Woven wire fence is a metallic-coated steel mesh made from interwoven horizontal line wires and vertical stay wires, designed for livestock containment, predator control, and wildlife exclusion.
If you need a fence that handles goats, sheep, hogs, or horses without climbing, sagging, or breaking under pressure, woven wire is the standard. Unlike welded wire, the woven structure flexes under strain without snapping. The opening size, wire gauge, and height determine what it will hold and where it works best. Below is what you need to know before choosing a roll.
How Woven Wire Fence Is Built
The fabric consists of horizontal line wires and vertical stay wires, knotted or hinged at each intersection. The joint style matters for flexibility and strength:
- Fixed knot (knot style): Each wire intersection is locked in place. This style resists stretching and holds tension well, making it a common choice for high-tensile fence.
- Hinge joint: The stay wires pivot at the line wires, letting the fence roll up tightly and conform to rolling terrain. It is more flexible but slightly less rigid than fixed knot.
- S-knot: A wrapped S-shaped joint that combines strength with some flexibility. Often used in heavy-duty sheep and goat fence.
The gauge controls strength and weight. USDA NRCS field guidance recommends top and bottom strands at least 12½ gauge and intermediate strands at least 14⅓ gauge or heavier. Commercial woven wire ranges from 9 gauge (very heavy) to 23 gauge (light, less durable). Heavier gauges are better for goats and high-pressure livestock runs.
Common Heights, Mesh Sizes, and Which Animals Fit
Woven wire fence typically runs 26 to 48 inches tall. The mesh spacing at the bottom and top determines what stays in and what gets through:
| Application | Typical Height | Mesh Spacing (bottom to top) | Stay-Wire Spacing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheep / goats | 39–48 inches | 1½–6 inches | 6 inches |
| Hogs | 32–39 inches | 1½–4 inches | 6–12 inches |
| Horses | 48–54 inches | 3–9 inches | 12 inches |
| Wildlife exclusion / deer | 56–72 inches | 4–9 inches | 6–12 inches |
| Predator control (coyotes, dogs) | 39–48 inches | 1½–4 inches | 6 inches |
| General livestock / boundary | 48 inches | 2–6 inches | 12 inches |
For goats, a minimum height of 39 inches helps discourage climbing, though breed and pressure matter. USDA NRCS notes that fences 33–47 inches need at least one barbed wire strand above the woven wire; 48-inch woven wire may skip the barbed wire if livestock and predator pressure are low.
Terrain, Snow, and Flooding: When Woven Wire Struggles
Woven wire adapts to rolling ground but has two hard limits. Heavy snow loads can bend the mesh and damage stay wires. Frequent ponding or flooding corrodes the fabric faster, even with galvanized coating. USDA Iowa guidance requires Class 3 galvanized wire for corrosion resistance. If your land sits in a low-lying or snowy zone, consider adding a barbed wire top strand and using heavier-gauge fixed-knot mesh designed for those conditions.
Installation Basics That Make the Difference
A woven wire fence fails most often at the corners. The official sequence: set heavy corner and end braces first, stretch the fence fabric between line posts, then attach it inside the line posts on straight runs. Corners must be wrapped so the brace assembly takes the tension — not the staples holding the wire to the post. One common field setup uses steel T-posts alternated with 4-inch pressure-treated wood posts spaced 12 feet apart, with one barbed wire strand at the top for extra rigidity. Using undersized wire gauge or skipping the top strand on fences under 48 inches is the mistake most likely to produce sag within two years.
FAQs
What is the difference between woven wire and welded wire fence?
Woven wire has each intersection knotted or hinged, so the mesh flexes under pressure without breaking. Welded wire uses rigid spot-welded joints that snap when twisted or pulled, making it a poor choice for livestock that lean or push against the fence.
Can woven wire fence be used for deer exclusion?
Yes, but only if the total height reaches at least 56–72 inches and the bottom mesh stays tight enough (4 inches or less) to prevent fawns from crawling under. A top-strand barbed wire at the same height helps deter jumping.
How long does galvanized woven wire last in the ground?
Class 3 galvanized woven wire typically lasts 20–30 years under normal conditions. The lifespan drops to 10–15 years in wet, acidic, or coastal environments, which is why USDA NRCS recommends Class 3 coating for any installation expected to survive more than a decade.
References & Sources
- USDA NRCS. “Woven Wire Fence Specification.” Defines construction, joint types, and installation requirements for metallic-coated steel woven wire fence fabric.
- USDA NRCS. “Barb, Smooth, and Woven Wire Fence Specification.” Details wire gauge minimums, barbed wire top-strand requirements by fence height, and material standards.