Why there is no single price per metre
A price per metre is only useful when you know what it includes. A straight run installed with easy access is a different job from a shorter boundary reached through a house, with old foundations to remove and several changes in level. The same panel choice can therefore lead to different project totals.
This guide explains the questions behind a quotation rather than publishing unverified price ranges. For a figure that relates to your property, request a free quote and describe both the fence you want and the site where it will be installed.
Length, height and the result you want
Give an approximate length and describe whether your priority is privacy, a more open appearance or replacing a damaged boundary. Include any corners, changes in height and openings that need to remain accessible. If you are unsure of the final height, say so rather than treating a guess as an agreed specification.
A panel count is useful background, but it may not translate directly into the same number of replacement panels. Different products, post positions and end sections can affect the layout. Ask for the proposed run and any shortened sections to be clear in the quotation.
Fence style and the supporting parts
Compare complete specifications, not panel names alone. A quote should make clear which panels or boards are proposed and which posts, gravel boards, fixings and finishes are included where applicable. Our fence styles overview can help you describe the appearance you have in mind.
If existing posts are being retained, ask which ones and what checks are needed before that approach is confirmed. A lower price based on reusing supports is not directly comparable with a price for a completely new fence. Neither approach is automatically right for every garden.
Access can change the amount of work
Explain how materials reach the boundary. A side passage, steps, a shared alley or a route through the property can affect handling and planning. Mention narrow turns and places where materials could be stored without blocking a doorway or shared route.
Also explain parking and unloading arrangements. Do not assume that an available space on the day of a visit will be available during installation. Ask which access arrangements you need to organise and whether any associated costs are included or separately allowed for.
Ground conditions and existing foundations
Tell the contractor about visible paving, raised beds, slopes, mature planting and any known services near the proposed fence line. An assessment can identify what is apparent, but not every buried obstruction can be confirmed before work begins.
Ask how the quotation handles uncertain ground conditions. The useful question is not simply whether there might be extra work, but how that work would be described, priced and agreed with you. This helps distinguish a defined allowance from an assumption that has not yet been checked.
Removal and the finished condition
Clarify what happens to old panels, posts, foundations and vegetation. Removal of a fence and clearance of an overgrown boundary are different tasks, and a quote may include one without the other. Identify anything you want kept, such as a usable gate or a section outside the agreed work area.
Ask how the site will be left. Tidying the work area, repairing disturbed paving and restoring planting are different expectations. Record the agreed finish so you can compare quotations on the same basis rather than discovering a difference after the work has started.
Compare the total and the exclusions
Set quotations side by side and check the fence length, materials, retained parts and access assumptions first. Then check the total payable, whether VAT is included where applicable, the payment arrangements and how long the price remains valid. Ask for unclear items to be explained in writing.
Citizens Advice recommends written quotations and checking their scope, VAT treatment and validity. Its guidance on getting home improvements done is a useful independent reference. For fencing-specific questions, use our fencing quotation checklist alongside the contractor's proposal.
Can a repair reduce the scope?
If the problem is limited, a repair may avoid replacing parts that are still suitable. However, replacing a panel without addressing a failing support may leave the underlying problem unresolved. Ask for the affected section and retained fence to be considered together.
Our repair or replace guide explains the decision in more detail. If both options are practical, ask for clearly separated scopes so that the difference in price relates to a clear difference in work.
Prepare a useful quotation request
Provide your postcode, approximate length, preferred style and a short description of the existing fence. Note access restrictions and whether removal is required. Photographs can be discussed when you contact us; you do not need a finished design to begin an enquiry.
Tell us which decisions are still open and whether you have a budget you would like the options to be considered against. Call 020 3797 3058 to discuss the project. A quotation should help you understand the work being proposed as well as its cost.
Frequently asked questions
Can you give a price from the number of panels?
A panel count helps describe the job, but supports, access, removal and the site conditions also need to be considered. Treat it as a starting point for the enquiry.
Does replacing fewer panels always cost less per panel?
Not necessarily. Access and setting up for the work still need to be allowed for. Compare the total price for the defined work rather than assuming a fixed rate applies to every job.
Should I buy the panels before asking for installation?
Discuss the proposed products and dimensions first. Confirm whether installation of customer-supplied materials can be offered and how suitability, delivery and responsibility would be handled.