12 min read · Updated March 2026
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Fencing is one of the most frequently requested domestic landscaping jobs in the UK. Whether you are a tradesperson working out what to charge on an upcoming quote, or a homeowner trying to understand what a professional installation should cost, pricing comes down to the same deterministic components: materials, post specifications, ground conditions, removal of the old fence, and disposal.
See the exact cost build-up: material trade prices, person-hours, dismantling time, skip disposal allowances, and how to protect your profit margin against hidden concrete stumps and tree roots.
Learn what a durable fence installation actually costs, what specifications prevent premature rotting in high winds, and why the cheapest quote often costs more in the long run.
Quick Answer: Indicative UK Fencing Benchmarks by Run Length
These benchmark ranges assume standard 1.8m (6ft) closeboard fencing, slotted concrete posts, concrete gravel boards, dismantling of an existing timber fence, and certified waste disposal on level ground:
| Fence Run Length | Approx. Bays | Indicative Price Range | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 metres | 5–6 bays | £950 – £1,350 | 1 day (2 trades) |
| 20 metres (Standard Garden) | 11 bays | £1,850 – £2,550 | 1.5 – 2 days (2 trades) |
| 30 metres | 16 bays | £2,700 – £3,650 | 2 – 2.5 days (2 trades) |
| 50 metres | 27 bays | £4,400 – £5,900 | 3 – 4 days (2 trades) |
*All indicative benchmarks exclude VAT and assume standard residential side-gate access without severe tree root obstruction.
Deep Breakdown: 20m Closeboard Fencing Cost Build-up
A 20-metre run represents approximately 11 standard 1.83m (6ft) bays. Here is how a realistic, profitable trade price is constructed:
1. Direct Materials & Fixings
£700 – £900- 11x Heavy-Duty Featheredge Panels (1.8m x 1.83m): ~£35–£48 per panel (£385–£520)
- 12x Slotted Intermediate Concrete Posts (2.4m / 8ft): ~£16–£22 each (£192–£264)
- 12x Concrete Gravel Boards (1.83m x 150mm): ~£10–£14 each (£120–£168)
- 24x Postcrete Rapid-Set Bags (2 bags per post): ~£5.50–£6.50 per bag (£132–£156)
- Fixings & Delivery: Merchant delivery & brackets (~£50–£80)
2. Installation Labour (2-Person Crew)
£650 – £950Erecting 12 concrete posts plumb and true requires a two-person team (lead installer + skilled operative) over 1.5 to 2 full working days (24 to 32 total person-hours). This covers setting string lines, hand-digging 12 holes to 600mm depth, bracing posts, mixing Postcrete, sliding in gravel boards and panels, and trimming to fit.
3. Old Fence Dismantling & Root Clearance
£150 – £250Dismantling old rotten panels, breaking out existing concrete stumps with a breaker or heavy bar, and cutting back ivy and brambles takes 3 to 5 person-hours of heavy physical labour before the new line can even be measured.
4. Waste Removal & Skip Disposal
£180 – £26020m of old timber fence panels and 12 concrete footings produce approximately 1 to 1.5 tonnes of mixed bulky waste. This requires a dedicated 6-yard skip or a licensed trade waste carrier run.
5. Business Overheads & Target Margin
Included in selling priceCovers the contractor's van insurance, fuel, tool replacements (breakers, post-hole diggers, string lasers), public liability insurance, and an operating margin so the business remains sustainable in the winter.
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What Changes the Price on a Fencing Job?
A flat per-metre rate rarely works in reality because physical site constraints can easily add £300 to £600 to a 20m job:
- Concrete Posts vs Timber Posts vs Steel DuraPost: Concrete posts and gravel boards add approximately £150–£220 in materials over standard 75mm timber posts, but they last 20+ years without rotting at ground level. Steel DuraPost systems are lighter to handle but cost roughly 25% more in materials.
- Ground Conditions & Tree Roots: Digging 600mm deep holes in soft loam takes 10 minutes per hole. In flint, chalk, heavy clay, or near mature tree roots requiring a heavy SDS demolition breaker, digging can take 45 minutes per hole.
- Sloping or Stepped Ground: On an incline, fence panels must be stepped. This requires longer 2.7m (9ft) concrete posts to maintain safe ground embedment, extra gravel boards to retain soil, and custom panel cutting on site.
- Restricted Access: Concrete posts weigh around 40kg each, and gravel boards weigh 30kg. Carrying dozens of heavy units through a terraced house hallway or up steep garden steps slows installation speed by 25%.
For Homeowners: Why Do Fencing Quotes Differ So Much?
If you receive three fencing quotes ranging from £1,300 to £2,300 for the exact same fence line, the difference is rarely just contractor markup. In 90% of cases, the contractors are quoting completely different specifications:
- Lightweight 75mm timber posts stuck straight into dirt
- No gravel boards: timber panels rest in moist soil and rot in 2 years
- Shallow 300mm footings with half a bag of Postcrete: blows over in storm
- Old fence left piled up in your garden for you to dispose of
- Slotted concrete posts or reinforced steel posts that never rot
- Concrete gravel boards elevating timber panels above ground moisture
- 600mm deep footings with 2 bags of Postcrete per post for storm resistance
- Complete old fence tear-out, stump removal, and licensed skip disposal included
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