This cost guide is accurate, as of 2024*
A new fence can improve the appearance of your outdoor space. If you’re looking to renovate your garden, fencing is a simple and straightforward way to make it look structured and tidy.
Fencing also improves your home’s security, and increases your home’s privacy, giving it plenty of practical benefits too. A new fence can also keep pests away from your flowers and plants. If you grow your own vegetables and fruit, a good, sturdy fence is a must.
Fencing could cost you anywhere from £1,000 to £5,200. How much you end up spending will depend on the number of panels you’re looking to buy, and the cost of materials, which can range quite widely. Different fencing styles will cost different amounts.
Where you live in the UK will affect prices, as cost of labour rises in London and the South East, sometimes by as much as 20%, on average.
This guide will always specify where prices include cost of labour and materials, and where it refers to them separately. This guide covers a range of fencing prices, as well as other common questions you might be wondering about.
How much does it cost to fence a garden?
If you’re in the process of landscaping your garden, updating your fencing is a great way to increase the visual appeal of your outdoor space. The great thing about having new fencing installed is that you have a huge range of options to choose from, both in terms of the fence design you go with, and the material you want to build it in.
The two standard sizes for fencing are 4ft and 6ft high. The type of fence you get will affect how much you end up spending.
The average cost to fence a 4ft high, 36ft long fence is around £1,000. For a 200ft fence, the average price goes up to around £4,500.
The average cost to fence a 6ft high, 36ft long fence is around £1,350. For a 200ft fence, the average price goes up to around £5,200.
It would cost around the same amount to get either wood or concrete fence posts. A gravel board would add around £25 per 6ft to overall costs. Prices can vary depending on the fence design you get (you could opt for hit and miss panels, close-board panels, Venetian panels, or lap panels).
To get an accurate quote, we recommend speaking to a professional fence installer in your local area.
How do you get rid of old fence panels?
There are a few things you can do with your old fencing in order to dispose of it properly.
One of the most popular options is to take your old panels to a recycling centre, especially if your panels are made of wood. Load them up in your car, and make sure you take out any extra parts like screws, so that the panels can be recycled correctly.
If, for any reason, you can’t do this, the other option is to hire a skip. This is a particularly good idea if you have a lot of fencing to dispose of, as a skip handler can dispose of large quantities of materials for you. Some landscape gardening companies can also dispose of your old fence for you. Garden waste is charged at around £250 per truck load.
If your fencing is still new and in good condition, you could try to sell it online, or otherwise donate it.
Lastly, you could try and contact your local council, as they sometimes offer collection services for a fee.
Close section ↑How high can a garden fence be without planning permission?
You will not need planning permission if you want to take down a fence or replace a fence (as long as it doesn’t increase in height).
You will not need planning permission to add a new fence, as long as it’s below one metre high and near a road used by vehicles, or under two metres elsewhere. You also won’t need permission if your gate doesn’t form a boundary with a neighbouring listed building or its grounds.
This does not include conservation areas, where different rules apply. For more information, visit the Planning Portal website.
Close section ↑Who owns the fence between houses?
If your fencing is old or damaged, you might be interested in replacing it. But it’s not always clear who the fence dividing your property belongs to.
Check your title, plan, or conveyance deed first. If you can’t find this, then look for a T-mark on your fence. If it’s on your side of the fence, then it belongs to you. An H mark can indicate that the fence belongs to both you and your neighbour. For more on this, check out our guide on fence ownership.
Close section ↑How do you maintain a fence?
An old or tired looking garden fence can make your whole outdoor space look run down and unappealing. Wooden fences should be looked after at least once every couple of years, depending on how much water and sunshine your fence is exposed to.
Importantly, to keep your garden fence looking clean, you need to have the right equipment. This includes either a power washer or hose, brushes and rollers, wood stain, and bleach or another form of wood treatment. If you do use bleach, make sure you dilute it with water (one part bleach for every two parts water), and then let the solution rest on your fence for a while before you use your power washer.
You might also want to buy protective sheets to lay down around your fence in order to protect your plants or grass. Both the solutions you use, and the heavy jet of water, could damage them.
Make sure you let your wooden fence fully dry before you apply the new seal on it.
Close section ↑How to cut costs on new garden fencing
There are plenty of things you can do to make sure you don’t spend more than you want to on your new garden fence. These include:
- Buy good quality materials. This might seem counterintuitive, because buying good quality materials will of course cost you more money. But cheap fencing has a limited warranty, and often starts looking run down after only a handful of years. Spending as much as you can afford on good materials will help you save money in the long run, as you won’t need to repair or replace your fence for a long while.
- Don’t complicate your fence line. The longer and straighter your fence is, the cheaper it will be (per linear foot). Avoid corners, changes in direction and elevations, as these will raise prices.
- Plan your budget. The best way to make sure you don’t spend more than you want to is to plan ahead of time, and set a budget in advance. That way you can ask for quotes from local tradespeople with a sense of how much you’d be comfortable spending. When it comes to fencing, planning is also important in helping you prevent mistakes from happening, such as not conforming to the right planning regulations, or putting your fence on land that doesn’t belong to you.
- Source materials yourself. This will give you control over how much you spend on your materials and will give you the opportunity to look for discounts and deals. Discounts often run during the ‘slower’ months, from December to February, so keep an eye out for seasonal sales.
- Ask for multiple quotes. Getting as many estimated costs as possible will ensure that you are aware of the lower and upper cost bracket for your project, and are able to negotiate accordingly, saving you money when you eventually make an informed decision on who to hire. And always hire skilled professionals, they will install your fence faster, and will save you money in the long run when your fence remains upright and sturdy.
You can find a tradesperson to install your fence here:
Conclusions
A new fence can improve the visual appearance of your garden and help keep you and your loved ones safe, whilst also protecting your privacy. A well-maintained garden fence can increase the appeal and value of your home.
How much you end up spending will depend on the size of your fencing, and what design style and material you want your fencing to be made of. Unless you’re looking to make your fencing higher than the one you’re replacing, you won’t need planning permission to get this done.
We recommend you ask for multiple quotes when you’re choosing a tradesperson to come and install your fence. You can do so here.
*The Rated People cost guides are produced in collaboration with the quote-building platform PriceBuilder, and a range of tradespeople across the 30+ trades on our platform were consulted. Please note that the prices included are for guidance only – how much you end up spending will depend on the specific requirements of your project.
