How much should a new garden fence cost in the UK in 2026?

Fully installed, a timber garden fence runs £70–£150 per metre, composite and metal up to £200+ per metre. The typical 6-panel (11m) replacement is £1,000–£1,300; a 12-panel rear-garden run is £2,000–£2,500. London and the South-East run 15–25% above. See the fencing cost guide for the full breakdown by panel type, post, and accessory.

Why are some fence quotes twice as much as others?

Usually the panel type, post choice, and removal allowance. Lap panels with timber posts and no gravel boards is the cheapest spec; closeboard with concrete posts and concrete gravel boards is the durable spec. Adding removal of an old fence and disposal of concrete-set posts is £35–£50 per panel before the new fence even starts. A "cheap" quote often hides one of these omissions.

What should a fair fencing quote include line by line?

Panel type and height, post material (timber or concrete) and height, gravel boards, post mix or postcrete, the per-metre or per-panel labour rate, removal and disposal of the existing fence, and any gates. Each should have a price or quantity next to it, not just a description. A single lump sum hides whether you are getting concrete or timber posts and whether removal is in or out.

Are concrete posts really worth the extra cost?

For a permanent fence line, yes. A 6ft concrete slotted post costs £15–£20 versus £10–£15 for timber, but concrete will not rot at ground level (where 90% of timber posts fail) and lets you slide out and replace panels individually as they age. For a 12-panel run, the £60–£120 extra in concrete posts saves £1,500–£2,000 of full rebuild a decade later.

How can I tell if my fence quote is padded?

Look for the pattern. A quote that is well above the regional norm, that is silent on post type, that has no removal allowance on a replacement, that is cash-only with no VAT, and that has no gravel board line is showing several signs at once. One on its own usually has an innocent explanation; three together is the point to challenge the price or get the quote independently checked.

Is my fence quote fair? A UK price-sense check

How to judge a UK fencing quote: typical price per metre and per panel, the timber-vs-concrete-post choice, the items most often missing (removal, gravel boards, gates), and the red flags that mean the quote needs a second look before you sign.

A new wooden garden fence with concrete posts and gravel boards. — Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash

Fencing quotes are hard to judge because the headline per-metre rate hides three things: the panel material, the post choice, and whether removal of the existing fence is in or out. Two quotes for "fence the back garden" can be £500 apart and both honest, because they are pricing different specs. This guide is a checklist you can run against your own quote, in plain language, in the order it usually matters.

For ranges and material definitions, start with the fencing cost guide. For the general method, see how to tell if a quote is too high.

Typical price, so you have a benchmark#

In 2026, a UK fence typically costs:

Timber (lap, closeboard, picket): £70–£150 per metre fully fitted
Hit-and-miss, slatted, Venetian: £100–£180 per metre
Metal (railings, mesh): £120–£200 per metre
Composite: £150–£220+ per metre
6-panel typical (11m): £1,000–£1,300
12-panel rear-garden (22m): £2,000–£2,500

Concrete posts run £15–£35 each by height; timber posts £10–£25. Fencer day rate is £300–£400 for a two-person crew. If your quote is well outside these bands without a clear reason (sloping ground, restricted access, premium material), that is the first thing to ask about.

The post choice: where the long-term price comes from#

The single biggest decision behind the headline number is timber vs concrete posts:

Timber posts. Cheaper up front (£10–£25 each). They are the most common UK fence failure point, typically rotting through at ground level within 8–12 years.
Concrete posts. Cost roughly £5–£15 more per post. They cannot rot at the soil interface and let you slide out and replace individual panels as they age.

For a 12-panel run, the difference is £60–£120 in posts now versus a £2,000 rebuild a decade later. Concrete is usually the right answer for a permanent boundary; timber is fine for a short or temporary section, or where a listed property requires it for appearance.

A quote silent on post material is hiding this choice. Insist on it in writing.

What a fair fencing quote should itemise#

A reasonable quote breaks the price into clear lines. The minimum you should see, with a price or quantity next to each:

Panel type and height: lap, closeboard, hit-and-miss, slatted, metal, composite. 5ft, 6ft, or other.
Post material and height: concrete or timber, 6ft, 7ft, or 8ft.
Gravel boards: concrete or timber, with depth specified.
Post mix or postcrete: quantity per post.
Per-metre or per-panel labour: not a single lump sum.
Removal and disposal of the existing fence, including digging out concrete-set posts.
Gates if any, with width, type, and ironmongery spec.
Treatment if timber, with brand and number of coats.

A lump sum that says "fence the back garden, £2,000" tells you none of these. You cannot tell if you are getting concrete or timber posts, removal in or out, gravel boards in or out, and you cannot compare it to anyone else's quote.

What is typically excluded (and why it matters)#

Items that get quietly left off:

Removal of the existing fence. A quote that does not mention it either expects you to do it (often unrealistic) or will add it once on site.
Concrete-set old posts. Digging these out is the slowest part of removal. Some quotes price removal of panels only and bill extra for posts.
Gravel boards. Without them, the bottom of panels sits in damp soil and rots within 5 years. Often missed on cheap quotes.
Treatment of new timber. A fresh closeboard panel needs a coat in its first year to reach its full lifespan. Usually a separate decorator job.
Trimming overhanging vegetation from your neighbour's side.
Disposal of large root systems or tree stumps that obstruct the line.
Repairs to the neighbour's side if panels are double-sided.

For the broader hidden-cost pattern across trades, see hidden costs in builder quotes.

Red flags specific to fencing#

No mention of post type or panel spec. "Fence the back garden, £X" is not a quote. The panel material, height, post type, and gravel board need to be specified or you will end up with the cheapest combination on site.
No removal allowance on a replacement. Stripping out an existing fence and digging out concrete-set posts is real work. Silence on it means an extra bill on the day.
No gravel boards. Panels sitting on damp soil rot within five years. A quote that excludes gravel boards has cut a corner you will pay for later.
Cash-only, no VAT. Fencers turning over £90,000+ per year must be VAT-registered. A larger job priced cash-only often signals an undeclared trader, no public liability insurance, or both. If a post hits a buried gas main, you want the insurance.
Suspiciously low per-metre. Anything below £50 per metre fully fitted in 2026 is either using the thinnest waney-lap panels with timber posts and no gravel boards (tired within five years) or has cut the labour to unrealistic speed.
No allowance for sloping ground. Step-down or rake panels cost more in time and material. A quote silent on slope is fine on a flat plot and a warning on a sloped one.
Confidently moving the line "into the neighbour's side". A fencer cannot resolve who owns the boundary. That is the deeds and your problem, not the fencer's. A quote that promises to nudge the line is how disputes start.

For the general pattern of red flags across any trade, see signs of a rogue builder.

Before you sign#

Is the price within the typical band for your length and region, given the spec?
Is the post material written down: concrete or timber, height specified?
Is the panel type and height stated: closeboard, lap, hit-and-miss, 5ft or 6ft?
Is removal of the existing fence and concrete-set posts in or out, in writing?
Are gravel boards included?
Is the contractor VAT-registered and giving you a written quote (not a cash-only verbal)?

If three or more are missing, the quote is not yet in a state where you can fairly judge the price. Ask for an itemised re-quote before you compare it to other fencers.

The shortcut#

Running this checklist by hand means knowing the per-metre rates, day rates, and accessory prices for your area. Check the Quote does that part for you: paste or upload your fencing quote and we check every line against current UK rates for your postcode, flag what sits above the fair range, and tell you what is missing. Your first check is free.

Got a quote you want checked?

Paste any UK contractor quote and Check the Quote compares every line item against current market rates, flags missing scope, and runs a Companies House check on the contractor. Free on your first project.

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Frequently asked questions

How much should a new garden fence cost in the UK in 2026?: Fully installed, a timber garden fence runs £70–£150 per metre, composite and metal up to £200+ per metre. The typical 6-panel (11m) replacement is £1,000–£1,300; a 12-panel rear-garden run is £2,000–£2,500. London and the South-East run 15–25% above. See the fencing cost guide for the full breakdown by panel type, post, and accessory.
Why are some fence quotes twice as much as others?: Usually the panel type, post choice, and removal allowance. Lap panels with timber posts and no gravel boards is the cheapest spec; closeboard with concrete posts and concrete gravel boards is the durable spec. Adding removal of an old fence and disposal of concrete-set posts is £35–£50 per panel before the new fence even starts. A "cheap" quote often hides one of these omissions.
What should a fair fencing quote include line by line?: Panel type and height, post material (timber or concrete) and height, gravel boards, post mix or postcrete, the per-metre or per-panel labour rate, removal and disposal of the existing fence, and any gates. Each should have a price or quantity next to it, not just a description. A single lump sum hides whether you are getting concrete or timber posts and whether removal is in or out.
Are concrete posts really worth the extra cost?: For a permanent fence line, yes. A 6ft concrete slotted post costs £15–£20 versus £10–£15 for timber, but concrete will not rot at ground level (where 90% of timber posts fail) and lets you slide out and replace panels individually as they age. For a 12-panel run, the £60–£120 extra in concrete posts saves £1,500–£2,000 of full rebuild a decade later.
How can I tell if my fence quote is padded?: Look for the pattern. A quote that is well above the regional norm, that is silent on post type, that has no removal allowance on a replacement, that is cash-only with no VAT, and that has no gravel board line is showing several signs at once. One on its own usually has an innocent explanation; three together is the point to challenge the price or get the quote independently checked.

Last updated: 5 June 2026

Sources cross-referenced: