How to Price Fencing Installation: Panel, Post and Concrete Labour and Materials

Quick Answer: A standard 1.8m close-board fence with concrete posts and gravel boards prices at £75–£135 per linear metre supply-and-fit in 2026. Build the quote bottom-up: posts (1 every 1,830mm), panels or feather-edge components, gravel boards, post-mix or 1:6 ballast concrete, fixings, plus a fitter day rate of £180–£280 outside London for a single trades-fencer or £350–£550 for a two-man team. Volume jobs (over 50m) often discount 8–15% on materials.

Summary

Fencing pricing is straightforward arithmetic — until the customer says they want a hit-and-miss panel run on a slope, the existing fence is held up by concrete that won't break out, the line of the fence is disputed with the neighbour, and there's no vehicular access to the back garden meaning every post has to be carried 30m. Most loss-making fence quotes go bad on access, post extraction, slope correction, and underestimating concrete volume.

For 2026, prices are stable on tanalised softwood (UC4 ground-contact treated) but feather-edge and arris rail components have climbed 8–14% as treatment chemicals (copper-based preservatives meeting BS 8417 use class 4) tighten under HSE rules. Concrete posts and gravel boards have softened slightly with reduced cement-cost pressure. Composite fence panel prices have climbed 12–18% as raw HDPE costs rise.

This guide covers per-linear-metre pricing for the eight most common UK domestic fence types, post installation methodology with concrete or postcrete, gravel board options, planning permission rules under the GPDO 2015, and the line items most fencers under-quote.

Key Facts

Quick Reference Table — UK Trade Supply-and-Fit Costs 2026

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Fence type Height Per linear metre supply Per linear metre fit Total per linear m Notes
Closeboard / feather-edge with concrete posts 1.8m £45–£70 £30–£45 £75–£115 Most common UK boundary
Closeboard with timber posts 1.8m £40–£65 £30–£45 £70–£110 Cheaper, shorter-life
Lap panel + concrete posts 1.8m £35–£55 £25–£40 £60–£95 Budget option
Lap panel + timber posts 1.8m £30–£50 £25–£40 £55–£90 Cheapest standard
Hit-and-miss + concrete posts 1.8m £55–£85 £30–£45 £85–£130 Wind-resistant, exposed sites
Trellis-topped 1.5m + 300mm trellis 1.8m total £55–£80 £30–£45 £85–£125 Lap or feather-edge base
Post and rail (3-rail) 1.2m £25–£40 £20–£30 £45–£70 Rural / agricultural
Chestnut paling 1.2m 1.2m £18–£28 £15–£25 £33–£53 Temporary or rustic
Picket fence (timber) 0.9m £35–£55 £25–£40 £60–£95 Front garden, traditional
Composite panel + composite posts 1.8m £120–£180 £30–£50 £150–£230 Premium, low-maintenance
Steel railings (decorative) 1.2m £180–£280 £45–£70 £225–£350 Front garden boundary
Garden wall (single-skin brick) 0.9m £80–£140 £75–£140 £155–£280 Permanent boundary
Hedge bank with timber post topper 1.2m £40–£70 £35–£55 £75–£125 Rural Devon/Cornwall

Prices for typical UK ground conditions (firm clay or loam) with reasonable vehicular access. Add 15–25% for restricted access; 20–35% for hard concrete extraction; 10–18% for sloping ground.

Detailed Guidance

The pricing structure — six cost zones

Every fence quote should break out:

  1. Post supply — concrete (slotted or morticed), or timber UC4 BS 8417 graded
  2. Panel or component supply — pre-fab panel, or feather-edge boards + arris rails + capping
  3. Gravel board — concrete or timber UC4
  4. Concrete / postcrete — 1:6 mix ballast or postcrete by the bag
  5. Labour — install rate per linear m or per day, depending on scale
  6. Spoil disposal and old-fence extraction — typically £8–£15 per linear m for waste removal; £12–£25 per post for breaking out old concrete

Quoting per linear metre as a single number is fine for the customer but the line-item breakdown is essential for you. It surfaces under-pricing on extraction or spoil removal before the job is signed.

Post selection: concrete vs timber

Factor Concrete Timber
Lifespan 30+ years 15–25 years
Cost (3.0m post) £18–£32 £14–£22
Weight 50–65kg 12–20kg
Repair Difficult — full break-out Easy — sister or replace
Aesthetic Industrial Natural
Ground contact Suited Requires UC4 BS 8417 treatment

For boundary fencing, concrete is the default — longer life, fewer call-backs. Timber posts suit decorative or short-run garden fences where the look matters more than lifespan. Concrete posts with gravel boards is the standard UK domestic specification.

Concrete vs postcrete

For a 100m fence with 50–55 posts, postcrete adds £300–£500 to the materials cost over traditional concrete but saves a day of programme. Most fencers use postcrete for speed.

The slope problem

Panel fencing on slopes splits into two methodologies:

Pricing implications: stepped fencing on a 1:10 slope adds 8–12% to materials cost (longer posts, bespoke gravel board steps) and 15–20% to labour. Raked feather-edge adds 10–15% to materials but is faster than stepped to install.

Planning permission — the boundary trap

The GPDO 2015 Schedule 2 Part 2 Class A allows fences up to:

Trellis on top counts toward total height. A 1.8m panel + 300mm trellis = 2.1m total — over the 2m limit. Customer needs planning permission. Some householders don't realise. Always mention it on quote and take a photo before installation in case of dispute.

Detailed planning permission rules for fences include exemptions for Article 4 Direction areas, Conservation Areas, and Listed Buildings.

Boundary disputes

Two common scenarios:

Document the line of the fence with photos before and during work. Many fencers refuse to start unless both neighbours have agreed in writing.

Old-fence extraction pricing

The most under-quoted single line item is breaking out old concrete-set posts. Pricing should reflect:

Always survey the post bases before quoting. Test with a steel pin pushed in next to the post — if you can't push it in, there's concrete, and extraction is going to be slow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to replace a 30m fence on a UK 3-bed semi (homeowner-friendly)?

A 30m close-board fence with concrete posts and gravel boards typically costs £2,200–£4,000 supply-and-fit in 2026. Cheaper lap-panel options £1,800–£2,800. Premium hit-and-miss or composite £4,500–£7,500. Add £400–£800 if the old fence has concrete-set posts that need breaking out. Most quotes include disposal of the old fence. Always confirm whether spoil and waste removal is included — that's the most common cause of additional charges after the work starts.

Should the panels go on the customer's side or the neighbour's?

Convention says smooth side faces neighbour, framed side faces owner. Some customers prefer the smooth side facing their own garden — that's their choice. Don't get in the middle of the neighbour discussion. Document on the quote which way the customer wants the fence to face.

Do I need to notify the neighbour?

Legally no — if the fence is on your customer's land. Practically yes — if you turn up at 7am and the neighbour didn't know, expect a call to the local authority by 8am. Always ask the customer to give the neighbour 7 days' notice. It saves grief.

Can I fit a fence over a buried gas or electric service?

Yes, but you must check before digging. Section 81 of the New Roads and Street Works Act applies to public utilities; for private installations, use the LSBUD service (free underground service search) or call cable detection if you're unsure. Most domestic gas and electrical services are at 450–750mm depth — well within fence-post depth. Minimum safe clearance: 300mm from any buried service. If a service is in the way, you may need to install a shorter post and a stub-bracket or relocate the line.

What's the labour split for a fencer (homeowner-friendly)?

A typical fencer charges £180–£280/day in 2026 outside London. A two-man crew runs £350–£550/day. A 30m close-board fence takes 2–3 days for a two-man crew including extraction of the old fence. Always confirm whether the fitter brings their own concrete and tools or expects you to provide them — the standard is they bring everything.

Regulations & Standards