How much does a new fence cost? It's the question we get asked more than any other, on the phone, on WhatsApp and across the counter at Northfleet. And the honest answer is that it depends on your garden. But that's not much use when you're trying to set a budget, so here's how the numbers actually stack up.
As a rough guide, a standard 6ft featherboard fence with concrete posts and gravel boards costs from around £55 to £60 per metre in materials at our October 2026 prices. If you have it fitted, you're looking at roughly £140 per metre all in. Everything after this is about what moves you up or down from there.
I've been doing this since 2006, first as a landscaper and now making our own panels and concrete posts, so I'll tell you where the money goes and where people waste it.
What you're actually paying for
A fence is built in bays. One bay is one panel, one post and usually one gravel board underneath. Most panels are 6ft wide (1.83m), so a 10-metre run needs about five and a half bays, which in practice means six panels and seven posts. You always need one more post than panels.
For each bay you'll need:
- A fence panel. This is the biggest cost and the one with the widest range.
- A post. Concrete, timber or galvanised steel.
- A gravel board. It sits under the panel and keeps it off the wet ground.
- Post mix or concrete to set the post, usually one to two bags per post.
- Fixings, if you're using timber posts. Slotted concrete posts don't need any for the panels.
Here's what one 6ft high bay costs in materials, including VAT. Every option uses 9ft posts, because each bay sits on a gravel board: the panel and the board, plus 2ft in the ground. With no gravel board, an 8ft post does the job. I've allowed two bags of post mix per post.
Budget bay
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| 6ft x 6ft waney panel | from £39.99 |
| 9ft 4x4 timber post | from £21.99 |
| 6ft timber gravel board | from £6.95 |
| Post mix (2 bags) | from £12.60 |
| Per bay | about £80 |
The bay we'd recommend
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| 6ft x 6ft trade featherboard panel | from £47.99 |
| 9ft slotted concrete post | from £25.99 |
| 6in concrete gravel board | from £18.99 |
| Post mix (2 bags) | from £12.60 |
| Per bay | about £105 |
Top end: the Beast
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| 6ft x 6ft Beast panel (heavy duty closeboard) | from £57.99 |
| 9ft slotted concrete post | from £25.99 |
| 12in concrete gravel board | from £24.99 |
| Post mix (2 bags) | from £12.60 |
| Per bay | about £120 |
Prices checked 27 October 2026, including VAT.
The Beast is the panel we make ourselves, fully framed and built for exposed spots. If you'd rather have steel posts, a 9ft galvanised DuraPost Classic is £23.99 and is a lot lighter to handle than concrete.
One thing to know about the Beast bay: a 6ft panel on a 12in gravel board makes a fence about 7ft (2.13m) high. That's over the 2m you can usually put up without planning permission, so use a 6in board if you need to stay under 2m.
Prices change with timber costs through the year, so always check the live prices on our fence panels page before you work out your budget. If you're not sure which style is right for you, our fence panel buying guide explains the differences.
The things that push the price up (or down)
Panel style
A basic lap or waney panel is the cheapest way to put up a fence. A closeboard panel costs more but lasts far longer, because the boards are thicker and fixed to proper rails. Slatted, tongue and groove and other contemporary panels sit at the top end.
We make our own panels, including the Beast. That one came out of our landscaping days. We were putting up fences for customers and couldn't find a panel on the market we were happy with, so we made our own.
Height
A 6ft panel costs more than a 5ft one, but not by as much as most people expect. If privacy is the main reason you're putting up a fence, the extra foot is often worth paying for. Just remember the height limit: in most back gardens you can go up to 2m including the trellis without planning permission, but it's lower next to a road or footpath. Our post on garden fence height rules goes into more detail, and the government's planning guidance is worth a read too.
Posts
This is where I'd spend the money if your budget is tight. A good panel on a rotten post is still a fence that's coming down.
- Timber posts cost the least up front, but they rot at ground level over time.
- Concrete posts cost more and are heavy to handle, but they don't rot and they'll outlast several sets of panels. Have a look at our concrete fence posts.
- DuraPost galvanised steel posts are lighter than concrete and look tidier. Have a look at our DuraPost range, or read our DuraPost buyers guide to see how they compare.
Gravel boards
I'd never put up a fence without them. A concrete gravel board costs a little more per bay but stops the bottom of the panel sitting in wet soil, which is where most panels start to rot.
Your garden
Ground conditions make a real difference to the cost of fitting. Clay, tree roots, old concrete from the last fence and sloping gardens all add time. So does access: if every post and panel has to be carried through the house, an installer will price that in.
Taking the old fence down
People often forget this one. Pulling out old posts, breaking up the concrete around them and getting rid of the waste takes time and costs money. If you're getting quotes, check whether removal is included.
DIY or have it installed?
Doing it yourself roughly halves the cost, because you're only paying for materials. Plenty of our customers put up their own fences and do a great job. You'll need a spade, a post hole digger or auger, a spirit level, a string line and a second pair of hands. Concrete posts are heavy, so don't try to lift them alone.
Before you dig, check for buried cables and pipes. Use a cable detector if you can, and if you're not sure what's under your garden, stop and get advice. Our guide on how deep to dig post holes will help you get the posts right, and that's the part that matters most.
Getting it fitted makes sense if you're working with concrete posts on a long run, the ground is difficult, or you just haven't got the time. Our fencing installation service covers Kent, London and Essex.
A worked example: a typical back garden
Say you've got a 10-panel run down the side of a back garden in Gravesend. You want 6ft featherboard panels on concrete posts with concrete gravel boards.
| 10-panel run, materials only | Price |
|---|---|
| 10 trade featherboard panels | £479.90 |
| 11 slotted concrete posts (9ft) | £285.89 |
| 10 concrete gravel boards (6in) | £189.90 |
| Post mix (22 bags) | £138.60 |
| Delivery to Gravesend | £10.00 |
| Total | about £1,105 |
Supplied and fitted, the same run would be around £250 per bay
Prices checked 27 October 2026, including VAT. Prices change, so check the live prices when you order. Remember, that's one fence run. If you're doing both sides and the back, multiply it out. It's also worth checking our delivery prices for your postcode before you order.
Where people waste money
I see the same mistakes over and over.
Buying the cheapest panels. A thin lap panel might save you a few pounds now, but if it's in bits after two winters you've paid twice.
Skipping gravel boards. They're not a luxury. They're what keeps the panel off the wet ground.
Setting posts too shallow. For most garden fences you want the hole around 600mm deep, or about a third of the post's length in the ground. Cut corners here and the first strong wind will find them.
Ordering the wrong number of posts. Always one more post than panels, plus extra for corners and gates.
Getting your price
The quickest way to cost up your fence is to measure the run, divide it by 1.83m to get the number of panels, and add one for the posts. Then price it up on our fence panels page, or send your measurements to the depot and we'll work it out for you. Or put your measurements into our fence calculator and it will work out the panels, posts and gravel boards for you.
You can call Northfleet on 01322 787312, South London on 020 8698 4064, or message us on WhatsApp. If you'd rather we fitted it, ask for an installation quote. And if you're in the trade, our free trade account gets you trade prices and faster collection.
FAQs
How much does a fence cost per metre in the UK?
At our October 2026 prices, a 6ft featherboard fence with concrete posts and gravel boards costs from around £55 to £60 per metre in materials. Panel style, ground conditions and access all change the price.
Is it cheaper to put up a fence yourself?
Yes. Doing it yourself roughly halves the cost because you only pay for materials. It's hard work, especially with concrete posts, so for long runs or difficult ground a professional installer is often worth it.
How many posts do I need for a fence?
You need one more post than you have panels. A 10-panel run needs 11 posts, plus extra for any corners or gate openings.
