Replacing a tired or storm-damaged fence is one of the most common garden jobs in the UK. The total depends mostly on how much fencing you replace and what you replace it with. Best Builders notes that a typical UK semi has a rear boundary of 10 to 16 metres, although a corner plot needs more.
Typical fence replacement cost by run length
| Run and fence type | Typical installed cost | Guides |
|---|---|---|
| 15m, lap panel | £900 – £1,350 | Less.co.uk, Best Builders |
| 15m, closeboard | £1,200 – £2,050 | Less.co.uk, Best Builders |
| 15m, composite | £1,250 – £3,350 | MyJobQuote, Less.co.uk, Best Builders |
| 20m, timber (lap or closeboard) | £1,300 – £2,600 | Less.co.uk, Book A Builder |
Longer runs cost more in proportion, because every extra metre needs more material and labour. A corner plot therefore costs more again. Guides list removing the old fence as a separate cost, at about £8 to £30 per metre.
The table gives installed prices, which include labour. If you plan to do the work yourself, the cost falls by the labour share, which is 40 to 55 percent according to Best Builders. However, you then take on the digging, the post setting and the waste.
What is included in a replacement
A full replacement covers more than the new panels. A full replacement can cover the following items, but many guides price removal and waste separately. Check the wording, because the price you compare must cover the same work.
- Removing the old panels and posts
- Disposing of the old fence (waste and tip charges)
- New posts, concrete or timber, set in postcrete
- New panels and gravel boards
- Labour and finishing
What can change the total
Ground and access matter, because they decide how long the team takes. Trade2Base says a post can take 45 minutes in rocky ground against 10 in good ground. Book A Builder adds that terraced housing with limited access can add 10 to 15 percent to labour costs.
Region also plays a part. London and the South East sit at the higher end in the guides, while northern and rural areas can run 10 to 20 percent lower, according to Book A Builder. Therefore, two identical gardens can get very different quotes.
Should you reuse the old posts?
If your existing concrete posts are sound, replacing just the panels is much cheaper, because you skip the posts and the concrete. Guides put a single fitted panel at about £40 to £120, depending on type and region.
However, if posts are leaning, cracked or rotten, replace them at the same time. Replacing them together avoids a second visit.
Before you replace
Check who owns the fence first, because you cannot replace your neighbour's fence without their agreement. Our guide on which side of the fence is yours explains how to check your deeds.
Check the height rules as well, since a new fence above the limits may need planning permission. In England the usual limit is 2 metres, or 1 metre next to a highway used by vehicles. Replacing a fence with one that is no taller is the simplest route.
How to compare quotes
Get at least two or three quotes for the same run. Because prices vary between installers, a single quote tells you little. Ask each one to price the same fence height, posts and gravel boards, and to say whether the price covers removal.
Ask for the price per metre and the total. Specifically, check how each quote treats waste, since Book A Builder gives £100 to £300 per project for waste disposal on top of removal.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Replace like-for-like where posts are sound.
- Ask whether the quote uses concrete or timber posts and includes gravel boards.
- Clear access and move plants and pots before the team arrives.
- Compare local quotes, since prices for the same job vary between installers.
After storm damage? Do not wait. Get free quotes and we will match you with local fencers fast.
Never pick a quote on price alone. A very low figure may leave out removal, gravel boards or waste, and you then pay for them later. Still, a high quote is not always better, so compare what each one includes.