One of the biggest challenges for any Animal Crossing: New Horizons player is to reach that highly coveted 5-star island status. In order for that to even be possible, they need to have a certain number of trees, flowers, and objects scattered around their island for Isabelle to finally grant them the rating.
Fences are one of the main requirements for a 5-star island, which is why investing some Nook Miles into their DIY recipes might be a good idea. With about 19 fences available in the game, there's quite a bit to choose from as well, but not all fences are as useful, versatile, and beautiful when placed down.
Updated on February 26, 2021, by Anastasia Maillot: Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a game that's constantly evolving and introducing new content for players to enjoy. With seasonal items in particular, players are encouraged to come back and play the game regularly as much as possible since some recipes are exclusive to specific events.
Thanks to the summer update of 2020 and Halloween update of 2020, players were able to get their hands on two additional themed fences according to these updates. Knowing Nintendo, there are even more fences coming up in future updates, as well.
21 Straw Fence
A rather strange fence made of straw, it hasn't seen much use in most player islands. That being said, it has a cheap price tag and with only clumps of weed and wood used to make it, it's a cheap alternative despite its appearance.
20 Wedding Fence
Available at Harvey's island during June as part of the wedding photography rewards, the wedding fence is very niche, making it hard for most players to implement on just any island.
Moreover, appearance-wise it could be way more decorated with flower details to give it that wedding look.
19 Spiky Fence
Another very cheap fence made from hardwood, it's one of those fences that has seen some use as a decoration item rather than as a separator. Still, it's hard to see how this ultra basic fence could be made to look nice.
18 Barbed Wire Fence
The idea of a barbed wire fence isn't bad in itself, but implementing it is the challenge. It's a niche style that's only great for players who have a clear design idea in their mind. Those planning on a secret area might find use in it, but otherwise, it's a pass.
17 Mermaid Fence
The mermaid fence was one of the items introduced in the summer update. It can only be received from Pascal as a gift if he's given a scallop in exchange. The fence has a distinct solid, wave-like shape with pastel colors and starfish. This makes it a great addition to any beach but may otherwise be a bit too niche to use more commonly.
16 Bunny Day Fence
Many of the Bunny Day items were pretty stale at best, which is why it's only natural its fence ranks fairly low as well.
However, it does have a somewhat cute, colorful style that could look good in more than one island theme. Still, as a fence, it doesn't really do its job.
15 Iron Fence
Although this is a very basic and versatile fence, its style and color could be worked on. It's hard to see where this would see any use at all, other than as a basic separator or if a villager house happened to fit the color theme of this fence.
14 Spooky Fence
The spooky fence was introduced in the 2020 Halloween update. To get the recipe for it, you need to give villagers candy on Halloween or speak with them prior to Halloween. Balloons will also have a chance of yielding it. The Spooky is a black iron fence shaped like a pumpkin and is, therefore, a bit more versatile than most special fences.
13 Brick Fence
The problem with this fence is that it's a rather bulky, solid block of orange and yellow bricks. Because of that it looks a bit too sturdy and doesn't have the elegance of some of the slimmer fences. Still, some themes and builds will really fit its style.
12 Stone Fence
Similar to the brick fence, the stone fence is limited in its capacity due to how bulky and big it looks. The feel is a bit cloistering or like it belongs at a church perhaps.
That being said, its palatable color makes it just a bit more versatile than the brick fence, and it can look surprisingly nice when used in moderation.
11 Vertical Board Fence
This fence isn't bad, but it's not very good either and that's because it's just a bit too tall. Moreover, the uneven appearance of the boards can break the theme of an island. Still, it ranks as an average fence due to a bland, wooden appearance that can fit almost any theme since it doesn't have a theme of its own.
10 Corral Fence
Wooden and more versatile in color, as well as with a regular height, the corral fence is average only because it can be hard to find ways to incorporate it into a certain theme or style. Both modern and traditional, it doesn't quite commit to one or the other.
9 Lattice Fence
A fence with a clear purpose and a clear style, the lattice fence is pretty decent. It's not too niche, it has a very natural and nice wooden color, and it's not too tall either.
The lattice pattern, however, might not be everyone's cup of tea, and so it's bound to not fit all styles.
8 Bamboo Lattice Fence
A very popular fence, almost every island that's become popular has used this fence to create a nice hot spring area or a small bamboo garden. Although it has a very distinct style, any island can adopt it for a small area or build.
7 Iron And Stone Fence
For a more gothic style, the iron and stone fence is absolutely perfect. However, it can blend with other themes and styles, as well as with the right type of gardens. That is why it's a pretty solid fence to invest in despite having a distinct look.
6 Imperial Fence
Another fence with a very defined style, the Imperial fence is great for those zen garden themes that like to incorporate lots of bamboo.
It will look out of place on islands that go for a more classic style, which is why it's a niche, but still a fairly popular fence choice.
5 Zen Fence
The Zen fence is like the older brother of the stone fence. It's slightly bulky, but not overly so due to having a more defined shape and style. Many players have fallen in love with it as it works as a great fence for more urban, Japanese-style themes.
4 Rope Fence
One of the most versatile fences is definitely the rope fence. It can easily work on any island theme and has been most often used to create sightseeing areas or even an entrance to the museum. Although simple and not flashy, it's guaranteed to look decent.
3 Simple Wooden Fence
The mother of all fences, every player needs this fence in their game. It's the first one they get from Tom Nook and it blends in well with many styles of housing and plants.
This fence looks great no matter what as it has that classic picket fence style with natural wooden color. It's hard to go wrong with this one.
2 Country Fence
This is another basic yet must-have fence that looks amazing by the campsite and the upper areas of the island in general. Cheap to make, it's ideal for fleshing out a camping area which is almost a necessity on any island by now.