Garden Fencing Cost Guide for Manchester Homeowners (2025)

Fencing costs vary enormously by type, height, and groundwork requirements. Here are typical installed prices per linear metre in 2025:

| Fence type | Cost per metre (installed) | |---|---| | Lap panel (standard) | £50–£90 | | Close board (featherboard) | £70–£110 | | Post and rail | £40–£70 | | Picket fence | £60–£100 | | Composite fence panels | £120–£200 | | Acoustic fencing | £150–£250 |

Prices include posts (concrete or timber), post installation, panels or boards, and gravel boards at the base.

Manchester's wet climate accelerates timber deterioration. Fencing choice by longevity:

Composite fencing — 25+ years. Made from wood fibre and plastic. Does not rot, warp, or require painting. Highest upfront cost but lowest lifetime cost.

Pressure treated close board — 15–25 years when correctly maintained (painted or stained every 2–3 years). The most popular choice balancing cost and durability.

Standard lap panels — 10–15 years. The budget option. Panels can be replaced individually which helps manage costs over time.

Untreated timber — 5–10 years. Not recommended for Manchester's climate.

A gravel board is a horizontal board at the base of a fence panel, sitting on the ground surface. It prevents the panel itself from sitting in wet soil — the leading cause of premature fence rot.

Always insist on gravel boards, especially in clay-heavy or wet areas. They add minimal cost but can double the lifespan of a timber fence. Concrete gravel boards last indefinitely and are the best choice for the base row.

Concrete posts — Last 40+ years, never rot, no maintenance. Slightly more expensive upfront. Best choice for permanent fencing.

Treated timber posts — Less expensive, easier to work with, easier to repair individually. Typically last 15–25 years in good soil. Use UC4 pressure treated posts (rated for in-ground use) — not the same as general construction timber.

Metpost steel sockets — Posts can be driven or fixed into a steel socket rather than concreted in. Faster installation, allows post replacement without digging. Works well in stable soil; less suitable for very soft ground.