Fencing: panels, posts, feather edge and gravel boards
A panel fence is counted in panels and posts: one more post than panels on a straight run. 10 m of 1.8 m fence in standard 1.83 m panels takes 6 panels and 7 posts of 2.4 m, with a gravel board and a post cap for each. Feather edge is built in place and counted in boards per metre instead.
Here is everything we have on garden fences and walls in the UK: panels, feather edge, posts and postcrete, gravel boards, and brick garden walls if you would rather build one.
Panel and feather edge fencing by length
A 1.8 m fence with no gate. Panels are 1.83 m wide; feather edge is 125 mm boards lapped 25 mm in 3 m bays with three arris rails. Worked out by the fence calculators.
| Fence length (m) | Panels | Posts (panel fence) | Feather edge boards | Posts (feather edge) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 4 | 53 | 3 |
| 10 | 6 | 7 | 105 | 5 |
| 15 | 9 | 10 | 158 | 6 |
| 20 | 11 | 12 | 210 | 8 |
| 25 | 14 | 15 | 263 | 10 |
| 30 | 17 | 18 | 315 | 11 |
Panel fences
Posts for a 1.8 m fence are usually 2.4 m long, with about 600 mm in the ground. Concrete posts and gravel boards outlast timber ones at ground level. The materials calculator adds postcrete, fixings and a gate.
Feather edge (closeboard) fences
Feather edge boards overlap, so each 125 mm board covers 100 mm with a 25 mm lap: 10 boards for every metre. A 15 m run takes 158 boards, 6 posts and 15 arris rails. It follows slopes better than panels and stands up to wind.
Brick garden walls
A low wall needs a concrete footing and bricks counted per square metre. The garden wall calculator lists bricks, mortar and footing concrete.
Every calculator for this topic
Guides
- Common Mistakes Putting Up a Fence (UK): Posts, Panels, GatesFence mistakes: short posts, no gate allowance, wrong boundary. 10 m of 1.8 m panel fence with a gate takes 5 panels and 7 posts of 2.4 m.
- How Many Feather Edge Boards Do I Need? Closeboard Fence (UK)15 m of 125 mm feather edge fence takes 158 boards, 6 posts and 15 arris rails. Charts by length, board width and overlap.
- Garden Fence Materials List UK: Panels, Posts, Gravel BoardsHow many fence panels, posts and gravel boards you need for 6 to 30 m of garden fence with a gate, and what to check before you start.
- How Many Bricks Do I Need for a Garden Wall? UK ChartBrick counts for garden walls by length and height, with the sand and cement for the mortar, the bricks per m² rule and what to check before you build.
Other guides that use these calculators: Decking Materials List UK: Boards, Joists and Screws · How Much Turf Do I Need? Rolls, Pallets and Topsoil (UK)
Answers for common sizes
Already know the size? These pages give the worked answer for one common size each, with the inputs filled in so you can adjust them.
Project planners
Planning the whole job rather than one material? These step-by-step planners put the calculators above in the order you will need them.
Frequently asked questions
How many fence panels for 10 m?
6 panels of 1.83 m and 7 posts for a straight run with no gate.
How long should fence posts be for a 1.8 m fence?
2.4 m, so about 600 mm goes in the ground. Use longer posts on soft or exposed ground.
How tall can a garden fence be without planning permission?
In England, 2 m, or 1 m next to a road or footpath used by vehicles, measured from the ground on your side.
Panel or feather edge?
Panels are quicker on level ground. Feather edge is built in place, follows slopes and copes better with wind.
Related topics
Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier, so check pack sizes and coverage on the label. Check the Building Regulations and any planning rules for anything structural or close to a boundary. How we calculate.