Fence Installation Cost: 2026 Prices Per Metre UK
A good fence does a lot of quiet work. It keeps children and dogs in, keeps prying eyes out, marks the boundary and takes a battering from the wind every winter. When one blows down or rots through, most people want it replaced quickly, and the first question is what it will cost.
The honest answer is that it depends on length, height, the type of fence and what holds it up. On Checkatrade's figures, standard timber fence panels average about £45 each, concrete or timber posts about £25.50 each, and installation for a typical run of 6ft fencing averages about £2,200. Composite fencing, which lasts longer and needs less upkeep, averages about £130 per metre supplied and fitted.
This guide converts those figures into prices per metre and per panel, compares fence types, explains why posts matter so much, and covers removal of an old fence.
Compare Quotes & Save Up To 37%:
Price per metre
Fencing is usually priced by the panel or by the run, but most people think in metres, so here is a conversion. A standard UK fence panel is 6ft wide, which is about 1.83m.
| Fence type | Typical price | Price per metre (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard fence panels (lap or overlap), materials | £30 to £60 per panel, average £45 | about £25 per metre |
| Featherboard or closeboard panels, materials | £50 to £70 per panel, average £60 | about £33 per metre |
| Concrete or timber posts | £15 to £36 per post, average £25.50 | about £14 per metre (one post per panel) |
| Post and rail fencing | £5 to £14 per foot, average £9.50 | about £31 per metre |
| Chain link fencing | £8 to £12 per foot, average £10 | about £33 per metre |
| Palisade security fencing | £30.50 per metre | £30.50 per metre |
| Composite fencing, supplied and fitted | about £130 per metre | |
| Premium composite fencing, supplied and fitted | about £200 per metre |
Checked October 2026: Checkatrade fence panel installation cost guide (table last updated February 2025), Checkatrade composite fencing cost guide (updated June 2026). Per metre conversions are ours, based on 1.83m panels.
Installation costs
Checkatrade gives installation prices for a whole run rather than per metre:
| Fence height | Short run (36ft, about 11m) | Long run (200ft, about 61m) | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4ft high | £500 | £2,700 | £1,600 |
| 6ft high | £700 | £3,700 | £2,200 |
Checked October 2026: Checkatrade fence panel installation cost guide.
That works out at roughly £45 to £65 per metre of labour for a short run, falling to about £45 to £60 per metre on a long run, because the setup costs are spread over more fence.
For smaller jobs, many fencers charge by the day. Checkatrade's chain link guide puts fence installers at around £200 to £240 a day, or £25 to £30 an hour (cost table last updated May 2024, checked October 2026).
Example: replacing a 6ft fence
Say you need to replace ten panels of 6ft lap fencing along a back garden, a run of about 18m.
| Item | Quantity | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lap fence panels | 10 × £45 | £450 |
| Concrete posts | 11 × £25.50 | £281 |
| Gravel boards and fixings | 10 | budget £150 to £250 |
| Installation labour | 18m run | budget £800 to £1,200 |
| Removal and disposal of old fence | budget £150 to £300 | |
| Total | about £1,830 to £2,480 |
The materials prices come from the table above. The labour, gravel board and removal figures are budgeting allowances based on the run length, not published averages, so use them to check whether a quote is reasonable.
Fence types
Lap or overlap panels
Horizontal overlapping boards in a frame. The cheapest panel and the most common in UK gardens. Fine for privacy, but thin boards can split and the panels can blow out in strong winds.
Closeboard (featherboard)
Vertical feather edge boards nailed to horizontal rails between posts. Closeboard can be built on site or bought as panels. It is stronger than lap fencing, copes better with wind and lasts longer, which is why many fencers recommend it.
Decorative panels
Slatted, trellis topped, hit and miss and contemporary horizontal slat panels look smart and cost more. Slatted panels let wind through, which reduces the load on the posts.
Post and rail
Two or three horizontal rails between posts. Used for marking boundaries, paddocks and large rural gardens. It is cheap per metre but gives no privacy.
Chain link
Galvanised or plastic coated mesh on posts. Practical for security and keeping pets in, but not attractive. Often used on long boundaries or behind hedges.
Palisade
Vertical pales on rails. In a garden, a low timber picket fence adds charm. Steel palisade is a security fence used on commercial sites.
Composite
Composite boards are made from wood fibre and plastic. They do not rot, need no painting and come in fixed colours. Checkatrade puts standard composite panels at about £120 each and premium panels at about £240, with installation including concreting post bases at about £28 per metre. The higher upfront cost is offset by a long life and almost no maintenance.
Comparing types
| Type | Privacy | Strength in wind | Lifespan | Upkeep | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lap panels | Good | Fair | Shorter | Treat every few years | Low |
| Closeboard | Very good | Good | Longer | Treat every few years | Medium |
| Slatted panels | Partial | Good | Medium | Treat every few years | Medium to high |
| Post and rail | None | Good | Long | Low | Low |
| Chain link | None | Very good | Long | Very low | Low |
| Composite | Very good | Good | Long | Very low | High |
Posts
Posts are the part of a fence people think about least and the part that decides how long it lasts. A fence with good panels on rotten posts will fall over in the first big storm.
Concrete posts
Slotted concrete posts hold panels in grooves. They do not rot, and when a panel fails, you can slide in a new one without touching the posts. They cost more and are heavy to handle, but most fencers recommend them for panel fences. Pair them with concrete gravel boards along the bottom so the timber never touches the soil.
Timber posts
Pressure treated timber posts look more natural and are easier to fix to. They will eventually rot at ground level. Using posts rated for ground contact and setting them in concrete or a post mix helps them last.
Metal posts
Steel posts are slim and strong and are increasingly used with composite and contemporary fences.
Setting the posts
Posts are usually set in holes around 600mm deep, or about a quarter of the post length, and fixed with concrete or rapid setting post mix. Our postcrete vs concrete guide explains the difference, and our concrete calculator can work out how many bags you need.
What affects the price
Two quotes for the same length of fence can be far apart. These are the main reasons.
Access
If the fencer has to carry every panel, post and bag of post mix through the house, the job takes longer. Side access or a rear lane makes a real difference. Concrete posts are heavy, so poor access hits them hardest.
Ground conditions
Soft soil digs quickly. Clay, chalk, tree roots, buried rubble and old concrete slow everything down. Rocky ground may need a breaker, which adds both time and tool hire.
Slopes
On a sloping garden, panels must be stepped down the slope, and each step needs careful setting out. Gravel boards may need cutting, and the fence can need extra posts. Expect a higher labour price on steep ground.
Height
A 6ft fence uses taller posts and deeper holes than a 4ft fence, and it catches more wind. As the Checkatrade figures show, a 6ft run costs noticeably more to install than a 4ft run of the same length.
Run length
Short jobs carry fixed costs: travel, setting out and loading the van. A single replacement panel can cost more per metre than a full garden run.
Season
Demand spikes after winter storms, when many fences come down at once. If your job is not urgent, booking in a quieter month can make it easier to find a good fencer and may help on price.
Fencing and hedges
Not every boundary needs a fence. A hedge gives privacy, helps wildlife and softens a garden, though it takes years to grow and needs regular trimming. Some people combine both: a low fence or post and rail now, with a hedge planted behind it to take over later.
If you are choosing a hedge, remember that fast growing conifers can become a problem. Regular cutting keeps them under control, and a gardener can take on the trimming if you do not want to.
Replacing panels vs a whole fence
If only a panel or two has blown out and the posts are sound, replacing just those panels is quick and cheap, especially with concrete posts. Matching the colour of weathered panels can be hard, so plan to treat the whole run after.
If several posts are loose or rotten, or the panels are near the end of their life, a full replacement is usually better value. Patching an old fence panel by panel often means paying for repeat call-outs over the next few winters.
Removal
Unless you are fencing a new boundary, the old fence has to come out first. That means:
- Taking down old panels and rails
- Digging out or cutting off old posts, including the concrete around their bases
- Loading and disposing of the waste
Some fencers include removal in their price. Others charge extra or leave the waste for you. Old timber can usually be disposed of at the local tip, but a large fence fills a van several times. For bigger jobs, skip hire can be cheaper.
Old concrete post bases are the hardest part. If the new posts can go in the same holes, it saves time. If not, the fencer may set new posts between the old bases.
Gates
Most fences need at least one gate. A simple timber side gate is a modest addition. Wide driveway gates, metal gates and automated gates cost much more. See our guides to making a garden gate and electric gates.
Planning and boundaries
Height limits
In England, you can usually put up a fence without planning permission if:
- It is no more than 2m high, or
- It is no more than 1m high where it is next to a road or footpath used by vehicles
Taller fences, fences around listed buildings, and fences in some conservation areas or estates with restrictions may need permission. Trellis on top of a fence counts towards the height. Check with your council if you are unsure.
Who owns the fence?
Your property deeds may show which boundaries you are responsible for, often marked with a "T" symbol on the plan. Many deeds are silent, in which case there is no automatic rule. Talk to your neighbour before replacing a shared fence, agree who pays, and agree which way the fence will face. Traditionally, the smooth side faces the neighbour, but this is a convention rather than a law.
Moving the line
Never move a boundary fence, even by a few centimetres, without agreement. Boundary disputes can become expensive very quickly.
Lifespan and maintenance
A well built timber fence can last many years, but its life depends on the timber, the treatment, the posts and the exposure to weather.
- Treat timber fences every few years with a preservative or stain.
- Keep soil, plants and compost heaps away from the bottom of panels.
- Use gravel boards so panels do not touch the ground.
- Check posts after storms and fix any movement quickly.
- Trim climbing plants that add weight and hold moisture against the panels.
Wind damage
Winter storms are the biggest cause of fence failure in the UK. Solid panels act like sails. To reduce damage:
- Use stronger closeboard or slatted designs on exposed boundaries.
- Use concrete posts with good foundations.
- Replace a damaged panel quickly, before the next storm loads the neighbouring panels.
Check your home insurance for storm cover. Many policies exclude fences and gates, or only cover them in limited circumstances.
DIY vs professional
Putting up fence panels is a manageable DIY job for two people with basic tools, especially if you are replacing panels between existing concrete posts. Digging post holes and setting new posts in a straight, level line is harder work and takes skill.
A professional fencer will finish a typical garden run in a day or two, deal with the waste, and get the line straight. On long runs, tricky ground or slopes, the labour cost is usually worth it.
Hiring a fencer
Many gardeners and landscapers also put up fences, as do specialist fencing contractors. When comparing quotes, check:
- The fence type, height and length
- Post type and how they will be set
- Whether gravel boards are included
- Removal and disposal of the old fence
- Whether the timber is treated and with what
- The guarantee on workmanship
Our garden landscaping cost guide covers wider garden projects if you are redoing more than the fence.
FAQs
How much does a fence cost per metre?
Roughly £25 to £33 per metre for standard timber panels in materials alone, plus posts and labour. A fitted timber fence often works out at around £90 to £140 per metre, and composite at about £130 to £200 per metre supplied and fitted.
How long does it take to put up a fence?
A professional can usually install 10 to 15 panels in a day. Removing an old fence and setting concrete posts can add time.
Can I put up a fence without asking my neighbour?
If the fence is on your land and within height limits, you do not legally need permission. It is still sensible to talk to them first, especially on a shared boundary.
Which side of the fence faces my neighbour?
There is no legal rule, but by convention the smooth side faces outward, towards the neighbour, with posts and rails on your side.
Are concrete posts worth the extra cost?
For panel fences, usually yes. They do not rot, and you can replace panels without replacing posts.
Does home insurance cover a fence blown down in a storm?
It depends on your policy. Many exclude fences and gates. Check your policy wording.
What is the cheapest type of fence?
Lap panels on timber posts are the cheapest privacy fence. For marking a boundary without privacy, post and rail or chain link can cost less.
Do I need gravel boards?
Gravel boards are not essential, but they are strongly recommended. They sit along the bottom of the fence and keep the timber panels off the soil, where they would otherwise soak up moisture and rot. Concrete gravel boards last longest and pair well with concrete posts.
Can I paint a new fence straight away?
Many pressure treated panels are best left to dry out for a while before you stain or paint them. Follow the maker's advice on the panel label or the treatment product you plan to use.
What should a fencing quote include?
A clear quote lists the fence type and height, number of panels and posts, gravel boards, post fixing method, removal of the old fence, waste disposal and the guarantee. If anything is missing, ask before you agree.
Get quotes
Measure the run, decide on the height and fence type, and photograph the current fence. Send the same details to at least three fencers and ask each to itemise panels, posts, gravel boards, labour and removal.
Compare Quotes & Save Up To 37%: