Installed feather edge fencing costs

Different publishers provide different price ranges for fully installed 1.8m closeboard or feather edge fencing. Trade2Base quotes £60-100 per metre including concrete posts and gravel boards. However, Less.co.uk suggests a typical price of £100 per metre, with a range of £80-130 per metre. Best Builders lists a range of £90-130 per metre for fitted fencing.

BookaBuilderUK provides different figures depending on your choice of materials. They quote £110-140 per metre for installation with timber posts. However, they quote £130-160 per metre when you choose concrete posts and gravel boards. You can use our fence cost calculator to help with your planning.

Individual contractors often quote very different prices. One tradesperson Q&A page shows individual replies ranging from £45 per metre to £130 per metre. No reply states whether VAT is included. Because prices differ so much, you should always check what a quote includes before you agree to the work.

Fencing labour day rates also vary between companies. Less.co.uk quotes £200-350 per day for a fencing contractor. Trade2Base quotes £150-300 per day. BookaBuilderUK quotes £200-300 per day for a two-person team. However, this rate rises to £250-350 per day in London and the South East.

Buying fencing materials

BookaBuilderUK separates supply costs by post type. For example, it lists £50-75 per metre for timber posts and £70-110 per metre for concrete posts and gravel boards.

Individual boards also have specific prices at UK merchants. A single 22 x 125 x 1800mm pressure-treated feather edge board costs around £1.53 to £2.43. For example, Atkinsons Fencing lists a board at £1.65 including VAT. Tudors lists a board at £1.70 including VAT or £1.42 excluding VAT.

Additionally, Build Buddy lists several prices for 22 x 125 x 1800mm green treated boards. Selco lists a board at £1.53. Jewson lists a board at £1.78. Huws Gray lists a board at £2.43. These prices do not state the VAT status.

Removing old fencing

Removing and disposing of an old fence usually costs extra. Best Builders quotes £10-25 per metre for this service. This price includes digging out the old posts and skip disposal. BookaBuilderUK quotes £15-30 per metre for this task.

In contrast, Less.co.uk suggests a lower price of £4-8 per metre. They note that many full installation quotes already include this service. You should ask your installer if they include disposal in their price. You can compare local quotes to see what others charge.

Fencing height rules

The Planning Portal says fences generally must not exceed 2 metres, or 1 metre next to a highway (it says including footpaths). You should check with your local planning authority for specific rules. Taller fences might require planning permission. Exceptions exist for listed buildings and removed permitted-development rights.

Fencing construction details

Feather edge boards are tapered and overlap by 25mm. Southern Timber says you need about 8 to 10 boards per metre depending on the width. For example, for 125mm width boards, it gives about 10 boards per metre. For 150mm width boards, it gives about 8 boards per metre. It also says to allow 5% to 10% extra for wastage.

Southern Timber describes a typical build as three nails per board into three rails (at least three rails for a 1.8m fence, no more than 600mm apart), with 100 x 100mm posts set 450-600mm deep. It adds that you will need about 1.5 bags of quick-setting postcrete per post.

For more information, view our UK fence cost index. This helps you understand the wider market.

Source Installed Price (per metre) Notes
Trade2Base £60-100 Includes concrete posts and gravel boards
Less.co.uk £80-130 Typical price £100
Best Builders £90-130 Fitted
BookaBuilderUK £110-160 Depends on post type

Sources