Garden Fence Materials List UK: Panels, Posts, Gravel Boards
10 m of 1.8 m (6 ft) fence with one 0.9 m gate takes 5 panels, 7 posts of 2.4 m, and 5 gravel boards. The chart below covers other lengths.
The materials list
| What to buy | How much | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| Fence panels, 1.83 m wide | 5 panels | Fence panel calculator: 10 m less the 0.9 m gate, divided by the panel width |
| Posts, 100 × 100 mm | 7 posts of 2.4 m | One more than the panels, plus a post for each side of the gate. About a third of each post is in the ground |
| Gravel boards | 5 boards | One under each panel, so the timber does not touch the soil |
| Post-setting concrete | 7 holes | Check the bags needed per post on the pack of postcrete, which depends on the hole size |
| Post caps | 7 | To keep the rain out of the end grain of the posts |
| Gate and hardware | 1 gate set | Hinges, a latch and a stronger post at each side of the gate |
| Fixings | 1 box | Galvanised nails or screws, and clips or fence brackets for the panels |
Materials for other fence lengths
1.8 m panels of 1.83 m, with a 0.9 m gate in the run:
| Fence length | Panels | Posts | Gravel boards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 m | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| 10 m | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| 15 m | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| 20 m | 11 | 13 | 11 |
| 30 m | 16 | 18 | 16 |
Before you build
- Check who owns the boundary and talk to your neighbour. The deeds or the title plan may show who is responsible.
- Check the rules. In England, a fence over 2 m high, or over 1 m next to a highway, usually needs planning permission, and other parts of the UK have their own rules.
- Check for buried services before you dig. The free LSBUD (LinesearchbeforeUdig) service shows the gas, water, electricity and telecoms assets near your address.
- Measure the posts first. Set the posts out at the panel spacing, check them for plumb in both directions, and let the concrete set before hanging the panels.
- Use ground-contact timber for posts, and treat all the cut ends.
Mistakes that cost people money
- Setting the posts out too wide or too narrow, so the panels do not fit.
- Putting wooden panels directly on the soil. A gravel board costs little and adds years of life.
- Posts that are too short. A third of the height in the ground is the minimum, and more on exposed sites.
- Forgetting that the last panel may need cutting, and that gate posts need to be set more deeply.
Frequently asked questions
How many fence panels do I need for 10 metres?
5 panels of 1.83 m if one 0.9 m gate takes up part of the run. With no gate, 10 m needs 6 panels, with the last one cut down.
How many fence posts do I need?
One more than the number of panels, plus one more for each gate. For the 10 m fence with 5 panels and a gate that is 7 posts.
How long should fence posts be?
The fence height plus a third of the height (and at least 600 mm) in the ground. A 1.8 m fence takes 2.4 m posts.
What is the standard size of a fence panel?
1.83 m (6 ft) wide, and 0.9, 1.2, 1.5 or 1.8 m high. Other widths are sold, so check before you order the posts.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and check the Building Regulations and any planning rules for anything structural or close to a boundary.