How Much Does Fencing Cost Per Metre in the UK?
Most UK garden fences cost roughly £50 to £160 per metre supplied and fitted. A basic panel fence on timber posts sits at the lower end. A 1.8m close board fence with concrete posts and gravel boards usually falls between about £90 and £160 per metre, and a 10m run of that kind of fence typically lands somewhere around £900 to £1,600. These are typical UK market ranges from published cost guides, not our prices. Every garden is different, and a proper quote should itemise what's included.
Typical UK fencing costs per metre
For a standard 1.8m (6ft) high fence, supplied and fitted, published UK cost guides put most jobs in these bands:
Lap or waney-edge panels on timber posts: roughly £50 to £100 per metre. Cheapest to buy and quickest to fit, but the shortest-lived.
Close board (featheredge) fencing: roughly £90 to £160 per metre. Built in place on rails, stronger in wind and longer-lasting.
Slatted or venetian fencing: usually more than close board, because the boards cost more and take longer to fit. Hardwood, composite and aluminium slatted systems cost more again.
Lower fences: a 1.2m run usually costs noticeably less per metre than a 1.8m run of the same type, because it uses less timber.
Fencing crews commonly charge in the region of £300 to £400 a day, so the labour share rises with anything that slows the job down. When a builder prices fencing and gates in Kettering, the fence type is rarely the biggest variable. Posts, ground and access usually are, which is why the factors below matter.
What a typical fencing job includes
A complete fence replacement usually covers more than the boards you see. Expect a proper quote to include:
Taking down the old fence and breaking out the old post bases.
Setting out the line and agreeing it with you (and your neighbour, on a shared boundary).
Digging and setting new posts in concrete, plumb and at even spacing.
Fitting gravel boards, then rails and boards or panels.
Fitting any gate, with its heavier hinge post and ironmongery.
Clearing the site and taking the waste away.
If a quote only lists "supply and fit fence panels", ask what happens to the old fence and the old concrete.
What pushes the price up or down
Concrete or timber posts
Concrete posts and concrete gravel boards typically add around £5 to £15 per metre over timber. They're usually worth it: concrete posts don't rot at ground level, and replacing a panel or board later is a quick job instead of digging out a post.
Gravel boards
A gravel board keeps the timber off the soil, and it is the cheapest way to add years to a fence. Leaving it out saves a little now and costs a whole fence sooner.
Removing the old fence
Taking down an old fence, breaking out concreted posts and disposing of the waste typically adds around £5 to £20 per metre if it isn't included. Old posts set in large lumps of concrete are the slow part.
Ground and access
Sloping ground, tree roots, hidden rubble and hard standing all slow the digging. If materials have to be carried through the house or down a long side passage, labour goes up too. The type of soil also matters for how deep the posts go; see how deep fence posts should be.
Gates
A gate is priced separately from the run of fence. The heavier hinge post, the gate itself and the ironmongery add a fixed amount, and a metal or bespoke gate adds more.
Length of run
Short runs cost more per metre, because the setup, travel and waste removal are spread over less fence.
How to compare fencing quotes
Cheap quotes are often cheaper because something has been left out. When you compare, check each quote says:
the fence type, height and total length;
post type (concrete or timber), size and spacing;
whether gravel boards are included, and what material;
whether removal and disposal of the old fence is included;
how the posts are set (concrete, postcrete, or spiked), and how deep;
any gates, with hinges, latches and locks;
what treatment or finish the timber has, and whether it's guaranteed by the manufacturer.
If two quotes differ a lot, the gap is usually in posts, depth and removal.
Does a better fence cost less over time?
Usually, yes. A budget panel fence on timber posts might need significant repairs or replacement well before a close board fence on concrete posts. If you're planning to stay in the house, spending more on posts and boards up front often works out cheaper per year of use.
Who pays is another question worth settling before you get quotes. If the fence is on a shared boundary, check which fence is yours and agree the details with your neighbour first.
Our approach to pricing fencing
We don't quote a single figure up front, because post type, ground and access change the price more than the fence itself. Across Kettering and the surrounding towns, we visit, measure the run and give you an itemised quote that breaks down posts, boards, gravel boards, removal and gates, so you can see exactly where the money goes.
Fencing cost questions, answered
Is it cheaper to buy the fence panels myself?
Sometimes, but you take on the risk of ordering the wrong quantities, damaged panels and materials that don't suit the posts the installer uses. Ask for both a supply-and-fit and a fit-only price before deciding.
What is the cheapest type of fence?
Lap panels on timber posts are usually the cheapest to install. They also tend to need replacing soonest, so they're rarely the cheapest over ten years or more.
Does replacing a fence need planning permission?
Not usually, provided it's no more than 2m high, or 1m next to a road used by vehicles, and the property isn't listed or covered by an Article 4 direction.
If you're replacing a fence and thinking about the garden behind it, doing new decking or a patio at the same time can save on a second round of access and waste removal. Contact us to arrange a visit and itemised quote.
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