Easy DIY Air Conditioner Unit Fence Cover

Learn how to build a DIY air conditioner fence cover the easy way!

After installing our DIY paver patio, the air conditioner unit really started to stand out and look like a big, ugly, metal box! So we built a custom, DIY AC unit fence cover to hide it!

Here is a before and after of this easy weekend project!

DIY AC unit fence design and size with hidden outdoor storage

We designed this fence to be a little larger than your typical AC unit fence cover. We designed it to look like a horizontal slat fence DIY with two sides to not only hide the AC unit, but to also hide a patio storage box behind it too!

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We really needed some patio storage for outdoor pillows, outdoor furniture covers, and toys, so it was the perfect place to do it! This is the patio storage box we are planning to use behind it.

The best thing about this DIY air conditioner fence is that it can be customized to the size you need! You can also easily add another side to it as well if you prefer instead of just two fence panels!

We chose to do two sides since one side was next to the house and we wanted to leave the other side open for AC unit routine maintenance access for a service tech, proper airflow, and easy access to our storage box.

The final size of our DIY air conditioner fence cover is 48 3/4″ tall x 89 1/4″ long x 55 1/4 wide – the size may be adjusted as needed, this is the final size with the optional top trim boards!

This fence could also be used to hide trash cans or it could be used as a privacy screen, although it is only 4ft tall!

Fence spikes vs fence post digger

To make this project as easy and fast as possible, we used fence spikes (also available here) rather than a fence post digger and concrete, which is the traditional way of installing a fence.

They are available in another model for a concrete slab too!

Not only are these easier and quicker to install, but they allow the fence to be removed if you ever need to, so it’s not a permanent structure, but a removable fence panel.

I am sharing how to install them below as well as some extra tips about them!

Also, we used these same fence post spikes for our DIY hose stands too!

Unfinished wood vs pressure treated wood

For most fence projects, pressure treated wood is a good option. However, I try to avoid building with pressure treated wood because of the chemicals.

Since we used fence spikes for this project where the fence sits above the ground and not below ground, we decided to use unfinished wood and stain it with a solid transparency, exterior stain to provide the best durability. See my tips for finishing exterior wood projects and best exterior stain for more details.

But either type of wood may be used based on your preference!

Also, I chose to use black stain because I love how it looks and it matches our black accents on our patio, but you can use any color stain your prefer.

How to build a DIY air conditioner fence cover

DIY air conditioner fence cover video

See this build in action in my Instagram stories or in a short video on YouTube – coming soon!

1. Prep the ground around the AC unit

Prepare the ground area around the air conditioner unit for the fence by clearing any weeds out of the way.

Next, level the area. We used fill dirt/top soil and a hand tamper.

Determine where you want to install the fence posts. A level string line between two wooden stakes may be used to align and mark where the fence posts will go.

This is a similar process to what we used for marking our DIY paver patio and ensuring everything was square to the house.

***Note: if you are building this fence to the exact same size as our fence, the two fence posts should be 80 1/2″ inches apart from each other (this is the distance between the the two posts). And the distance between the two posts on the short side should be 48″.

2. Install the fence spikes

We found it easiest to install the 3 fence spike posts first, then build the long part of the fence in the garage, and then install it into the fence posts.

For this reason it’s very important that the first, long part of the fence (the front panel) is built exactly to the correct size so that it’s a perfect fit into the already installed fence posts!

For the shorter side, we built it in place after the long part was installed into the posts.

To help install the fence spikes level, Brandon hammered a wooden stake into the ground to “pre-drill” a hole. We used this same method when installing these spikes for our DIY hose stands.

Then, he used a small sledgehammer to install the fence spikes into the hole.

*Make sure to wearing hearing protection when hammering as it can be quite loud!*

Tip: Use a scrap 4×4 board on the fence spikes when hammering.

After the fence spike posts are installed, measure the distance between each one. Once you have that measurement, it will be important for building the long part of the fence!

The distance between our two fence posts were 80 1/2″ (long part) and 48″ (short part).

3. Make the initial lumber cuts

Begin by making the initial lumber cuts.

Note, the final size of our DIY air conditioner fence cover is 48 3/4″ tall x 89 1/4″ long x 55 1/4″ wide (with the top trim) but you can adjust the size and cuts as needed for your unit! But, the below cuts are based on this size!

Note 2, the fence spikes specifications recommend the fence size to not be more than 48″ tall. Our fence is a tiny bit taller (48 3/4″) because we added some trim boards at the end!

Use a miter saw and make the following cuts from the 4×4s for the wood posts:

• (3) 4×4 @ 48″ (the fence posts)

Make the following cuts from the 1×6s and 1x2s for the horizontal slats:

• (6) 1×6 @ 89″ (horizontal slats)
• (3) 1×2 @ 89″ (horizontal slats)
• (6) 1×6 @ 55″ (horizontal slats)
• (3) 1×2 @ 55″ (horizontal slats)

Make the following cut from a scrap board, we used a 1×3:

• (1) 1×3 @ 80 1/2″ (spacer board)***
  • ***Note, this measurement should be whatever the distance is between the long part of your two fence posts that you measured in step #2!

4. Build the long part of the DIY air conditioner fence cover

Place the spacer board (that is the exact size of the distance between the long part of your two fence posts that you measured in step #2) between two of the 4×4 @ 48″ tall fence posts.

Then begin building the long part of the fence by attaching one 1×6 @ 89″ aligned with the top of the 4×4 posts.

Make sure to leave a 3/4″ overhang of the 1×6 board on each side of the 4x4s. We used a scrap 1x board (which is 3/4″ thick) and our speed square to help align everything.

Use wood glue and 2″ brad nails to secure in place. Note, all boards will also get screws into them as well at the end! But, the nails help to hold everything in place quickly.

Repeat this process again with another 1×6 board, but leaving a 1/2″ gap between the boards. Use 1/2″ thick scrap wood to help act as a spacer!

Tip: After attaching the top board, move the spacer board to the bottom of the 4x4s to help keep everything in place.

Next, repeat the above process again, but with a 1×2 @ 89″.

Continue this process with two 1x6s and then a 1×2 board, spaced 1/2″ apart, two more times, to complete installation of the wooden slats on the long part of the fence.

5. Secure horizontal slat fence DIY boards with screws

Secure all of the horizontal slat fence boards with 1 1/2″ exterior wood screws.

Then, fill all of the screw and nail holes in with stainable, exterior wood filler. Let dry and sand any excess wood filler off.

6. Apply the exterior wood stain to the DIY AC unit fence

Apply two coats of exterior wood stain to the long part of the fence and the third 4×4 fence post.

As explained above, we used this exterior stain with a solid transparency in black. Here is what it looks like after one coat of stain, but definitely add a second coat!

With the solid stain we used, it acts a bit like paint. After testing a few application methods we found it easiest to apply with a roller and then rub in with a foam brush.

Allow the stain to fully dry.

This is the same stain we used for our DIY hose stands as well!

Check out my tips for finishing exterior wood projects and best exterior stain for more information on finishing outdoor wood projects.

7. Install the long part of the DIY air conditioner fence

Install the long part of the fence into the fence spikes. It’s best to do this with two people and drop it in place at the same time.

Secure the 4×4 fence posts to the fence spikes with 2 1/2″ exterior screws through the holes in the fence spikes.

8. Install the short part of the fence

Finish building the shorter part of the fence in place. Start by adding the last 4×4 fence post, then the 1x6s and 1x2s at 55″ long, using the same method as step #4.

Tip, it helps to use clamps for this step!

Also, for this step there will be no 3/4″ overhang of the side panels on the 4x4s like the long part. The slat board edges will line up with the 4×4 edges.

Fill the holes and prepare the air conditioner screen for stain.

9. Finish staining and add top trim to the DIY air conditioner fence (optional)

We chose to add a top trim board with a 1/2″ overhang over the slat boards and a 45 degree mitered corner at the fence corner. This is totally optional but it is one of those nice final touches!

To do this we ripped 1×6 boards down to 4 3/4″ wide with a table saw. Our miter saw cut list is as follows for the top trim:

• (1) board @ 89 1/4″ from straight edge to long point
• (1) board @ 55 1/4″ from straight edge to long point

Attach the boards with wood glue and 2″ brad nails into the top of the posts.

Finish staining everything. We also put some gravel down too under the fence. We plan to grow grass over the remaining dirt. It would look great with a flower bed in front of it though!

That’s it for this DIY air conditioner fence!

I think it turned out great and this patio corner is looking so much better than before! The curb appeal and outdoor space in the backyard is much improved!

I can’t wait to add our storage box behind this AC cover and I’d like to install a few flower boxes on top of the fence trim too! I keep thinking of more outdoor projects for our new patio!

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