It is pretty easy to apply but quite difficult to remove. Its ring shank design gives a better grip on almost any wood fence picket. Once inside, the nail doesn’t tend to move side by side.

It is also hot-dipped galvanized like the previous product. As a result, it won’t catch rust easily. Also, it won’t affect the wood at all.

So, you can easily use these nails for siding or fencing. But the compatibility of this nail is a bit low than many other nails.

Though it will fit many 15-degree nailers, you can expect the best performance when paired with Metabo HPT nailers.

Other than that, this nail is widely used on various fence pickets. Due to the high-grade steel, it is extremely sturdy doesn’t tend to bend.

You get 3,600 of these 2-inch nails that are suitable for any of your wood fencing projects. That’s a big bunch at this price range. So, it should be your choice of nails for any fence pickets.

Highlighted Features

• High-grade material and improved build quality for extra durability and performance.
• Doesn’t bend or move side by side.
• Hot dipped galvanized for rust protection.
• Holds its position just right due to the ring shank.
• Application is very easy with a suitable nail angle.

Downsides

• Works the best only with certain tools.

3# Framing Nails For Fence Pickets

Specifications:

• Material: Hot Dipped Galvanized Steel
• Nail Angle: 21 degrees
• Shank Length: 2 inches
• Shank Diameter: .113 inches

You have already seen another product from the same manufacturer. But this is a different type of nail from them with a different nail angle. Let’s see.

These are most probably the easiest collated nails you will ever use for fence pickets.

Compared to other popular nail brands, you will experience less jam or double feed with these nails. And, they come in a bunch of 1,000, so you know there is plenty for your job.

If you have a standard framing nailer, this set should just work fine. They are made of high-grade steel that is hot-dipped galvanized for better protection. The flat round head of the nail helps during application.

The shank length is perfect for any of your fence pickets. It will stay in place and hold the fence pickets for a longer period with a stronger force.

The nail angle here is slightly different from the above two products, but it won’t be a problem during application.

You can use this nail on all treated lumber, and they are best for exterior uses. One thing must be mentioned here.

These nails don’t come in a wire coil. Rather, they are packed in plastic tubs. The packaging isn’t tight enough, so sometimes the tubs get broken before they reach the customer.

Highlighted Features 

• High-performance framing nails for easy application and better grip.
• Longer shank for deeper penetration.
• Hot dipped galvanized body.
• No jamming or double feeding.
• The price is very affordable compared to most other nails.

Downsides

• The packaging isn’t that great as the plastic tubs often break.

4# Ring Shank Nails For Wood Fence Pickets

Specifications:

• Material: Stainless Steel and Plastic
• Nail Angle: 21 degrees
• Shank Length: 2 inches
• Shank Diameter: .113 inches

Hitachi rink shank nail is a reliable name in fence picketing. Though the finish of the nails isn’t that great, you can ignore that considering the price point.

This type of nail is solely adequate for most of your fencing jobs. Whatever tool you are pairing it with, it is supposed to feed and fire continuously without any jamming or errors. This makes the nail a very suitable choice for cedar or vinyl pickets.

These nails are made with a combination of steel and plastic. They are hot-dipped galvanized for better rust protection.

 To get rid of hammering, you can use any good-quality framing nailer with this set. There are 1,000 of them in the set, packed inside plastic strips, which make the firing easier.

No matter whether the lumber is treated or not, these nails can be easily driven through them.

They leave almost no impact while application, so you get a smooth finish all over the fence. If you are up to having clean and hassle-free picketing, this can be your choice of nails.

Also, don’t forget to check the price point. Getting a high-performance pack of 2-inch nails from a renowned brand isn’t just any deal. Take this so that you don’t repent.

Highlighted Features 

• Extreme holding power of the nails makes the pickets stay in place.
• Easy application without hammering, so it is easier, and the finish is more beautiful.
• Long rink shank nails penetrate easily, but it is tough to pry them out.
• Shank diameter is greater compared to many other products.

Downsides

• Finish of the nails isn’t that great.

5# BOSTITCH Framing Nails for Wood Fence

Specifications:

• Material: Steel
• Nail Angle: 28 degrees
• Shank Length: 2 inches
• Shank Diameter: .113 inches

Let’s turn our head to the last item on our list of the best nails for wood fence pickets. This set from BOSTITCH is well known among hobbyists or professionals. The head type is a bit different than the nails you have seen till now.

This commonly used framing nail is usable with many different framing nailers. It has a round head design.

The ultimate strength of this nail is in the ring shank, which gives extreme holding power. The nail angle is even greater here at 28 degrees.

As they come in wire collated, there is no chance of breaking midway. So, you can easily feed these nails into your machines and do fence picketing quite faster. The outside of the nail is protected from rust with a thick galvanized coat.

The diamond tip of the nail offers easy penetration. It also reduces the chance of nail jamming inside the machine. 

So, you will require less time and effort while fencing with these nails. Also, you need to spend less with these nails as they come in a pack of 2,000 at an affordable price.

So, if your budget is tight, but the project needs many nails, you can consider this item.

Highlighted Features 

• Made of high-quality steel with improved corrosion protection.
• Great for treated lumber and outdoor project.
• Wire collated nails ensure easy feeding and fire without jamming.
• Great holding power because of ring shank design.
• Diamond tip gives easy penetration without splitting the wood.
• Very affordable price.

Downsides

• No mentionable cons this time.

Buying Guide: Things To Consider Before Buying Nails

To get the best performance from the nail you use for fence pickets, consider a few factors before buying.

Don’t jump into buying just any nail after seeing a big discount online. Rather, do some research or at least read this buying guide to know what to look for.

1# Core Material

The core material of the nail can be ordinary steel or stainless steel. In the case of ordinary steel, the strength of the nail is comparatively lower than stainless steel nails. They are more susceptible to bending.

Choosing stainless steel nails for fence pickets is wiser because they can be applied to treated lumber. Stainless steel also gives enough hardness to the nails so that they don’t bend.

2# Rust Protection

Rust might be the main enemy of nails, especially for nails made of ordinary steel. As these nails are mostly used in fence pickets, they come in contact with water and oxygen.

In coastal areas, the oxidation process gets even faster, and a red brick coating starts damaging nails.

This also leaves an ugly effect on the look of the fences. So, if you want to get rid of all these problems, you need to select a nail that is made of stainless steel or has rust protection.

To save the nails from rust, galvanization is a common process. They are dipped in zinc to make a coating outside that protects the nails from coming in contact with air or water. So, the nails keep from being corroded.

Try to choose this type of nail even if they are a bit pricier. It will save you from replacing your fence pickets frequently.

3# Type of the Shank

Nails commonly come in two shank types. One is a smooth shank, and the other is a ring shank. The smooth shank nails have a rounded shank with no ridges or swirls on their shank. As a result, they provide a smoother and easier application.

But as the shank is smooth, they don’t have a superior grip on wood fiber. So, they can be removed easily. The chance of moving side by side is also greater in the case of these nails.

On the other hand, ring shank nails are those with rings or ridges on the shank. Due to the rings on the shank, they are comparatively tough to drive into wood. But once they are in, it is similarly difficult to pull them out.

So, if you are looking for a permanent solution for your fence pickets, ring shank nails can be the right choice.

4# Shank Length and Diameter

This can vary depending on the picket you are using and the variety of your job. Usually, nails with a shank length of 2 inches are more popular. They provide enough penetration for any fence pickets.

The diameter of the nails can also vary within a wide range where .092 or .113 gauge nails are mostly used. Whether it is a nail or a screw, you can choose the diameter of the shank according to your projects.

How to Replace Vinyl Fence Pickets?

Vinyl fence pickets need replacing mostly when they face snow plow, wind gust, or other impacts. If the post caps are glued, the replacement of pickets will be a bit difficult.

Replacing vinyl fence pickets is more difficult than installing new fence pickets as it has two steps. First, you need to remove the fence pickets and rails from the post, and only then can you install the new ones.

So, pay attention to the removal of vinyl fence pickets. It might help you remove your fence pickets on your own next time you do it.

The first thing you should do is check for the connection type of your vinyl fence pickets and rails.

 They can be connected through screws or notches. If they are connected through screws, it will be easier to just unscrew the rails and pickets.

But if they are connected through notches, it might be tricky to remove fence pickets. If the fence pickets use screws and brackets, take a screwdriver and unscrew the connections at both ends of the rails.

Unscrewing the brackets will let you pull out the rails of the posts. But be careful with the head of the screwdriver. If it doesn’t fit the screws you are trying to remove, don’t apply excessive pressure. Take a screwdriver that fits instead.

But if the fence pickets use notch for connection, a vinyl fence rail remover will be a handy tool. It is a small tool with a curved metal at the top and a plastic holder at the bottom.

It can be inserted into the connection of the rail and post. A little twist of the tool will let the rail come out of the post.

Once the top rail is removed from the post, fence pickets will start falling apart. You can take them out one by one or tilt the bottom rail to remove them at once. Then the bottom rails should be cleaned with a rag or paper towel. 

And then comes the installation process of new fence pickets. Hold the U channel of the picket at an angle and place it into the bottom rail. Make the picket straight to align it with the top rail and the U channel flush to the post.

Continue installing pickets until the space between posts is filled up and the pickets stay upright on their own. Slide the top rail into the post so that it rests on the newly installed pickets.

FAQs

Question: How many pickets in a fence panel?

Answer: Well, it depends on the width of the picket, the gap between pickets, and the length of the fence. For example, if the picket width is 5.5 inches and the gap between pickets is 0.5 inches, it becomes 6 inches in total.

Convert the length of your fence into inches. If it is 100 ft in length, it should be 1200 inches. Divide 1200 with 6. It gives you 200, the number of total pickets.

Question: How far apart should pickets be on a fence?

Answer: There is no hard and fast rule in this case. But the common practice is to leave a gap of a minimum of 2 to 2.5 inches between pickets.

Question: How many fence pickets per foot and pickets?

Answer: Well, you should look at the first answer. Once you have calculated the spacing of one picket with the gap and the total length of the fence, you can determine the number of pickets per foot. In that case, 2 pickets per foot are the answer.

Question: How much space between fence pickets?

Answer: You can leave 2 to 2.5 inches of space between fence pickets. Anything closer than that will look like a barricade. If you leave a wider gap, the target of fence picketing won’t be achieved.

Question: Can I use 2″ nails for fence pickets?

Answer: Of course. In fact, 2″ is the most common nail size for fence pickets. 

Final Thoughts

Fence picketing can be a hardworking job. But it can be a satisfying job at the same time if you invest your time and effort into it. To make things happen correctly, using the best nails for wood fence pickets has no alternative.

We hope you have got an overall idea about effective nails for your purpose. Think of the factors we have stated again and determine which nail you want to go for.