Cost guide
How much do fencing and gates cost?
Fence panels cost £100 to £200 each supplied and fitted. A 15 metre run of standard panel fencing with concrete posts typically comes to £900 to £1,800.
Typical prices
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Standard overlap panel, supplied and fitted | £100 to £150 |
| Closeboard or slatted panel, fitted | £150 to £250 |
| Concrete post and gravel board, each | £45 to £80 |
| Side gate, supplied and hung | £250 to £600 |
| Remove and dispose of old fence, per panel | £15 to £30 |
Posts are where fences fail and where quotes differ most. Ask what the posts are and how deep they go before comparing prices.
What moves the price
- Post material. Concrete posts and gravel boards cost more up front and outlast timber by years.
- Panel type: waney edge is cheapest, then overlap, then closeboard and slatted.
- Height, and whether the ground slopes so panels need stepping.
- Removing and disposing of the old fence.
- Ground conditions. Rock, tree roots and made ground all slow post holes down.
What the job involves
Almost every fence failure is a post failure. A post set in concrete with its end grain sitting in a puddle at the bottom of the hole will rot at ground level regardless of how good the timber above it is, so posts want a free-draining base, concrete brought above ground and sloped away, or a metal post spur. Concrete posts and gravel boards last longer than timber and are what most fitters recommend where the ground is wet.
Questions about fencing and gates
Who owns the fence between two houses?
There is no universal rule. The deeds or the title plan sometimes mark it with a T; otherwise it is a matter for agreement with the neighbour. Nobody should assume the left-hand fence is theirs.
How long should a timber fence last?
Fifteen to twenty years for the panels if the posts hold. Timber posts in wet ground often fail first, at around ten years, which is why concrete posts are common.
Do I need permission for a fence?
Generally not up to two metres, or one metre where it borders a road used by vehicles. Listed buildings and conservation areas have their own rules.