Fencing Installation Costs 2024: Pricing Guide UK

Quick Answer: Standard 1.8m close-board fencing runs £85–£140 per linear metre supply and £35–£60 per linear metre labour. A 20-metre run with concrete posts and gravel boards typically totals £2,400–£4,000 finished. Planning permission needed above 2.0m to highway or 1.0m to a road — no permission needed at standard 1.8m for back gardens (Permitted Development).

Summary

Fencing is high-volume, low-margin work for general builders and landscapers, but well-priced fencing returns 25–35% margin if you control the variables. The biggest pricing risk is concrete and labour-time for difficult posts (rocky ground, services, roots, removal of old concrete). The biggest win is selling the right post type — concrete spurs and gravel boards add 30% to material cost but double fence lifespan.

This guide breaks down the four main fencing systems by price band: close-board (most common, mid-price), panel fencing (cheaper, faster), feather-edge with concrete posts (premium domestic), and chain-link/post-and-wire (paddock and security boundary). Most domestic UK gardens use close-board feather-edge with concrete spurred posts and concrete gravel boards — quote this as your default.

Pricing must account for: ground type and excavation, panel/board grade, post material (timber vs concrete), concrete mix and quantity, removal of old fence, disposal, and the inevitable "while you're at it, can you also..." conversations on site.

Key Facts

Quick Reference Table

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Fence Type Material Cost £/m Labour £/m Posts Spec Total Supply+Fit £/m
Panel fence (lap) timber posts £35–£55 £25–£40 4" timber Cheapest standard £60–£95
Panel fence (overlap) concrete posts + GB £55–£80 £35–£55 Concrete Mid spec £90–£135
Close-board feather-edge timber posts £55–£75 £30–£50 4" timber Better than panel £85–£125
Close-board feather-edge concrete posts + GB £80–£120 £40–£60 Concrete spur Standard domestic £120–£180
Hit-and-miss / horizontal slat £90–£140 £45–£65 Choice Modern design £135–£205
Hardwood close-board (oak, sweet chestnut) £140–£250 £55–£80 Hardwood post Premium £195–£330
Picket / palisade £55–£90 £30–£50 Timber Front garden £85–£140
Post and rail £25–£45 £18–£30 Timber Paddock / boundary £43–£75
Chain link 1.8m on concrete posts £18–£30 £15–£25 Concrete Boundary / security £33–£55
Security palisade steel £85–£140 £35–£55 Steel Commercial £120–£195

Detailed Guidance

Post type — the single biggest cost decision

The post is the failure point on a fence. Timber posts last 10–15 years if pressure-treated to UC4 (HC4) grade and concreted properly. Concrete posts last 30–50 years and won't rot. Concrete spur posts (concrete bottom 600mm, slotted to take a timber post above ground) are the best compromise — looks like a timber post, performs like concrete.

Pricing impact:

Sell concrete posts on the lifecycle argument: client pays 15–25% more upfront, gets 3× the lifespan. For F&F-quality jobs this is a no-brainer. For budget jobs at lowest possible price, use timber.

Ground type and excavation

This is where unpredicted cost lives. Soft loamy ground = post hole takes 5 minutes with petrol auger. Clay = 10 minutes plus extraction effort. Rocky/stony = 20+ minutes with breaker, sometimes impossible. Tree roots = nightmare; either rebid or specify drilling around them.

Quote standard install assuming average ground. Add written exclusion: "Quote based on standard ground conditions. Rocky ground, encountered foundations, tree roots, or buried obstructions are chargeable at £X per affected post."

For a 20m fence (~12 posts), one difficult post adds ~30 mins labour = £20–£30 extra. Five difficult posts adds £100+. Spell this out before starting.

Concrete vs Postcrete

Postcrete (rapid-set foamed concrete) is fast: pour dry, add water, sets in 15 minutes. Best for low-volume jobs (under 20 posts) where you want to move on quickly. Costs more per post: 2 bags × £8 = £16 per post.

Wet concrete mix (ballast + cement) is cheaper for higher volume: £35–£55 per cubic metre delivered. One cubic metre concretes ~12 posts at 600mm × 200mm. Effective cost £4–£5 per post. Worth ordering ready-mix for fences over 30m / 20+ posts.

For best post longevity: use wet concrete, slope the top above ground level so water runs off, and DON'T encase the timber bottom in concrete — leave it slightly proud or set on a gravel pad to allow drainage. Encased timber posts rot fastest.

Boards, rails and gravel boards

Close-board feather-edge components per linear metre:

Total board pack: £51–£96 per linear metre.

Panel fence is cheaper because panels come pre-built: 1.83m × 1.83m overlap panel £18–£40 each. Spacing one panel per linear metre = £18–£40/m for panels alone, plus post and accessories.

Gravel boards — never skip these

Gravel boards span between posts at ground level, supporting the bottom of close-board fence and stopping ground contact. Without them: feather-edge boards rot at the bottom within 5 years. With them: 15+ years lifespan.

Concrete gravel board £18–£30 supply. Timber gravel board £8–£15 supply but rots faster — only use on temporary fences.

Always quote concrete gravel boards as standard. Don't offer "no gravel board" as a saving — it costs the client more in 5 years.

Removal of old fence

Standard old fence removal: 15–25 minutes per linear metre for 2-fitter team = £15–£25/m labour. Add disposal:

Quote removal as separate line. Often clients want to keep "good panels" or use them as bonfire/firewood — clarify in writing.

Standard post-spacing and runs

UK standard is 1.83m (6ft) post centres. Close-board can run 1.83m or 2.4m (8ft) — 1.83m is stronger and standard. Panel fencing is fixed at panel width = 1.83m for overlap/lap panels.

Plan post positions first, working from corners and gates outward. Don't auto-space — measure full run, divide, mark out, dig. Adjusting at the end leaves you with an odd-width panel that looks amateur.

Gate posts: use heavier section — 4×4 minimum for pedestrian gate, 6×6 for driveway gate. Concrete 2.7m or 3.0m for taller gate posts. Allow 900mm hole depth on gate posts (vs 600mm standard) — they take the most stress.

Planning permission and Permitted Development

Under General Permitted Development Order 2015:

Article 4 Directions can restrict PD even in non-conservation areas — check with the council before quoting any roadside fence. Don't install over-height and assume the council won't notice; they do, and the client comes back demanding you reinstate.

Worked example — 25m back garden close-board

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep should fence post holes be?

Standard rule: 1/3rd of total post height below ground. For 1.8m fence with 2.4m post: 600mm hole minimum, 750mm preferred. For taller fences (2.0m+): 900mm. For gate posts: always 900mm minimum, regardless of fence height. Post hole diameter: 200–250mm.

Concrete or Postcrete?

Postcrete for small jobs, awkward access, or fast turnaround. Wet concrete for runs of 20+ posts where ready-mix delivery is economical. Both meet structural requirements at 600mm depth. Postcrete sets in 15 minutes; wet concrete takes 24 hours before final strain — finish all posts before tensioning boards.

Who's responsible for which side of the fence?

There's no legal rule. Title deeds may specify; check the Land Registry boundary description. By tradition the "good side" (smooth side) faces the neighbour, and the side you maintain is the side the rails are on. If both sides own different sides, agree in writing before installing.

Do I need party wall agreement for a new fence?

No — Party Wall Act doesn't apply to fences. It applies to walls (built of brick/stone/blockwork on/over the boundary line) and to excavations within 3m of a neighbour's building deep enough to undermine foundations. Standard 600mm post holes don't trigger.

What's the warranty on fence posts and panels?

Treated timber posts: typically 10-year warranty against rot for HC4-treated (above ground), 15 years for UC4 (in-ground contact). Concrete posts: 25–30 year warranty against frost damage. Panels: 5–10 years typical. Feather-edge boards: rarely warranted — life is 15–25 years if installed correctly with gravel board.

Regulations & Standards