How much does it cost to fence a garden? (2026 UK prices)
Fencing a whole garden in the UK typically costs £900 to £4,500, supplied and fitted, because the total scales with your boundary's length rather than a single flat price. A median-size UK garden of around 24 to 30 metres usually lands between £1,700 and £3,500.
That range is wide because a garden isn't priced as a single item — it's priced by the metre, and every garden has a different perimeter. The sections below turn that per-metre logic into real whole-project totals: how much fence your actual garden needs, what a typical size costs from panels to labour, and what pushes a quote above or below the headline figure.
How much does it cost to fence a garden in the UK?
A UK garden fence, supplied and fitted, costs £900 to £4,500 in total for most homes, driven almost entirely by how many metres of boundary need covering rather than by a flat, one-size price. Standard closeboard or lap fencing in mid-range materials averages £60 to £100 per metre; multiply that by your garden's perimeter and you have a working total before a contractor even visits.
Two gardens with identical fencing can have wildly different bills simply because one has a 15-metre boundary and the other has 35. That is the single biggest reason online "average cost" figures swing so much between guides: some quote a 10-metre sample, others a 30-metre one, and neither tells you which applies to your own plot.
Why the total depends on your garden's perimeter, not a flat rate
Your total cost is your garden's perimeter, in metres, multiplied by the per-metre rate for the fence style you choose, plus whatever extras apply. A standard UK fence panel measures 1.83 metres (6 feet) wide, so dividing your perimeter by 1.83 and rounding up gives the number of panels a quote will be based on, with one post at every join and an extra end post to close the run.
This is also why a like-for-like swap is cheaper to estimate than a new boundary from scratch: you already know the length, so the panel count and the labour time follow directly from it, leaving fence type and site conditions as the only real variables. For the type-by-type rate that drives this, see our guide to fencing cost per metre in the UK.
How much fencing does a typical UK garden need?
A typical UK garden needs somewhere between 8 and 22 fence panels, because the median UK garden measures around 188 square metres and a rectangular plot of that area has a perimeter in the region of 24 to 36 metres depending on its shape. London gardens average only around 100 square metres, the smallest in the country, while gardens in the East of England average as much as 335 square metres, so "typical" varies sharply by region before a single quote is requested.
Scotland has the largest median gardens in the UK at 225.6 square metres, followed by Wales at 192.8 and England at 184.6, and these figures are medians rather than plain averages specifically because a small number of very large rural gardens would otherwise distort the number upward.
Typical garden cost by size (small, medium, large)
| Garden size | Approx. perimeter | Panels (1.83 m) | Closeboard/lap total (supplied & fitted) | Composite total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (terrace/starter home) | 15–20 m | 8–11 | £900 – £1,800 | £1,800 – £3,000 |
| Medium (median UK garden, ~188 m²) | 24–30 m | 13–16 | £1,700 – £2,700 | £2,900 – £4,500 |
| Large (corner plot / East of England-size) | 36–40 m+ | 20–22+ | £2,700 – £4,000+ | £4,300 – £6,000+ |
These bands assume all sides of the perimeter are being newly fenced. Most real gardens fence fewer sides than their full perimeter, which is the next thing worth checking before you budget from a table like this one.
Do you need to fence all sides of your garden?
Most gardens don't need every side fenced, because at least one boundary is usually shared with a neighbour who already has a fence in reasonable condition. A typical semi-detached or terraced garden only needs its rear and one side newly fenced, cutting the effective perimeter, and therefore the total, well below the full-boundary figures in the table above.
Before requesting quotes, walk the boundary and note which sides already have a fence worth keeping, which are missing entirely, and which are failing and need replacing anyway. Only that shorter length should go into your budget, and it's the detail every flat "average cost" figure online skips.
Worked example: fencing a median-size UK garden
A median-size UK garden with a 26-metre perimeter, fenced in standard closeboard on concrete posts with concrete gravel boards, costs roughly £2,100 to £2,700 supplied and fitted. That covers around 14 panels at £45 to £60 each, 15 posts at £15 to £35 each, 14 gravel boards at £13 to £18 each, rapid-set concrete for every hole, fixings, and one to two days of labour at £250 to £500 per day.
Add old fence removal, at roughly £4.50 to £25 per metre depending on whether a skip is needed, and the same job comes to about £2,200 to £3,000. A side gate, if the garden needs one, is a further £100 to £700 depending on whether it's basic timber or a bespoke composite or metal design. None of this changes if you shop around for materials — it changes almost entirely with fence style, which is covered next.
Does the type of fence change the total?
Fence style is the biggest single lever on a whole-garden total, spanning roughly £900 for a budget lap fence on a small plot to over £5,000 for composite on a large one. Lap or overlap panels are the cheapest at around £40 to £70 per metre fitted; closeboard, the most common UK back-garden choice, runs £60 to £100 per metre; composite sits at the top at £120 to £200 per metre but needs close to no maintenance for 20 to 25 years, which can make its whole-life cost lower than repeatedly treated timber.
A full breakdown of every fence type's per-metre rate — including picket, slatted, metal and chain link — is a separate question from the whole-project total this page covers; see our dedicated guide to fencing cost per metre in the UK for that type-by-type table rather than duplicating it here.
How much does labour cost, and how long does it take?
Fencing labour costs £250 to £500 per day for a contractor or small team, and a typical whole-garden job takes one to three days depending on length and ground conditions, so labour alone usually accounts for £500 to £1,000 of the total. A straightforward 24-to-30-metre garden boundary is normally a one-to-two-day job; a 30-metre-plus run, or one with difficult access, can run to three days.
Most firms charge a minimum equal to roughly half a day to a full day even for a small repair, because travel, tools and set-up take the same time regardless of length, so a very short job can cost almost as much per metre as a full garden. For how contractors structure day rates, fixed prices and VAT, see our guide to what fencing contractors charge in the UK.
What else adds to the total?
Beyond panels, posts and labour, two extras appear on most real invoices and are frequently missing from the headline "average cost" figure quoted online: removing the old fence, and fitting a gate.
Removing your old fence
Clearing an existing fence before a new one goes in typically adds £4.50 to £25 per metre, or roughly £300 to £800 across a full garden, depending on whether the old posts are set in concrete and whether a skip is needed for disposal. Concrete posts and panels cost more to break out and remove than timber, and this line is often quoted separately rather than folded into the headline supply-and-fit rate.
Adding a garden gate
A garden gate adds £100 to £700 to a whole-project total: a basic timber side gate sits at the low end, while a bespoke composite, metal or wider double gate sits at the top. If your garden needs vehicle or side access as well as a boundary fence, price the gate as its own line rather than assuming it's included in a per-metre quote.
What else changes the price?
Beyond size and fence style, four factors regularly move a whole-garden quote by 10% or more in either direction: location, ground conditions, fence height, and the time of year you book.
Where you live changes the total by roughly 10 to 25%: London and the South East run highest, the South West and coastal areas moderate, and the North of England is generally the most affordable region for the same job. Difficult ground — clay, chalk, rubble, or a sloped site needing regrading — adds cost regardless of fence style, as does restricted site access that stops materials being carried straight to the boundary. Raising a fence from 4ft to 6ft can add 15 to 30% to the installed price because taller sections need deeper-set, sturdier posts. Booking in autumn or winter, rather than the peak spring-and-summer season most homeowners choose, can bring the labour portion of a quote down, even though spring and early summer are generally better for ground conditions during the actual dig.
Is it cheaper to fence a garden yourself?
DIY fencing can save roughly 25 to 50% versus a professional supply-and-fit total, but the saving comes entirely from labour, not materials. In one documented 20-metre garden project, a DIY installation with concrete posts and gravel boards came to £1,800 completed over three weekends, against £2,400 for a comparable professional job that also included waste removal and a five-year workmanship warranty — a saving of about 25% on that specific project.
The trade-off is time, physical effort, and the loss of any installer warranty if something fails later, so DIY suits a straightforward, accessible boundary far better than a sloped, high, or awkward-access garden.
Do you need planning permission to fence a garden?
Most UK gardens can be fenced without planning permission, because permitted development rights allow a boundary fence up to 2 metres high measured from ground level, dropping to 1 metre where the boundary runs alongside a road or footpath used by vehicles. Like-for-like replacement of an existing fence at the same height almost never needs an application, though listed buildings lose these rights entirely and conservation areas can require consent even to remove a fence.
Exceeding these height limits without permission risks a council enforcement notice requiring the fence to be lowered or removed, so a genuinely unusual boundary — very tall, on a corner plot, or near a listed property — is worth a quick planning check before ordering materials.
Who pays for the fence around a shared garden boundary?
Responsibility for a shared boundary fence is normally shown by a T-mark on the property's title plan held by HM Land Registry, with the mark's stalk pointing to the side responsible for its upkeep; an H-mark, or an older, unmarked title, generally means the boundary is shared between both neighbours. There is no automatic legal duty in England and Wales to erect or maintain a boundary fence at all unless a specific deed says otherwise.
Because the mark on a title plan isn't always clear-cut and many older registers were never updated with one, the practical first step before replacing any shared fence is simply to talk to the neighbour and agree who is paying for what, rather than assuming the answer from the deeds alone.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fence a whole garden in the UK?
Most whole-garden fencing projects in the UK cost between £900 and £4,500, supplied and fitted, depending on the garden's perimeter and the fence style chosen. A median-size UK garden of around 24 to 30 metres typically lands between £1,700 and £3,500 in standard closeboard or lap fencing.
How much does it cost to fence a small garden?
A small garden with a 15-to-20-metre boundary typically costs £900 to £1,800 in standard closeboard or lap fencing, supplied and fitted. Composite or premium materials on the same small plot can push the total to £1,800–£3,000.
How much does it cost to fence a large garden?
A large garden with a 36-to-40-metre-plus perimeter typically costs £2,700 to £4,000 or more in mid-range fencing, and can exceed £6,000 in composite or premium styles once removal and a gate are added.
How many fence panels do I need for my garden?
Divide your garden's perimeter, in metres, by 1.83 (the standard UK panel width) and round up to get the panel count, adding one extra post to close the final run. A 26-metre boundary, for example, needs roughly 14 to 15 panels.
Do I need to fence all sides of my garden?
Not usually — most gardens share at least one boundary with a neighbour who already has a fence in reasonable condition, so only the missing or failing sides need to be newly fenced. Walk the boundary first and price only the sides that actually need work.
How long does it take to fence a garden?
Most whole-garden fencing jobs take one to three days, with a straightforward 24-to-30-metre boundary usually completed in one to two days. Difficult ground, restricted access, or a longer perimeter can extend this to three days or more.
Do I need planning permission to fence my garden?
Most gardens don't, because permitted development rights allow a fence up to 2 metres high (1 metre next to a road or footpath) without permission. Listed buildings and conservation areas are the main exceptions, and exceeding the height limit can require a planning application.
How long will a garden fence last?
Treated timber fencing typically lasts 15 to 20 years with periodic re-treatment, while concrete, metal and composite fencing commonly last 20 to 25 years or more, with some composite products carrying around a 25-year warranty.
Is it cheaper to fence a garden myself?
DIY can save roughly 25 to 50% versus a professional installation, based on a documented case where a 20-metre DIY project cost £1,800 against £2,400 for an equivalent professional job. The saving is in labour only, and you lose any installer warranty.
Should I tell my neighbour before fencing my garden?
Yes — it's good practice to tell a neighbour before replacing any shared boundary fence, especially to discuss whether the cost will be split. This also avoids disputes later over which side's responsibility the fence actually is.
When is the best time of year to fence a garden?
Spring and early summer generally offer the best ground conditions and weather for installation, but booking in autumn or winter can lower the labour portion of a quote thanks to reduced seasonal demand. Which matters more depends on whether you're optimising for price or for conditions.
How much does it cost to remove an old fence before installing a new one?
Removing an old fence typically adds £4.50 to £25 per metre, or roughly £300 to £800 across a full garden, depending on whether the old posts are concreted in and whether a skip is needed. This is usually quoted as a separate line from the new fence's supply-and-fit price.
How much does a garden gate cost as part of a fencing project?
A garden gate typically adds £100 to £700 to a whole-project total, with a basic timber side gate at the low end and a bespoke composite or metal gate at the top. Price it separately rather than assuming it's included in a per-metre fencing quote.
What is the average size of a UK garden?
The median UK garden measures around 188 square metres, according to ONS-sourced data, though this varies sharply by region — from around 100 square metres in London to as much as 335 square metres in the East of England.
A quick note
Indicative 2026 UK figures from published cost guides, installer pricing and ONS-sourced garden-size data. Rules cited are for England — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland differ, and boundary disputes are a matter for a solicitor. Your site, access and local market decide the real number, so get two or three like-for-like quotes. See our full disclaimer.