What's a Cable Fence?

Fencing is important when it comes to the aesthetics of your house and yard or pastures. Good fencing does its job well without being unattractive and in fact, sometimes while improving the look of a place. There are almost countless variations on the options available in fences. Cable fences are popular for practical purposes, or for places that need boundaries marked but don't need fancy or conspicuous fencing.

Cable fences are a safe, cost effective type of fencing for keeping horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and some exotic animals like alpacas. A heavy gauge wire and sturdy fence posts mean that a cable wire, properly installed, can last a lifetime. While cable fencing isn't decorative, it isn't conspicuous, either, so it is practical and not an eyesore.


Cable that is 9/16 inches in diameter is a good thickness to work with. With clamps, springs, and attachment hardware, a complete cable fencing system will cost about $4.00 per foot, which is very reasonable for fencing that lasts for a lifetime. It has proved very popular among those with horses and cattle.

Cable fencing consists of equally spaced vertical posts, which may be steel or fiberglass, that are strung with horizontal wires made of stainless steel. There is attachment hardware for the cables behind the posts, giving the fencing a clean, unobtrusive look. Sometimes one or more strands of cable are electrified to keep livestock within the proper boundaries.