Composite Fencing Costs UK (2026): Price Per Metre, Panels & Installation

How Composite Fencing Is Built

Most composite fencing in the UK uses a slot-in board system. Vertical posts — either aluminium or composite-clad — are set into the ground, and horizontal composite boards slide down into channels on each post, stacking up to the required height. A capping rail finishes the top. This is different from a traditional timber panel that drops into concrete slotted posts; with composite you're typically building the run board by board, which gives a very clean, gap-free finish but takes a little longer to install.

A standard composite board is usually around 150–180mm tall and 1.8m wide, weighing far more than a timber featheredge board. A typical 1.8m-high fence uses roughly six to eight boards per bay between posts. Posts are spaced at around 1.8m centres. Most systems also need a base board or gravel board at the bottom, which keeps the composite off wet ground and protects the lower section.

Composite Fencing Material Prices (Per Panel and Per Metre)

Material prices vary widely depending on whether you buy a budget WPC system or a premium co-extruded capped composite (which has a protective outer skin that resists fading and scratches). The figures below are 2026 supply-only prices, before labour.

• Budget composite board (1.8m wide): £18–£30 each
• Premium capped composite board (1.8m wide): £30–£55 each
• Composite or aluminium post: £25–£55 each
• Gravel/base board and top cap (per bay): £20–£45
• Full 1.8m-high panel kit per bay (boards, post, fixings): £55–£120

Expressed per linear metre, supply-only composite material typically lands at £40–£90 per metre for a 1.8m-high run. Budget systems sit at the lower end; premium capped products with aluminium posts sit at the top. Always price the post bases, gravel boards and caps in — they're easy to forget and add up across a long run.

Supply-and-Install Cost Per Metre

For most homeowners the number that matters is the fully fitted price per metre — material, posts, concreting the post bases, gravel boards, fixings and labour all included. For a standard 1.8m-high composite fence on reasonable ground, expect:

• Budget composite, supplied and installed: £70–£100 per metre
• Mid-range capped composite: £100–£130 per metre
• Premium capped composite with aluminium posts: £130–£160 per metre

As a rule of thumb, labour and sundries (postcrete, ballast, fixings, disposal) account for roughly 40–55% of the installed price on a straightforward job. The cleaner and more level the ground, the more the balance tips toward materials.

How Composite Compares on Price to Timber and Concrete

Composite is the most expensive fencing material to install per metre, but the comparison only makes sense once you factor in lifespan and maintenance. Here is how the common UK fencing types compare on installed price for a 1.8m-high run.

• Timber featheredge / closeboard: £45–£80 per metre installed. The traditional "built on site" timber fence — strong and repairable, but needs treating or painting every few years and the posts eventually rot.
• Timber panel (lap or overlap) with concrete posts and gravel boards: £40–£70 per metre installed. The cheapest mainstream option and the most common in UK gardens. Concrete posts outlast the panels, which typically need replacing within 10–15 years.
• Composite (WPC): £70–£160 per metre installed, as above.

So composite costs roughly 1.5 to 2.5 times more upfront than a timber panel fence. The case for paying the premium is that composite never needs painting or staining, won't rot, warp or splinter, and a quality capped product resists fading. Over a 20–25 year life it can work out cheaper per year than timber once you count the cost of re-staining and eventual panel replacement.

What Drives the Cost Up

Two quotes for the same length of fence can differ by hundreds of pounds because of site factors. The main cost drivers are:

• Fence height: Going from 1.8m to 2.0m or higher means more boards per bay and stronger posts, often pushing the per-metre price up 15–25%. Anything over 2m may also need planning permission.
• Removing the old fence: Stripping out and disposing of an existing timber or concrete fence adds £8–£20 per metre, more if old concrete posts have to be dug out and skipped.
• Ground type: Soft, diggable soil is straightforward. Clay, rubble, tree roots or rock slow post-hole digging dramatically and may justify a higher day rate or extra labour.
• Slopes and stepping: On a sloping boundary the fence is usually "stepped" down in sections, which means more cutting, more posts and more labour. Raking the boards to follow the slope is even more involved.
• Gates: A matching composite gate kit typically adds £250–£600 supplied and fitted, depending on width and whether it's single or double.
• Access: Carrying heavy composite boards through a house or a narrow side passage adds time. Composite is significantly heavier than timber.

Labour Day Rates

Fencing labour is usually priced either per metre or as a day rate. A two-person fencing team in 2026 typically charges £300–£500 per day combined, higher in London and the South East. A competent team will install around 8–15 metres of composite fence per day on good ground — slower than timber panels because of the board-by-board build and heavier handling, faster once posts are set and they get into a rhythm.

For a clean 15–20m run on level ground with no removal, plan for roughly two days of work. Add a day if the old fence has to come out, the ground is hard, or the boundary slopes.

Lifespan and Maintenance Savings vs Timber

This is where composite earns back its premium. A timber fence needs re-treating or re-staining every 2–4 years to stay weatherproof and looking good — that's labour, materials, and the disruption of clearing borders and plants to get at it. Timber panels also typically need full replacement within 10–15 years as boards split and posts rot.

Quality capped composite carries warranties of 20–25 years and realistically lasts longer. Maintenance is an occasional wash with soapy water — no painting, no staining, no rot. Over a 20-year period the avoided cost of staining a timber fence several times, plus one mid-life panel replacement, often closes most or all of the upfront gap. For homeowners who hate garden maintenance, the time saved is the real selling point.

Worked Example: A Typical Garden Run

Take a common job — a 18-metre rear-garden boundary, 1.8m high, replacing an old timber panel fence on roughly level ground in the Midlands. Here is how a mid-range capped composite quote might break down.

• Composite boards, posts, gravel boards, caps and fixings: £1,200
• Postcrete, ballast and sundries: £150
• Removing and disposing of old fence (18m): £250
• Labour (two-person team, ~2 days): £800
• Single matching composite gate, supplied and fitted: £400

That comes to around £2,800 including the gate, or roughly £135 per metre for the fence alone. The same boundary in budget timber panels with concrete posts might cost £900–£1,200 installed — cheaper today, but expecting staining costs and likely panel replacement within 15 years.

Pros and Cons of Composite Fencing

Pros

• No painting, staining or treating — effectively maintenance-free
• Won't rot, warp, splinter or attract insects
• Long lifespan with 20–25 year warranties on quality products
• Clean, gap-free, modern finish with consistent colour
• Often made from recycled timber and plastic
• Lower whole-life cost than timber once maintenance is counted

Cons

• High upfront cost — 1.5 to 2.5x a timber panel fence
• Heavy boards make handling and installation slower
• Cheaper uncapped products can fade or scratch over time
• Less easy to repair piecemeal than a timber fence
• A more uniform, "manufactured" look that doesn't suit every garden

Quick Reference: Composite Fencing Prices UK 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Is composite fencing cheaper than timber?

No — not upfront. Composite costs roughly 1.5 to 2.5 times more than a timber panel fence to install. The argument for composite is whole-life cost: it needs no painting or staining and lasts 20–25 years, so over its lifetime it can work out cheaper per year than timber once you count maintenance and panel replacement.

How long does composite fencing last?

Quality capped composite typically carries a 20–25 year warranty and often lasts longer with no rot or warping. Budget uncapped products have shorter realistic lifespans and can fade or scratch sooner.

Can composite fencing be installed on a slope?

Yes. On sloping ground the fence is usually stepped down in sections, or the boards are raked to follow the gradient. Both add cutting, posts and labour, so expect a slope to push the per-metre price up compared with a level run.

Does composite fencing need maintenance?

Very little. It never needs painting, staining or treating. An occasional wash with soapy water to remove dirt and algae is all that's usually required — the main reason homeowners pay the premium.

Do I need planning permission for composite fencing?

Generally no, provided the fence is no more than 2m high (or 1m next to a road used by vehicles). Above those heights you may need planning permission. Listed buildings and conservation areas can have additional restrictions, so check with your local authority.