How much does it cost to replace fence panels and posts?

A standard 6ft × 6ft (1.83m) fence panel costs around £30–£80 to buy, depending on style. Lap panels are cheapest, closeboard and tongue-and-groove panels cost more and last longer.

Fitted into existing posts that are still sound, most fencers charge £80–£130 per panel including the panel itself. That covers removing the old one, fitting the new one with clips or into concrete post slots, and making it level.

If the post either side has rotted or snapped, it needs replacing too, and the price rises to roughly £130–£220 per bay depending on the post type and whether a gravel board goes in at the bottom.

One panel on its own is the least efficient job. Expect a minimum charge of £100–£150, because the travel, setting up and waste run are much the same for one panel as for four.

Replacing a single post is usually £90–£160 for timber and £110–£180 for concrete, fitted.

Most of the cost is digging out the old one. A rotten timber post set in concrete leaves a lump of concrete in the ground that has to be broken out or the new post set beside it. Some fencers use a repair spur, a short concrete stub bolted to the old post, which costs less but is a repair rather than a proper fix.

Concrete post installation costs a little more than timber because the posts are heavy and need setting with care, but they will not rot and slotted concrete posts let you change panels later without disturbing the post. Treated timber posts are cheaper and look more natural, and a good one set properly can last 15 years or more.

When several posts have gone at once, it is often worth pricing the whole run, as the per-post cost drops sharply.

Timber posts are cheaper to buy and easier to cut and fix to. They rot at ground level eventually, especially in wet clay soils, which is why so many fences fail at the post rather than the panel.

Concrete posts cost a little more fitted, are heavier to handle and less attractive, but should outlast several sets of panels. In windy, exposed gardens they are usually the better choice.

Gravel boards sit at the base of the fence, between the panel and the soil, so the panel itself never touches wet ground. A concrete gravel board is the longest lasting; timber ones are cheaper. Expect to pay £25–£50 each fitted. They are worth fitting on any fence that does not have them, because they protect the most expensive part from rot.

After high winds, fencers get very busy and prices can rise for a few weeks. If a panel is flapping or a post has snapped, it is reasonable to have it made safe first and properly repaired later.

Some home insurance policies cover storm damage to fences, but many exclude it or only pay if walls and the house were also damaged. Check your policy wording before paying for repairs and keep photos of the damage.

It is also worth knowing who owns the fence. Title deeds sometimes show a T mark on the boundary, which indicates the responsible side, though deeds often say nothing. If the fence is your neighbour's, talk to them before replacing it.

A quick estimate is easy once you know what has failed.

1. Count the panels that need replacing. 2. Count the posts that are rotten, loose or snapped. 3. Add panels at about £80–£130 each, posts at £90–£180 each, and gravel boards at £25–£50 each.

Example: three blown panels and two snapped timber posts, replaced with concrete posts and gravel boards. Panels 3 × £80–£130 = £240–£390. Posts 2 × £110–£180 = £220–£360. Gravel boards 3 × £25–£50 = £75–£150. Total roughly £535–£900, including disposal on most quotes.

Whole new fences are usually priced per metre: about £70–£150 per metre for panel fencing with posts and gravel boards, more for closeboard built on site.

On BidMyJob you can post the job with a photo of the damage and local fencers bid, which gives you real prices for your fence.

A standard timber side gate, supplied and fitted, usually costs £250–£500. Wider gates, heavier closeboard gates or metal gates can run to £500–£700 or more.

The gate is often the easy part. Gates need solid posts, often heavier than fence posts, set deeper in concrete so they do not drop or twist. Hinges, a latch and a bolt are normally included; locks and self-closing hinges may be extra.

If the existing gate posts are sound and only the gate needs replacing, the cost drops to around £150–£350.

Replace several panels at once rather than one at a time. The minimum charge disappears into a bigger job.

Keep sound posts. If the posts are firm, a panel-only replacement is the cheapest fix.

Fit gravel boards. They cost little and stop panels rotting from the bottom.

Buy panels yourself if you know exactly what you need, though check the fencer is happy to fit supplied materials.

Book outside storm season. After a big blow, demand spikes and waiting lists grow.