Closeboard is the workhorse of British garden fencing: strong, private and repairable, but rarely the cheapest option on the quote sheet. Prices per metre vary a lot depending on height, posts, ground conditions and how exposed your garden is. Here is an honest look at what you should expect to pay in 2026, with the caveats no price list ever mentions.
For a standard 1.8m (6ft) high closeboard fence, supplied and fitted, most UK homeowners currently pay somewhere between £100 and £170 per metre. At the lower end you are usually looking at timber posts and a straightforward run on level ground; at the upper end, concrete posts, gravel boards, difficult access or sloping ground push the figure up. Lower fences cost less: a 1.2m run might come in around £75 to £120 per metre.
In West Cumbria prices tend to sit mid-range compared with the south of England, but coastal exposure changes the spec. A fence in Whitehaven or along the coast at Parton or St Bees takes far more wind than one inland, so a sensible installer will often recommend deeper post holes, closer post spacing or concrete posts, which adds cost per metre but saves you rebuilding it after the first winter storm.
Height is the biggest factor, because taller fences need more featheredge boards, longer posts and deeper footings. Post choice is next: concrete posts and concrete gravel boards typically add £15 to £30 per metre over timber, but they keep the boards out of wet ground and make future repairs far easier, since you can replace panels of boarding without digging out posts.
Ground conditions matter more than most people expect. Rocky ground, old concrete footings from a previous fence, tree roots or a slope that needs the fence stepped or raked all add labour time. Removing and disposing of an old fence is a separate cost too, often £10 to £20 per metre depending on what is coming out and whether there is skip access. If your garden backs onto a lane with no vehicle access, expect the quote to reflect the extra carrying.
A closeboard fence is built board by board on site, with arris rails fixed between posts, rather than dropping ready-made panels into slots. That makes it more labour-intensive and usually 20 to 40 percent dearer than lap panels, but it is noticeably stronger in wind, which matters a great deal in this part of Cumbria.
It is also repairable in a way panels are not. If a few featheredge boards get damaged, you replace those boards for a few pounds each rather than a whole panel. Over a 20 to 25 year life, which is realistic for pressure-treated closeboard on concrete posts, the higher upfront cost per metre often works out cheaper than replacing panel fencing twice.
Two quotes for the same garden can differ by hundreds of pounds simply because the specification differs. Before comparing prices per metre, check each quote states the fence height, post type and size, post depth and how they are set, whether gravel boards are included, the thickness of the featheredge boards, and whether old fence removal and waste disposal are covered.
Be wary of a per-metre price given over the phone without a site visit. A decent local fencer will want to see the ground, the access and the exposure before committing to a figure, and a written itemised quote protects both sides. Ask how long the timber is guaranteed against rot and what happens if a post fails within the first couple of years.
Usually because the specification differs: post type, post depth, board thickness, gravel boards and waste removal all change the per-metre price. Always compare like for like on an itemised written quote rather than the headline figure.
Yes, it is one of the better choices because it is built as a continuous braced structure rather than loose panels. In exposed spots near the coast it is worth paying extra for concrete posts, deeper footings and slightly closer post spacing.
With pressure-treated timber, gravel boards keeping the boards off the ground, and posts set properly, 20 to 25 years is realistic. Timber posts in wet ground are usually the first thing to fail, which is why many people choose concrete posts despite the higher upfront cost.
Ring us, WhatsApp a photo of the job, or use the form and we will get back to you quickly.