The Better Fences UK Fence Cost Index collects the fitted fencing prices that UK cost guides publish for 2026. We read six guides on 29 October 2026 and show each range, because the guides do not agree. A single national average would hide that spread.
Headline figures (2026)
- Installed timber panel fencing costs about £40 to £180 per metre across the guides. Closeboard mostly sits at £80 to £140.
- Composite fencing costs about £70 to £220 per metre installed. It costs more than timber in every guide that lists both.
- Replacing a typical 15 to 20 metre garden fence in timber costs about £900 to £2,600 installed, before waste disposal and extras.
- London and the South East sit roughly 10 to 35 percent above the North, based on regional figures from Best Builders, Less.co.uk and Book A Builder.
- Labour makes up 40 to 55 percent of a typical bill, according to Best Builders.
Treat these as ranges, not quotes. Each guide builds its price from different assumptions, for example the post type, the fence height and whether the price covers removal. Therefore, compare like with like before you judge a quote.
Average fence cost per metre, by type
The table shows the lowest and highest installed price per metre that the guides give for each type. Prices differ because each guide assumes a different post type, height and region. Among lap, closeboard and slatted panels, lap is the cheapest in every guide that lists them.
| Fence type | Cost per metre (installed) | Guides |
|---|---|---|
| Lap / overlap panel (timber) | £40 – £110 | Trade2Base, Less.co.uk, Best Builders, Book A Builder |
| Feather edge / closeboard (timber) | £60 – £160 | Trade2Base, Less.co.uk, Best Builders, Book A Builder |
| Slatted / decorative (timber) | £80 – £180 | Trade2Base, Book A Builder |
| Picket | £40 – £95 | Less.co.uk, Best Builders |
| Composite | £70 – £220 | Trade2Base, MyJobQuote, Less.co.uk, Best Builders |
The spread inside one type can be large. Book A Builder, for example, prices lap panels at £90 to £110 per metre, while Trade2Base puts them at £40 to £70. Check which post type and height each guide assumes before you compare.
Regional variation
Because labour day rates are higher in London and the South East, according to Book A Builder, prices there run higher. The table shows fitted closeboard fencing per metre, from the two guides that publish regional figures.
| Region | Best Builders | Less.co.uk |
|---|---|---|
| London & South East | £110 – £150 | £110 – £120 |
| South West | £95 – £135 | £95 |
| East of England | £95 – £130 | £110 |
| Midlands | £85 – £120 | £100 |
| Wales | £80 – £120 | £95 |
| Scotland | £85 – £125 | No separate figure |
| North of England | £80 – £115 | £90 – £100 |
The North of England is among the cheapest regions in both guides, although the gap varies. Book A Builder says northern and rural areas can run 10 to 20 percent lower. In contrast, terraced housing with limited access can add 10 to 15 percent to labour costs, so your own street may matter as much as your region.
What drives fence prices
Labour is 40 to 55 percent of a typical job, according to Best Builders. Materials, including timber, posts and gravel boards, make up the rest. However, the split shifts with the fence type and the ground.
Ground and access matter too. Trade2Base says a post can take 45 minutes in rocky ground against 10 in good ground. In addition, the fence type matters too, since composite and slatted designs cost more per metre than lap panels in every guide that lists them.
Typical cost of common jobs
| Job | Typical installed cost | Guides |
|---|---|---|
| Replace 15m of timber fence (lap or closeboard) | £900 – £2,050 | Less.co.uk, Best Builders |
| Replace 20m of timber fence | £1,300 – £2,600 | Less.co.uk, Book A Builder |
| Replace a single panel | £40 – £120 | Best Builders, Fantastic Services |
| Fit a side gate | £150 – £600 | Trade2Base, Best Builders |
| Composite fence, 15m run | £1,250 – £3,350 | MyJobQuote, Less.co.uk, Best Builders |
| Remove an old fence (per metre) | £8 – £30 | Trade2Base, Best Builders, Book A Builder |
The job costs above include fitting. However, extras can change the total, because Book A Builder gives £100 to £300 per project for waste disposal, listed separately from removal. Ask each installer whether removal and waste are in the quote.
Methodology
This index is a round-up, not a survey. We read six published 2026 UK cost guides on 29 October 2026 and report the lowest and highest figure in each, with the guide named. Figures are indicative ranges, not quotes, because price depends on length, height, materials, ground and access. For a figure that fits your garden, use the calculator or compare local quotes.
Sources
- Best Builders: fencing cost UK 2026
- Book A Builder: garden fence installation cost 2026
- Less.co.uk: fencing cost
- Trade2Base: fence installation costs UK
- Trade2Base: composite fencing costs UK
- MyJobQuote: composite fencing cost
- Fantastic Services: fence repair cost
Cite this index
Journalists, bloggers and publishers are welcome to reference the Better Fences UK Fence Cost Index 2026 with a link to this page. For data enquiries, use our online form.