Cost guides › Fencing
United Kingdom
How much does fencing cost per metre?
Fencing 30 m with 1.8 m closeboard panels on concrete posts and concrete gravel boards, plus a timber side gate, typically costs £2,750 including VAT, with most quotes between £2,150 and £3,600. Budget overlap panels on timber posts come to about £2,050, and a featheredge closeboard fence built on site with post caps and heavier posts is around £3,600. Pick slatted or composite fencing in the calculator, and add removal of the old fence, a pair of driveway gates or awkward ground.
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mid-range, typicalCost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £2,150 | £2,900 | £3,800 |
| Scotland | £2,050 | £2,800 | £3,650 |
| East | £2,000 | £2,750 | £3,550 |
| South East | £2,050 | £2,750 | £3,600 |
| East Midlands | £2,000 | £2,700 | £3,550 |
| North East | £2,000 | £2,700 | £3,500 |
| North West | £2,000 | £2,700 | £3,550 |
| South West | £2,000 | £2,700 | £3,550 |
| Wales | £2,000 | £2,700 | £3,550 |
| West Midlands | £2,000 | £2,700 | £3,550 |
Show all regions
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £2,000 | £2,700 | £3,500 |
What's included
Mid-range
- Setting out the fence line along the boundary
- Digging post holes and setting slotted concrete posts in concrete
- Concrete gravel boards along the bottom of the fence
- 1.8 m (6 ft) closeboard fence panels slotted between the posts
- One timber side gate with hinges and latch, hung on its own posts
- Clearing away spoil from the post holes
What affects the cost
Type of fence
Overlap panels on timber posts are the cheapest. Closeboard panels in concrete posts are the most common mid-range fence, and featheredge boards nailed to arris rails on site are stronger again. Slatted, hit-and-miss and composite fencing cost the most.
Concrete or timber posts
Concrete posts with gravel boards cost a little more than timber posts but do not rot at ground level, and a panel blown out in a storm can be slotted back in without replacing the post.
Ground conditions
Soft, level ground is quickest. Stony ground, old concrete, tree roots and heavy clay slow the digging and may need a breaker, and sloping gardens mean stepping each panel.
Access
If everything has to be carried through the house or down a narrow side passage, the job takes longer. Rear access from a lane saves time.
Gates
One timber side gate is included. A pair of driveway gates needs heavier posts and costs noticeably more, and metal or automated gates more again.
Removing the old fence
Taking down old panels and pulling timber posts adds a few pounds a metre. Old concrete posts are heavier and harder to extract.
How to save
- If the concrete posts are sound, replace only the panels and keep the posts.
- Talk to your neighbour before you start; they may share the cost of a boundary fence.
- Take the old fence down and to the tip yourself and ask for the price without removal.
- Treat timber panels every year or two to stretch their life.
Grants, tax and rules
Planning permission
In England a garden fence, wall or gate normally needs no planning permission up to 2 m high, or up to 1 m where it is next to a road used by vehicles or its footpath. The allowance does not apply to listed buildings or their grounds, and conservation areas and planning conditions can restrict it, so check with the council if you are unsure.
VAT
Our figures include 20% VAT. Smaller fencing firms below the VAT threshold may not charge it, so compare quotes on the same basis.
Frequently asked questions
How much does fencing cost per metre in the UK?
For 1.8 m closeboard panels on concrete posts with gravel boards and a side gate, 30 m costs around £2,750 including VAT. Divide by the length for a rough per-metre price, keeping in mind the gate is in the total. Overlap panels cost less, featheredge built on site and composite cost more.
Are concrete posts better than timber posts?
For most gardens, yes. Concrete posts do not rot, and with concrete gravel boards nothing timber touches the soil. Timber posts suit fences where the look matters, such as featheredge built on site or a slatted fence.
Who is responsible for a boundary fence?
Check your title deeds: a T mark on the boundary shows who owns the fence. Where there is no mark, talk to your neighbour before replacing it and agree on the style and cost.
How tall can a garden fence be without planning permission?
Normally up to 2 m, or 1 m next to a road used by vehicles or its footpath. Listed buildings, conservation areas and some new-build estates have extra restrictions.
How long does it take to put up a new fence?
A typical garden run takes one to three days. Posts are concreted in first, and panels and gravel boards go in once the concrete has set.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 31.2 · Labour: £1,010 · Materials: £1,283
Sources: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, tables 14 and 15; Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates; market check: 30 m of 1.8 m panel fence with concrete posts and gravel boards + side gate, incl. VAT. less.co.uk standard panel £65-110/m (avg £85), 30 m £1,950-2,700, side gate £150 + £150 fitting (Apr 2026); trade2base closeboard £60-100/m, pedestrian gate £200-600 (Jun 2026).
Last reviewed 26 September 2026 · How we calculate costs · Editorial policy