Garden Fencing Cost & Material Calculator
Calculate fence panels, posts, gravel boards, concrete, and total cost for any garden fencing project.
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Garden Fencing Guide
What's the key thing to understand about Panel and Post Spacing?
Standard fence panel: 1.83m (6ft) wide. Posts every 1.83m centre-to-centre — or every 1.9m if including 65mm concrete gravel board. Number of posts: (length / 1.83) + 1 for a standard run. End posts: count both ends. Corner posts: count corners once. Standard fence: post + panel + post + panel + post pattern. Wooden posts: 100×100mm × 2.4m for 6ft fence (with 60cm below ground in concrete). Concrete posts: 100×100mm equivalent, slotted to receive panels and gravel boards. Last much longer, 40-60 years, than timber posts, making them worth the extra upfront cost for a fence intended to be a long-term, low-maintenance installation.
What do I need to know about Materials Cost 2026?
Typical UK fence material costs (per 30m run, 6ft height): lap panel + wooden posts: £400-600 (cheapest, 8-12 year lifespan). Lap panel + concrete posts + concrete gravel boards: £900-1,300 (premium, 25-40 year lifespan). Closeboard + concrete: £1,200-1,800 (most durable wood option). Composite/metal: £2,500-5,000+ (most expensive, 30+ year lifespan, low maintenance). Installation costs (labour): £20-30 per metre for standard fencing. £30-50 per metre for premium specifications. Total installed cost for a typical garden fence therefore ranges widely depending on material choice, height, length, and ground conditions — getting several quotes is worthwhile given this range.
What do I need to know about Planning and Boundaries?
Permitted Development (England): fences up to 2m in back garden, 1m bordering highway, without planning permission. Listed buildings or conservation areas: planning permission usually required for any fence. Always check title deeds for boundary ownership — the 'T' mark on plans indicates the side responsible for maintenance. The fence belongs to the side with the T. The 'good side' (smooth side facing out): convention but NOT a legal requirement. Boundary fences in conflict: an extremely common cause of neighbour disputes, which is why confirming ownership and getting agreement before replacing a shared fence is worth the extra effort.
What do I need to know about Installation Tips?
Concreting posts: dig hole minimum 60cm deep × 30cm diameter for 6ft fence. Set post plumb. Pour Postcrete (rapid-set concrete) around post — sets in 15 minutes. Use a level on two sides to ensure plumb. Important: don't move post for 1 hour, fully cured 24 hours. Setting panels: use gravel boards — concrete or treated timber — between posts and panels. Lifts panel base above ground/grass, prevents rot. Treating wooden panels: apply preservative annually for first 2 years, then every 2-3 years (