Fence installation cost: what goes into a new fence

Length and height

Length sets the number of posts and panels, and with standard panels around 1.8m wide, every extra bay means another post to dig and set. Height matters too: a 1.8m fence uses taller posts set deeper than a 1.2m fence, and catches far more wind, so the posts need to be solid. Most back garden fences in England can be up to 2m tall without planning permission, as explained in the guide to fence heights and who owns the fence.

Posts: timber or concrete

Timber posts are cheaper to buy and look natural, but they rot at ground level over time. Concrete posts cost more and are heavier to handle, but they do not rot, and slotted concrete posts let panels be lifted out and replaced easily later. Concrete gravel boards along the bottom keep panels off the soil. Choosing concrete posts and gravel boards adds to the upfront cost of a fence replacement but often lowers the cost of future repairs.

Panel and fence style

Lap or overlap panels are the most affordable. Closeboard panels, with vertical boards, are sturdier. A closeboard fence built on site from posts, rails and featheredge boards takes longer than fitting panels but is very strong and copes well with sloping ground. Slatted, hit and miss and contemporary panels cost more again. Trellis toppers, gates and decorative post caps all add to the total.

• Lap panels: lowest cost, lighter construction
• Closeboard panels: sturdier, mid range
• Site built closeboard: strongest, suits slopes
• Slatted or contemporary: higher material cost
• Gates, trellis and caps priced on top

The old fence and the ground

A fence replacement estimate usually rises most because of what has to come out first. Old panels, rotten posts and especially old concrete footings take time to remove and dispose of, and a run of broken concrete bases can take longer to dig out than the new posts take to set. Overgrown borders along the line may need clearing. Hard ground, tree roots, chalk or heavy clay slow the digging, and a sloping garden needs panels stepped down so each bay stays level.

Access and waste

Panels, posts and bags of postcrete have to be carried to the line of the fence. A side gate makes that straightforward; a mid terrace with no rear access means everything comes through the house, which takes longer. The old fence then has to leave the same way. Waste removal should be listed in the quote rather than assumed.

Is repairing cheaper than replacing?

For a single post or a couple of panels, almost always. Fence repair cost is lower because most of the fence stays put. The balance shifts when posts are failing all along the run, because each repair is a separate call out and the next storm finds the next weak post. Replacing the run at that point is usually cheaper over a few years. The fence post replacement guide explains how to test posts, and the fence repair page covers what a repair visit includes.

Need it sorted? Book fence installation

CRF Services Ltd installs and replaces domestic fences around Rochester, Medway and out to Maidstone. See fencing for how the work is done, then send photos, the rough length and the style you want through the contact page. Every fence is quoted in writing after a look at the line and the access.

Frequently asked questions

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