Having garden fencing added to your home can bring a wide range of benefits including privacy and improved security.
in this article
How Much Do Fences Cost?
So, how much does a garden fence cost? The total price of having garden fencing installed will comprise the supply only costs and price of labour. The supply only costs can be influenced by the material used and the design more on that shortly). With all that said, the total cost will not include the labour cost should you want to take a DIY approach.
Ultimately, if you decide to install the fencing yourself, only the material costs will apply. If you choose to hire a professional, please see the ‘Total Costs’ section below, just under the ‘Installation Costs’ section for some overall estimates. So, let’s now look at the material costs of different options!
Note: The material costs generally consist of the price per garden fencing panel and the price per garden fencing post, although an all-in-one price may apply depending on various factors.
Wooden Fence Prices
Average Cost: £20 to £30 per panel and £10 to £30 per post
Specific costs by type of wooden garden fencing:
- Pine Fences: £70 to £100 per panel
- Cedar Fences: £100 to £300 per panel
- Oak Fences: £70 to £250 per panel
The most common type of garden fencing is that made of timber. Along with being relatively affordable, wooden fencing offers a natural and traditional aesthetic.
On the other hand, wooden fences generally do not last as long as other options. They are prone to rotting and being damaged from weathering (and the elements in general). As a result, they require plenty of maintenance in order to last for many years.
Metal Fence Prices
Average Cost: £80 to £150 per panel and £20 to £80 per post
Specific costs by type of metal garden fencing:
- Wrought Iron Fences: £100 to £300 per panel
- Aluminium Fences: £100 to £400 per panel
- Steel Fences: £100 to £300 per panel
While generally the most expensive type of garden fencing, metal fencing is praised for its strength and durability. What’s more, metal fencing is usually low-maintenance.
However, along with being costly to have installed, it is generally more difficult to install metal fencing meaning that its less likely that the average DIYer could or should take on fitting this type of fencing themselves.
Composite Fencing Prices
Average Cost: £30 to £200 per panel and £20 to £60 per post
Specific costs by type of composite fencing:
- WPC Fences: £30 to £200 per panel
- Trex Composite Fences: £30 to £200 per panel
Another fairly common option is that of composite fencing. Composite fences are a combination of plastic and genuine wood. In most cases, these materials are recycled before being used to create composite fencing.
Overall, while composite fencing (broadly speaking) benefits from the natural appearance of the wooden components of its make-up, the plastic included offers durability and strength not available with your average wooden fences. Ultimately, the idea is to get the best of both worlds.
It’s also worth noting that composite fences (being recycled in most cases) tend to be a more eco-friendly choice than wooden fences too!
With those benefits aside, composite fencing is of course, generally not as cheap as wooden fencing and due to the potential challenges with installing this type of fencing, a professional installation may be required.
Vinyl Fence Prices
Average Cost: £30 to £120 per panel and £20 to £60 per post
Specific costs by type of composite fencing:
- WPC Fences: £30 to £200 per panel
- Trex Composite Fences: £30 to £200 per panel
Lastly, vinyl fences (arguably a mid-range option in terms of pricing), offer various advantages including its relatively low level of maintenance and fairly high life expectancy (generally 25-30 years).
However, along with being somewhat expensive, vinyl fencing won’t be everyone’s cup of tea in terms of its aesthetic. Also, it is one of the more challenging types of fencing to install, hence may necessitate the work of a professional or professionals.
Cost Based on Design
It’s important to note that just as supply only costs can vary based on the material used, the type of garden fencing design can play a significant role in shaping this cost too and therefore, as a result, the overall pricing.
Here are some average supply only costs based on the design/style of fence panels:
- Woven Fence - £30 to £60 per panel
- Weave Timber Picket/Hurdle Fence - £20 to £40 per panel
- Picket Fence - £20 to £50 per panel
- Lap Panel (i.e. Traditional Fence) - £20 to £40 per panel
- Featherboard Fence - £40 to £80 per panel
- Jaktop Fence - £60 to £100 per panel
- Slatted Fence - £90 to £130 per panel
- Lattice Fence - £40 to £80 per panel
*Please be aware that some designs/styles are generally available with one material only while others can be offered with different types of materials. All in all, it’s important to clearly communicate your preferences/needs regarding the material, design and size of the garden fencing and any other aspects that matter to you (e.g. an eco-friendly installation).
Fence Installation Costs
Moving on to the garden fence installation costs or the price of labour, we’ll now look at what these might come to, along with related sub-topics!
Professional Installation vs DIY
As discussed, it’s cheaper to install it yourself. In fact, broadly-speaking, the average garden fence cost with regards to installing a garden fence DIY might come to around £450 to £1,100 depending on the size and type of fencing you opt for.
If instead, you were to hire a professional to build and install it, you’d probably face a total cost of approximately £600 to £1,350 meaning that hiring a professional may cost about £150 to £250 more.
The above estimates assume that the installation work takes about a day to complete. If you have a relatively large garden, however, or the work takes longer than in most cases for another reason (e.g. the work area is particularly difficult to work with), the labour cost could end up quite a bit higher. For example, having a professional take around two days to install a garden fence may mean a total labour cost of around £300 to £500.
Labour Costs
Of course, again, the daily price of labour given above is just an average estimate. Naturally, the price of labour can vary significantly depending on a range of factors.
For one, many garden fence installers will charge on an hourly or daily basis, some charge on a per square metre or per square foot basis. The average daily rate in the UK is about £150 to £250.
Factors Affecting Installation Costs
Along with the factor given above, the price of labour will vary depending on where you live. After all, in general, labour prices generally vary from region to region, being higher in southeast England and below the UK average in northern England and Scotland.
Also, as already mentioned, the price of labour will usually vary depending on how long the project takes, although, of course, this may not apply if the installer charges the price of labour on a square metre or square foot basis!
Aside from the size and type of fencing used, the installation terrain may impact on how long the work takes and how difficult it is and therefore how much it costs.
Fence Maintenance Costs
While the most obvious cost involved in a garden fence is the upfront cost of hiring a professional to fit it or the upfront supply only cost if you’re approaching it DIY, it’s important to think ahead and consider potential maintenance costs. Let’s explore the potential maintenance costs for different types of garden fences!
Wooden Fence Maintenance Costs
Firstly, it is best to repaint wooden garden fences every 3-5 years on average. In most cases, it will be okay to repeat this task every five years.
On the other hand, those living in areas with plenty of rainfall or based near the coast should probably repaint their wooden fences every 3 to 4 years. Either way, it’s a good idea to repaint wooden fencing sooner if it seems necessary.
On average it would likely cost you somewhere in the region of £200 to £300 to repaint wooden fencing DIY or approximately £350 to £500 if you were to hire a professional.
As for staining wooden fencing, this will probably cost somewhere between £10 and £30 in total if doing it DIY, but around £160 to £430 should you wish to hire a professional for the job.
As for repairing a wooden fence, while you could do this yourself, it would generally be best to hire a professional. If hiring a garden fence repairer, this work is likely to cost around £300 to £400.
Metal Fence Upkeep
If instead you opt for mental fencing, there are steps you can take to maintain it. For one, you should regularly clean this type of fencing with water and a mild detergent to prevent rust accumulating over time. Wear gloves for this and be careful not to cut yourself on the fencing.
If, however, you notice rust is present, it’s a good idea to carefully sand it off before adding a rust-proofing solution per the manufacturer’s instructions. Take safety steps such as wearing suitable gloves.
Both of the aforementioned tasks could be done DIY and would likely cost you under £50. However, you may prefer to hire a professional. If so, hiring a garden fence repairer may cost an additional £150 to £250 depending on the scale of the work task.
Likewise, having a professional repair damage to your metal fencing might come with a similar price tag, but potentially more if the work takes more than a day or the price of labour is higher in your area among other factors.
Long-term Maintenance for Composite and Vinyl Fences
If instead you decide to have composite or vinyl fencing installed, there are other steps that should be taken to maintain these over the years.
Aside from cleaning your composite or vinyl fencing regularly to rid it of dirt (with the use of protective gloves such as plastic gloves), you should also apply a sealant every 2 to 3 years or as often as the manufacturer of the product recommends for your specific type of fencing.
If purchasing a sealant, make sure it is suitable for your specific type of fencing and of course be sure to follow the instructions to a T. A good sealant may cost you less than £50, similarly affordable for a DIY approach as is the same with applying a rust-proofing solution to metal fencing.
If your composite or vinyl fencing experiences damage, you may need to pay a professional somewhere in the region of £150 to £250 to fix your fencing up.
Additional Costs
When having garden fencing installed, you may choose to have some additional jobs performed around the same time. Let’s look at the average cost of some of the extra tasks that may interest you.
Gates and Accessories
If you wanted a professional to install a gate at the front of your home, it may cost a few hundred pounds. However, high-quality gates may cost about £3,000 to £4,000 to have installed.
Beyond that, some garden accessories you may want to have include the following (with estimated prices based on labour and supply only costs):
- Garden Trellis - £30 to £200
- Outdoor Lighting - £100 to £500
- Water Features - £100 to £10,000
*Naturally, the prices of the aforementioned accessories can vary significantly depending on the size, type and quality of the installations, not to mention the number of installations.
Removal of Old Fencing
Of course, with having new garden fencing installed you may have existing fencing that needs removing. Should this be the case, you can expect to pay around £320 to £550. This would include an estimated £20 to £50 in waste disposal prices.
Permits and Regulations
Lastly, with a range of laws and regulations that can be relevant to a garden, this domain can add further expenses to your overall bill.
For example, if planning permission was needed, this might cost a few hundred pounds, although pricing may be lower in some cases. The good news is that planning permission is rarely needed for a garden fence installation!
Also, you’ll be pleased to know that a garden fencing installation should not necessitate a building regulations fee, assuming no other work is also taking place.
If unsure whether or not planning permission is needed and what sort of planning permission and building regulations/permits fees may apply to your specific project(s), you can always check with your local council for clarity. After all, it’s also worth noting that local rules and fees could apply in certain cases.
Regional Variations
As discussed, the cost of labour (if hiring a professional) can differ depending on where you live.
Along with there being a general difference in labour prices between urban and rural areas (with the latter tending to come with lower costs), prices are generally above average in southern England but below average in regions such as northern England and Scotland.
To give some examples (using some notable cities in the UK), here is what the price of hiring a professional or service to install garden fencing tends to be:
- Birmingham - £150 to £190 per day
- Leeds - £120 to £160 per day
- Liverpool - £220 to £260 per day
- London - £220 to £260 per day
- Manchester - £180 to £220 per day
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne - £220 to £260 per day
- Sheffield - £150 to £190 per day
- Belfast - £140 to £180 per day
- Aberdeen - £190 to £230 per day
- Edinburgh - £170 to £210 per day
- Glasgow - £220 to £260 per day
- Cardiff - £170 to £210 per day
- Newport - £180 to £220 per day
*Please be aware that prices can vary depending on the type of professional/service you opt for (e.g. landscaper, fencing contractor/service, gardener). Whatever approach you ultimately take, be sure to carefully consider your options before deciding who to hire.
Cost-Saving Tips
The good news is that, despite all the potential costs (both upfront and long-term), there are ways to keep the cost of a garden fence installation down. Let’s look at some of the best tips to achieve this!
Doing It Yourself
As alluded to earlier, a DIY approach might save you somewhere in the region of £150 to £250 and possibly more depending on factors like the cost of labour in your region.
Again, though, you should only install a garden fence DIY if you know exactly what’s involved, follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully and take all necessary safety precautions.
Opting For Low-Cost Materials
Of course, some garden fencing materials cost more than others. For example, a metal fence is likely to cost quite a bit more than a wooden fence.
Therefore, you may want to opt for an affordable wooden fence option. That said, it’s important not to sacrifice quality. That is to say that when considering low-cost materials/low-cost fencing products, you’ll want to look at any online reviews/ratings of said products or other reliable measures of quality.
Beyond that, you may prefer to hire a professional to source the garden fencing for you before installing it themselves. In this case, you should request affordable but high-quality fencing.
Maintaining Your Fences Properly
As discussed earlier, there are ways you can maintain your garden fence DIY without spending a lot. For instance, if you have wooden fencing, it’s a good idea to repaint and stain it once in a while to help prolong its life expectancy.
This will lower the likelihood of high maintenance costs emerging sooner (where a professional will likely be needed) and hold off the time at which you’d need to replace your garden fencing.
Likewise, there are steps you can take to maintain metal fencing DIY with similar benefits/results. This can include cleaning it regularly and then applying rust-proofing solution when needed.
Whatever the maintenance approach, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions (where applicable) and take any necessary safety precautions.
Seeking Out High-Quality Bargains
When looking for garden fencing or having a professional(s) source the materials for you, it’s a good idea for you or the contractor/service to look for high-quality bargains where possible from reliable providers. This too can save you money when it comes to the upfront price of a garden fencing installation.
Secure Multiple Quotes Before Hiring an Installer/Installation Service
Lastly, if hiring a professional contractor or company, it’s a good idea to land quotes from three or more options near you.
By doing so, you’ll then have a few options to compare in terms of pricing, levels of experience and online reviews/ratings (if available) before deciding who to hire. You should consider what contractor/company might offer the best value for money.
Environmental Considerations
Nowadays, many households are concerned with opting for eco-friendly installations whether to protect local wildlife or/and to contribute to better maintaining the environment at large.
If opting for eco-friendly garden fencing (e.g. bamboo or composite fencing), it may cost more than other options you have in mind. With that said, this is not guaranteed. After all, certain types of wooden fencing that are better for the environment tend to be more affordable than metal fencing.
Ultimately, it will depend on the type of fencing you opt for and the specific brand/product in question.
Future Trends
The price of garden fencing may evolve with time. On the one hand, certain options may become more affordable as manufacturing technology advances, making it cheaper and more affordable to produce.
With that said, there are a few ways in which garden fencing could become more expensive. For example, due to the climate crisis and sustainability concerns, certain types of garden fencing may become more expensive with time.
What’s more, new costlier premium fencing options (e.g. new types of smart fences) could arrive on the market at higher prices than most of the costliest options currently available.
With all that said, there is likely to remain a wide range of mid-priced garden fencing products on the market for a long time to come, although temporary fluctuations in prices can happen for certain materials from time to time.
FAQs
Q: Which side of the fence is mine?
A: There is no designated side of the fence for every property; it's all down to your boundary. The best way to find out what side your boundary is on is to look at your property's land registry or title plan. However, these documents may not state it as it's not a requirement. The best thing to do is talk to your neighbour and work it out between you.
Q: What colour fence paint makes a garden look bigger?
A: If you'd like to make your garden look bigger, paint your fences light, cool colours. This is because they are more reflective and give the illusion of space. Try light blue, beige, light brown, light grey or green.
Q: How deep should a fence post be?
A: To make sure a fence post is secure, it should be sat above 2 feet deep.
Q: How high can a garden fence be?
A: In a back garden, a fence can be up to two metres high; in a front garden, a fence can be up to one metre high.
Sources
https://www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/fencing
https://www.garden-fence-panels.co.uk/fence-calculator/