Following a run of increasingly hot summers, more homeowners are looking to make better use of their gardens and upgrade their outdoor spaces. New fencing can give a tired garden a new lease of life, not to mention adding privacy and creating space for outdoor dining; but costs can vary significantly depending on the materials, design, and labour involved.

This article explores how much it costs to build a fence in the UK in 2026, giving you ballpark figures per square metre to help price your projects. Please be aware that all costs exclude VAT, overheads, and profit.

Building A Fence Costs In The UK

In this article, costs do not include gravel boards, gates or bespoke gate designs. Prices do, however, allow for the main installation work, including digging out and fence posts.

 

We’ve provided three different benchmarks to show the range of pricing you can expect among different contractors. These are: 

 

• Low benchmark – smaller companies are generally lower cost but less specialised and with low project management function; good for low/mid-spec projects and tight budgets.

• Mid benchmark – medium-sized companies offer a balanced mix of cost-effectiveness and specialisation; good for mid-range projects for effective execution within moderate budgets.

• High benchmark – larger companies generally have a higher cost base but can handle a wide variety of specialist tasks; good for mid/high-spec projects and project management.

 

The specification and benchmark you choose will have a major impact on the overall cost of building a fence, so it’s important to align them with your budget and the finish you’re aiming for.

 

Cost of Building A Timber Fence 1.8m x 20m Length (Oil Finish)

Here’s a table showing the average costs of erecting a featheredge timber fence (1.8m x 20m) with an oil finish in the UK. A featheredge fence uses overlapping vertical timber boards, with each board slightly overlapping the next.

 

Timber Fence 1.8m Oil Finish	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Sq Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£4,227	£4,727	£5,188	£211	£236	£259
London	£4,691	£5,245	£5,757	£235	£262	£288
Midlands	£4,097	£4,581	£5,028	£205	£229	£251
North England	£4,049	£4,527	£4,969	£202	£226	£248
Northern Ireland	£4,085	£4,488	£4,926	£201	£224	£246
Scotland	£4,155	£4,647	£5,100	£208	£232	£255
South East	£4,628	£5,175	£5,679	£231	£259	£284
South West	£4,214	£4,763	£5,228	£213	£238	£261
Wales	£4,169	£4,662	£5,117	£208	£233	£256
Average	£4,257	£4,757	£5,221	£213	£238	£261

All costs exclude VAT, overheads, and profit.

 

Here’s what the data shows for the cost of erecting a featheredge timber fence (1.8m x 20m) with an oil finish:

 

• The minimum cost is £4,049, and the maximum cost is £5,757.
• The total average cost is £4,745, or £235 per square metre.

 

Cost of Building A Timber Fence – Cedar Slats 6ft x 20m Length

Here’s a table showing the average costs of erecting a timber fence with cedar slats. Slats are narrow strips of timber fixed horizontally to create a modern-looking fence while maintaining privacy.

 

Horizontal Cedar Slats 6ft	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Sq Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£8,178	£9,145	£10,037	£409	£457	£502
London	£9,076	£10,148	£11,138	£454	£507	£557
Midlands	£7,927	£8,864	£9,729	£396	£443	£486
North England	£7,834	£8,759	£9,614	£392	£438	£481
Northern Ireland	£7,903	£8,684	£9,532	£388	£434	£477
Scotland	£8,040	£8,990	£9,867	£402	£450	£493
South East	£8,954	£10,012	£10,989	£448	£501	£549
South West	£8,154	£9,216	£10,115	£412	£461	£506
Wales	£8,066	£9,020	£9,900	£403	£451	£495
Average	£8,237	£9,204	£10,102	£412	£460	£505

All costs exclude VAT, overheads, and profit.

 

Here’s what the data shows for the cost of erecting a timber fence with horizontal cedar slats (20m):

 

• The minimum cost is £7,834, and the maximum cost is £11,138.
• The total average cost is £9,181, or £459 per square metre.

 

Cost of Building A Composite Fence

Here’s a table showing the average costs of building a composite fence (20m). Composite fencing combines wood fibres and recycled plastic to create a durable, low-maintenance alternative to traditional timber fencing.

 

The costs below are based on WBM Wood Plastic Stone Grey Composite Fence Slat, available at Wickes.

 

Composite Fence 20m	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£5,158	£5,767	£6,330	£258	£288	£317
London	£5,724	£6,400	£7,024	£286	£320	£351
Midlands	£4,999	£5,590	£6,136	£250	£280	£307
North England	£4,940	£5,524	£6,063	£247	£276	£303
Northern Ireland	£4,984	£5,477	£6,011	£249	£274	£301
Scotland	£5,070	£5,670	£6,223	£254	£283	£311
South East	£5,647	£6,314	£6,930	£282	£316	£347
South West	£5,143	£5,812	£6,379	£257	£291	£319
Wales	£5,087	£5,688	£6,243	£254	£284	£312
Average	£5,195	£5,805	£6,371	£260	£290	£319

All costs exclude VAT, overheads, and profit.

 

Here’s what the data shows for the cost of building a composite fence (20m):

 

• The minimum cost is £4,940, and the maximum cost is £7,024.
• The total average cost is £5,790, or £290 per square metre.

 

Average Cost To Build A Fence In 2026

So, how much does it cost to build a fence in the UK? Based on the three different projects covered in this article, you can expect it to cost on average (when using a mid-benchmark contractor):

 

• Timber Fence 1.8m Oil Finish x 20m – £4,757, or £238 per square metre.

• Timber Fence – Cedar Slats 6ft x 20m – £9,204, or £460 per square metre.

• Composite Fence x 20m – £5,805, or £290 per square metre.

Please remember that these costs exclude a contractor’s overheads and profit and VAT. There may be other additional costs, such as obtaining planning permission, conducting structural surveys, making unexpected repairs, and completing custom finishes.

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Start your free trial with BuildPartner today to get the most accurate estimate of building a fence based on your own dimensions and specifications.

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FAQs About Fencing Costs In The UK

Here are some frequently asked questions about fencing costs in the UK.

Do I need gravel boards for a timber fence?

Gravel boards sit beneath the fence panels to keep the timber away from the ground, helping protect it from damp, soil and rot. They add to the upfront cost, but extend the life of the fence. So it’s not just a matter of cosmetic preference.

What is the cheapest type of fencing?

Picket fencing with gaps and wicker screens are generally among the cheapest fencing options, although they don’t tend to last as long as solid timber fencing. They can be a good choice where keeping costs down is the priority and full privacy.

Do I need planning permission for a new fence?

In most cases, you do not need planning permission for a garden fence, as long as it meets certain height limits. A fence can generally be up to 2 metres high, or 1 metre high if it is next to a road used by vehicles. At the front of a property, where height restrictions can be more limiting, walls, hedges or trees can also be used to create privacy, subject to any relevant local restrictions.