I need to keep rabbits out of my vegetable garden. What's the best type of garden fence?

The best all-around choice is small-mesh metal wire fencing, especially ½-inch hardware cloth or welded wire. It’s much more reliable than relying on repellents or scare devices.

For a vegetable garden, I’d build it like this:

• Height: 24–30 inches above ground. Rabbits generally won't jump a 2-foot fence, though 30 inches gives you extra insurance.
• Mesh: ½ inch is my preference; 1 inch or smaller is generally sufficient, including for young rabbits.
• Bottom: This is crucial. Either bury the fence 6 inches or make an outward-facing 6-inch wire apron along the ground to stop rabbits from digging underneath.
• Gate: Make sure there's no gap underneath it—rabbits are particularly good at exploiting the bottom of gates.

My pick

½-inch galvanized hardware cloth, about 30 inches tall, with a 6-inch outward apron.

It's a little more expensive than chicken wire, but it's durable and provides excellent protection. If you're looking for the simplest inexpensive option, 1-inch chicken wire, 2 feet high, securely pinned to the ground also works well.

If you tell me the approximate size of your garden and whether you're dealing with cottontails or jackrabbits, I can suggest the most economical fence setup and how much material you'd need.

Here are top web results for exploring this topic:

Tractor Supply·https://www.tractorsupply.com**Rabbit** Proof Fencing to Protect Your Garden - Tractor Supply The fastest way to barricade small furry friends from the garden is to use push-in garden panels. This fence type is available in various styles and materials, like vinyl, metal, and cedar. The panels Planter | Garden Planner·https://planter.garden**Rabbit** Proof Your Garden Some will still dig under the buried fence. To solve this problem, the key is to bend the bottom of the fence into an L shape, so that the bottom of the L splays out and away from your garden. This wa Reddit·https://www.reddit.com Fencing advice for bunnies : r/gardening - Reddit Rabbits are territorial. You will stop most getting in. Additional buried chicken wire fencing for your beds if you have beds. Get this done before they start mating and dropping teeny weeny babies on Facebook·https://www.facebook.com**What type** of fence can keep rabbits out of a garden ? - Facebook It's nice that you could stick it a little way into the ground to keep things from digging under. I use chicken wire and don't have any problem with things coming underneath and it is probably cheaper Amazon.com·https://www.amazon.com 10 Pack Garden Fence Animal Barrier Fencing 1.44 inch Spacing ...Amazon.com : 10 Pack Garden Fence Animal Barrier Fencing 1.44 inch Spacing Total 10.8ft (L) x 24in High Rustproof Metal Wire Yard Blocker Rabbit Dog Border for Outdoor Flower Bed Decor Green : Patio, Critter Fencing·https://www.critterfence.com**Rabbit Fence** | Chew-Resistant Garden Protection | Critterfence©Deer and Rabbit Combination Fence Kits With Rodent Barrier (MOST POPULAR) (Two Layers Of Fence). This is the most popular type of fence to keep out deer and rabbits. These kits consist of poly fencing YouTube·https://www.youtube.com Building a simple fence to protect your veggies from rabbits - YouTube In this video, we'll guide you step-by-step on how to install rabbit-proof fencing around your garden. Keep your plants safe and protect your crops from wild rabbits with a simple and effective fencin Permies.com·https://permies.com**Best fence** /way to keep rabbits out of the annual vegetable garden?Best fence/way to keep rabbits out of the annual vegetable garden? apple core. Janet Dowell ,. May 19, 2012 09:41:48. (0 apple) (0 apple cores). +Pie Number of slices to send: Send … The wild rabbits Quora·https://www.quora.com**What type** of barriers are most effective for keeping rabbits away ...Related. What is the best way to protect plants from rabbits? Profile photo for Sharon Sampson · Sharon Sampson. Landscape Architect, 3X Master Gardener, Exercise Specialist · Author has 3.5K answers The Spruce·https://www.thespruce.com How to Keep Rabbits Out of Garden With or Without Fences Protect Individual Plants. Use 1/4- to 1/2-inch mesh chicken wire or hardware cloth to form cylinders around new trees, shrubs, or vines. Bury the fencing 6 inches deep to prevent burrowing. Provide s

To keep rabbits out of your vegetable garden effectively, you need a fence that blocks them both from squeezing through and from digging underneath.

• Chicken wire: Use a height of at least 2 to 3 feet. Crucially, the mesh holes must be 1 inch or smaller (preferably 1 inch or 0.5 inch at the bottom) because baby rabbits can squeeze through surprisingly tiny gaps.
• Hardware cloth: This is a welded wire mesh (rather than twisted like chicken wire) that is much sturdier and completely chew-proof. A 0.5-inch or 0.25-inch mesh size provides absolute protection against rabbits and smaller pests like voles.
• Electric fencing: A two-strand low-impedance electric fence works exceptionally well. Place the bottom wire about 3 to 4 inches off the ground (right at a rabbit's nose level) and the second wire about 8 to 10 inches high.
• Buried apron (Anti-dig feature): Whichever wire fencing you choose, rabbits are notorious diggers. You need to bury the bottom 6 to 12 inches of the fence vertically, or bend the bottom 6 to 12 inches outward away from the garden in an "L" shape and bury it just under the surface so they hit the wire when they try to dig.

To help narrow down the best setup for your yard, tell me:

• How large is your vegetable garden?
• What is your budget or preference (temporary vs. permanent)?
• Are you dealing with other pests (like deer or groundhogs) that might change the fence height needed?

For a vegetable garden, the best rabbit fence is a low, small-mesh wire fence—simple and very effective.

• Material: galvanized chicken wire or welded wire.
• Mesh: 1 inch or smaller so young rabbits can't squeeze through.
• Height: about 2 feet above ground is normally enough for cottontails. If jackrabbits are present, go to 3 feet.
• Bottom: This is the most important part. Bury it 4–6 inches, or bend the bottom outward into a 6–12 inch horizontal apron to stop rabbits from digging underneath.
• Gates: Make sure the gate also reaches the ground and has no gaps underneath.

My pick: a 2–3 ft tall galvanized welded-wire fence with 1-inch mesh, plus a 6-inch-deep or outward-facing buried apron. Welded wire costs a little more than chicken wire but generally lasts longer.

You don't need an expensive 6-foot garden fence just for rabbits. Physical exclusion is much more reliable than sprays or scent repellents.

If you tell me roughly how big your garden is, I can also suggest the most economical fence setup and how much material you'd need.

A wire mesh fence is the most effective way to keep rabbits out of your vegetable garden.

Best Fence Specifications

• Material : Galvanized hex netting (chicken wire) or hardware cloth.
• Mesh Size : 1 inch or smaller so baby rabbits cannot squeeze through.
• Height : 2 feet to 3 feet above the ground to prevent jumping.
• Depth : Buried 6 inches to 12 inches deep to stop digging.

Top Wire Mesh Options

• Amagabeli Hardware Cloth : This 1/4-inch or 1/2-inch galvanized wire mesh provides a completely impenetrable barrier against rabbits of all sizes and holds up well underground.
• Yardgard Galvanized Hex Netting : A classic 1-inch chicken wire option that is lightweight, highly flexible for wrapping around existing structures, and very budget-friendly.
• Fencer Wire Welded Wire Fence : A heavier duty 1x1 inch grid option that offers more structural rigidity than standard chicken wire, making it easier to stand up with fewer fence posts.

Installation Tips

• L-Shaped Trench : Bend the bottom 6 inches of the wire outward away from the garden in a ditch before burying it.
• Support Posts : Space metal T-posts every 4 to 6 feet to keep the wire taut.
• Gate Clearance : Keep the bottom of your garden gate within 2 inches of the ground.

If you want to customize your defense setup, let me know:

• What vegetables are you currently growing?
• Do you have an existing fence we can modify?
• How large is the area you need to protect?

I can help you plan the exact layout or suggest alternative repellents.

For a vegetable garden, the best all-around rabbit fence is galvanized welded-wire or hardware-cloth fencing with openings of 1 inch or smaller.

• Height: about 2 feet above ground is generally sufficient for cottontail rabbits.
• Mesh: 1 inch or smaller; ½-inch hardware cloth is even more secure, particularly for young rabbits.
• Bottom: This is crucial. Bury the fence 4–6 inches, or bend the bottom outward into an L-shaped 6–12-inch apron and pin it to the soil. This prevents rabbits from digging underneath.
• Material: Welded wire is sturdier and longer-lasting than inexpensive chicken wire. Chicken wire works too if you want the budget option.

My pick: 2-foot-tall, 1-inch welded-wire fencing, with the bottom buried about 6 inches. If rabbits are especially persistent, use ½-inch hardware cloth around the lower portion.

One thing I'd avoid is standard 2×4-inch garden/deer fencing by itself—the openings are large enough for rabbits to squeeze through.

If you tell me the approximate size of your garden and whether it's raised beds or in-ground, I can suggest the simplest fence setup and how much material you'd need.

The best rabbit fence for a vegetable garden is small-mesh wire fencing, about 2 feet high, with the bottom secured so rabbits can't squeeze or dig underneath. Iowa State Extension specifically recommends chicken wire or hardware cloth with 1-inch-or-smaller openings.

My recommendation

• Material: galvanized welded wire/hardware cloth for the most durable option; chicken wire works and is cheaper.
• Mesh: 1 inch or smaller—small rabbits can get through surprisingly small openings.
• Height: 24–30 inches is generally sufficient.
• Bottom: bury it 4–6 inches, or bend the bottom outward to create a 6–12-inch horizontal apron and stake it down. This is especially effective against digging.
• Gates: Make sure there isn't a gap underneath the gate—rabbits will exploit even a small opening.

Best overall setup: 24–30" tall, 1" galvanized welded wire, with a 6–12" outward-facing apron pinned firmly to the ground. It's a little more work initially, but physical exclusion is much more reliable long-term than rabbit repellents.

If you have deer, groundhogs, or squirrels too, the ideal fence design changes a bit.

The absolute best type of fence for a vegetable garden plagued by rabbits is a vinyl-coated or galvanized welded wire mesh fence (often sold as "rabbit guard" or "welded wire garden fence").

Unlike flimsy plastic netting (which rabbits can and will chew through) or standard chicken wire (which rusts quickly and loses structural integrity), welded wire provides heavy-duty, long-lasting chew-resistance.

Key Specifications for a Rabbit-Proof Fence

• Mesh Size: The gaps must be 1 inch or smaller near the bottom. Look for progressive mesh rolls where the horizontal spacing is tightest at the ground level (e.g., 1 × 1 inch or 2 × 1 inch) so baby bunnies cannot squeeze through.
• Height: At least 24 to 36 inches (2 to 3 feet) tall . While motivated rabbits can jump a bit, a 30-inch barrier is usually the sweet spot that convinces them it’s too much work and to move on to an easier yard.
• Preventing Digging: Rabbits are prolific diggers. Do not just let the fence rest on top of the soil. You should either bury the bottom 6 inches straight down or bend the bottom 6 inches into an L-shape that flares outward away from the garden and pin it down with landscape staples. Grass will grow over the flared wire, stopping critters from digging right at the boundary.

Shopping Options

You can find rolls of this material online or at local hardware stores:

For a durable metal option, look at rolls like the [allFENZ Steel Welded Wire Rabbit Garden Fence Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ](https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/allfenz-40-in-x-50-ft-steel-rabbit-garden-fence-welded-wire-rbf40050-1528067) available at Tractor Supply Company.

For a rust-preventative coating, consider the [Fencer Wire Green PVC-Coated Rabbit Guard Fence Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fencer-Wire-24-in-x-50-ft-16-Gauge-Green-PVC-Coated-Rabbit-Guard-Fence-Poultry-Fencing-Wire-Roll-for-Garden-Yard-Vegetable-Plant-WRV16-G2X50MV/330228972) via The Home Depot.

If you'd like, tell me:

• Is your garden in-ground or in raised beds?
• Are you looking for a permanent setup or something removable/temporary?

I can give you exact installation instructions tailored to your layout.

The best rabbit-proof garden fence is usually ½-inch galvanized hardware cloth (welded wire mesh), installed so rabbits can’t squeeze through or dig underneath. It costs more than chicken wire, but it lasts longer and is much more reliable.

A good setup:

• Fence material: ½-inch hardware cloth (19–23 gauge is common)
• Height: about 2–3 feet above ground is usually enough for rabbits
• Bottom barrier (most important):
  • Bury the bottom 6–12 inches, or
  • Bend the bottom outward into an L-shaped apron and pin it flat so they can’t dig under
• Support: attach it to sturdy stakes or posts and keep the bottom tight against the soil

A few options ranked:

1. Best overall: ½-inch hardware cloth

   • Most rabbit-proof
   • Keeps out young rabbits and many other small pests
   • Good for raised beds and permanent gardens

2. Budget option: 1-inch chicken wire

   • Works for many adult rabbits
   • Cheaper, but rabbits may get through larger openings and it’s easier to bend or damage

3. Not recommended alone: decorative garden fencing, picket fencing, or chain link

   • Rabbits can often slip underneath or through openings unless you add a fine mesh barrier.

For a typical backyard vegetable garden, I’d build a 30–36 inch tall fence using ½-inch hardware cloth, with the bottom buried or flared outward. That combination solves the two ways rabbits usually win: squeezing through gaps and digging under the fence.

If you tell me your garden size (for example, a 4×8 raised bed vs. a 20×30 plot) and whether you have deer as well, I can suggest a fence design and materials list.

The gold standard for keeping rabbits out of a vegetable garden is a galvanized welded wire fence (often sold as "rabbit guard" fencing) or hardware cloth.

Recommended Fence Specifications

• Material: Galvanized or vinyl-coated steel welded wire. Avoid flimsy plastic netting or thin chicken wire, as determined rabbits can chew right through them.
• Mesh Size: 1 2 i n c h t o 1 i n c h openings. Look for "graduated mesh" rolls where the openings are tighter/smaller at the bottom (≈ 1 × 1 inch or 1 × 2 inches) to stop tiny baby bunnies, and wider at the top.
• Height: At least 2 to 3 feet tall (3 to 4 feet is ideal if you have larger jackrabbits or want extra insurance). Rabbits rarely jump higher than 2 to 3 feet unless spooked.

Crucial Installation Tips (To Stop Diggers)

Rabbits are notorious for trying to squeeze under or dig beneath fences. To make it truly effective:

1. Bury the base: Extend the fence 6 to 12 inches underground vertically.
2. The "L-shape" flare alternative: If digging a trench is too difficult, bend the bottom 6 to 12 inches of the wire outward away from the garden in an "L" shape and pin it flat to the ground using landscape staples. Grass will grow through it, and digging pests will hit the wire and give up.

You can easily source rolls from suppliers like Home Depot Welded Rabbit Fence Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or Tractor Supply Rabbit Guard Fence Go to product viewer dialog for this item. and secure them using heavy-duty U-posts or T-posts.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Is your garden in open ground or in raised beds?
• Do you also have issues with larger critters like deer or groundhogs?

I can give you a more tailored installation plan.