Clear view fencing is welded mesh you can see straight through. Palisade is vertical steel pales on horizontal rails, with gaps between them. Sellers of each rate their own product higher, so we compare them on how they are built and used, not on a winner. Request a quote and tell us which look you have in mind.
Side by side
| Clear view | Palisade | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is built | Welded mesh panels fixed to posts | Vertical steel pales fixed to horizontal rails |
| Seeing through | Described as very good visibility through the mesh | Described as good visibility, with gaps between pales |
| Look | A light, low-profile mesh | A traditional, strong-looking security line |
| Climbing | Mesh openings are small in tighter grades, which leaves little to grip | Pointed pales are described as a visual deterrent |
| Repairs | Damaged mesh often means replacing a full panel | Individual pales or panels may be easier to replace, depending on the installation |
| Upkeep | One seller says minimal, which is a marketing claim | Depends on the coating: galvanised, powder-coated or PVC |
| Privacy | None. You can see in as well as out | Little. The gaps between pales show what is behind |
Both comparisons we found were written by sellers: one sells clear view fencing, the other sells palisade. Each leans toward its own product, so we have left out claims neither could support, such as lifespans and strength.
Who should look at clear view
Clear view tends to fit where being able to see the line matters more than hiding behind it:
- A house or estate boundary where you want to see the street, the verge or the neighbouring plot.
- A yard or business site where staff, guards or cameras need a clear view along the fence.
- A boundary where a heavy, closed-in look would be out of place, as some schemes prefer.
- Anywhere you want a gate that is the same style as the fence.
Who should look at palisade
Palisade tends to fit where cost per metre or easy part replacement counts for more:
- A long run on a plot or yard where you want a firm, familiar-looking line.
- A site where a damaged section is likely to be replaced a pale at a time.
- A boundary where the owner or scheme prefers the palisade look.
Not sure which fits? Describe the job and we'll talk it through on the call.
What about price?
One clear view seller's comparison page lists clear view at R1,000 to R1,300 a metre and palisade at R900 to R3,000 and more. It gives no VAT status for either, and it does not say which palisade products sit at the low and high ends.
The takeaway is that neither is always cheaper. Compare like for like: same height, same coating, same gates, same VAT basis. Our cost guide sets out a line-by-line comparison.
Four questions to settle it
- Do you want to see out, or hide? If hiding, neither fence does it alone.
- Who will look after it? Check the coating and ask what upkeep it needs.
- Does your scheme or municipality have a view? Some schemes name a style.
- What would a repair look like? Ask whether a damaged section means one pale or a whole panel.
Ask us about your boundary
Tell us your suburb and what you have now. We'll go through the options by phone and put a price on the one you choose.
Sources for the figures on this page
- Palisade as vertical steel pales fixed to horizontal rails; clear view as closely spaced welded mesh panels; good versus very good visibility; strong traditional look versus low-profile mesh; damaged clear view mesh often needs full panel replacement; palisade components may be easier to replace depending on installation (Palisade World, a palisade seller, undated, checked 7 Nov 2026) www.palisadeworld.co.za
- Clear view R1,000 to R1,300 a metre; palisade R900 to R3,000 and up (overall range only, product subranges not used because the labels are unclear); no VAT status; clear view upkeep described as minimal by the seller; palisade visibility moderate with gaps between pales (Jumalu Fencing, a clear view seller, published 21 Oct 2025) jumalutech.co.za