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Project guide

How much does it cost to put up a fence in the UK?

A panel fence is panels, posts, gravel boards and post mix. Height, corners and a gate change how many you need. A closeboard fence is a different list. Labour to dig and set the posts is quoted separately and varies by area.

Updated Based on manufacturer guidance, sources below

The short answer

For a straight run, panels = length / panel width, rounded up, and posts = panels + 1. A 10m run of 1.83m panels is 6 panels, 7 posts, 6 gravel boards and 7 bags of Postcrete. Panels are not on the SmartBuild price list yet, so you buy those from the shop. Posts, gravel boards and Postcrete are priced in the calculator where we have them. Labour is extra.

Labour is not priced on this page. It is quoted separately and varies by area. Fence panels are not on the SmartBuild price list yet: the calculator counts them, and you buy the panels from the shop. Posts, gravel boards and Postcrete are priced from supplier feeds where we have them.

Work it out for your job

Change the measurements and the quantities update straight away.

Panels
6 x 1.83m
Posts
7 (add 1 per corner or gate)
Post length
2.55m needed, so buy 2.7m posts
Panel clips
24 (about 4 per panel)

Your list

  • 6Fence panels, 1.83m wide
  • 7Fence posts 75 x 75mm (2.7m)
  • 6Gravel boards 150mm x 2.4m, cut to the panel width
  • 7Postcrete 20kg (1 bag per 75mm post)
Open the fence calculator with these numbers

Opens the fence panel calculator in SmartBuild with your length and panel width filled in. Panels are counted but not priced yet. Posts, gravel boards and Postcrete are priced from supplier feeds where we have them.

How the numbers are worked out

The formula

  • Panel fence = panels + posts + gravel boards + post mix + clips, plus a cap on each post
  • Panels = fence length / panel width, rounded up. Posts = panels + 1, plus 1 for each corner or gate
  • Post length = panel height + gravel board + 600mm in the ground
  • A closeboard fence replaces the panels with feather-edge boards, arris rails and screws

Worked example

A straight 10m run of 1.83m wide, 1.8m high panels on 150mm gravel boards:

  • Panels: 10 / 1.83 = 5.5, so 6 panels. Buy these from the shop; they are not priced in SmartBuild yet
  • Posts: 7. Each post needs 2.55m, so buy 2.7m posts, not 2.4m
  • Gravel boards: 6, cut down from 2.4m. Postcrete: 7 bags
  • Clips: about 24 (4 per panel). Add a post for every corner or gate
  • A closeboard fence on the same line is boards and rails instead of panels. Use that guide for its list

Materials checklist

  • Fence panelsLap, closeboard-style or slatted. Standard width is 1.83m (6ft). Not on the SmartBuild price list yet, so check the shop.
  • Fence posts75 x 75mm, pressure treated. A 1.8m panel on a 150mm gravel board needs a 2.7m post. A 2.4m post is too short for that.
  • Gravel boardsOne per panel, so the timber sits off the soil. Sold in 2.4m lengths and cut to the panel width.
  • PostcreteOne 20kg bag per 75mm post. Blue Circle allows about three-quarters of a bag for a 200 x 600mm hole, so one bag covers it.
  • Panel clips and post capsAbout 4 clips per panel. A cap on each post keeps rain out of the end grain.
  • Fence stain (optional)Pressure-treated timber does not have to be stained. If you want a colour, it is an extra tin: about 6 m² per 2.5L for two coats on rough-sawn boards.

You'll also need

  • A spade or post-hole digger, a string line and a spirit level
  • Someone to dig and set the posts, if you are not doing it. That labour varies by area
  • An extra post and a gate kit if the run includes a gate
  • The closeboard list, if you are building the fence from boards and rails instead of panels

Step by step

  1. Choose panel or closeboardPanels are one product per bay. Closeboard is posts, rails and overlapping boards. They are different bills. This calculator is the panel fence.
  2. Measure the runLength in metres, and note each corner and any gate. Each of those adds a post.
  3. Pick the heightTaller panels need longer posts. In England a fence over 2m, or over 1m next to a road, can need planning permission.
  4. Add gravel boards or leave them offThey add a board per bay and 150mm to the post length. They keep the panel out of the soil.
  5. Price what we can, and shop the panelsThe button opens the fence calculator. It prices posts, gravel boards and Postcrete where we have them, and tells you how many panels to buy.

Tips from the manufacturers

  • Blue Circle Postcrete allows about three-quarters of a 20kg bag for a 75mm post in a 200 x 600mm hole. Buy one bag per post so you are not short on the last hole.
  • Post length is panel height, plus the gravel board, plus about 600mm in the ground. A 1.8m panel on a gravel board needs a 2.7m post.
  • In England, permitted development is generally up to 2m high, or 1m where the fence is next to a road used by vehicles. Check with the council if the house is listed or in a conservation area.
  • Ronseal quotes about 4 to 6 m² per litre per coat of Fence Life Plus on rough-sawn timber. A stain is optional on pressure-treated panels.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Adding up the panels and forgetting posts, post mix, gravel boards and clips.
  • Buying 2.4m posts for 1.8m panels that sit on gravel boards. The post is too short once 600mm is in the ground.
  • Forgetting an extra post at a corner or a gate.
  • Using a labour price from somewhere else in the country. Digging and setting posts varies by area, and it is not on this page.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to build a fence in the UK?

Count the panels, posts, gravel boards and Postcrete for your length. A straight 10m run is 6 panels, 7 posts, 6 gravel boards and 7 bags of Postcrete. Panels are not priced in SmartBuild yet. Labour is quoted separately and varies by area.

How much does a panel fence cost in materials?

The priced lines we have are the posts, gravel boards and Postcrete. You still buy the panels, clips and caps. Open the calculator with your length to see the live prices we do have.

Panel fence or closeboard?

Panels are faster to put up and are sold as a bay. Closeboard is built from feather-edge boards and arris rails, and the materials list is different. Use the closeboard guide for that one.

How many posts do I need?

One more than the number of panels on a straight run, plus one more for each corner or gate. A 10m run of 1.83m panels is 6 panels and 7 posts.

How high can I build a fence?

In England, generally up to 2m, or 1m next to a road used by vehicles, under permitted development. Ask the council if you are unsure.

Sources

Quantities are estimates for typical jobs, using the coverage figures above. Products vary, so check the data sheet for the product you buy, and talk to a professional for structural, electrical or gas work. SmartBuild is independent and not affiliated with any of the manufacturers listed.

How many fence panels and posts do I need?Divide the run by the panel width and round up. You need one more post than panels, plus one for each corner or gate. How many feather-edge boards for a closeboard fence?A closeboard fence is built on site from posts, arris rails and overlapping feather-edge boards. The overlap decides how many feather-edge boards per metre you need, and it is what most lists get wrong. How much sand and cement do I need for bricks, blocks or slabs?Work out the volume of mortar first, then split it into cement and sand by the mix. Here are the standard UK rates for brickwork, blockwork and laying paving slabs.

Get the full priced list

Open SmartBuild with your measurements and see a total from up-to-date prices where we have them, plus links to check other suppliers. Free, no sign-up needed for DIY.

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