Commercial Fencing Cost UK: What Actually Sets the Price
What drives the installed price of mesh, 358 and palisade fencing in the UK, what a contractor needs to price it, and how to compare quotes fairly.
Quick answer
Commercial fencing is priced per job, not off a rate card. The installed cost depends mainly on six things: the system, the height, the length of the run, the ground, the gates, and the site conditions (access, working hours, plant). Usually twin-wire mesh costs least per metre, 358 mesh more, and palisade somewhere between depending on the profile. Gates are often the biggest single item. Anyone who gives a firm price without the length, height, ground and gates is guessing.
We do not publish commercial per-metre rates yet. We would rather give you nothing than a figure we can't back up with real jobs. This guide explains what moves the price, so you can brief a contractor properly and compare quotes like-for-like.
The six things that set the price
| Driver | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| System | Twin-wire, V-mesh, 358 and palisade use different amounts of steel and take different labour to fit. |
| Height | Taller panels need heavier posts, deeper footings and more steel per metre. |
| Length and layout | Long straight runs are efficient. Corners, short runs and changes of level add posts and setting-out time. |
| Ground | Soft dig is the cheapest. Tarmac, concrete or core-drilling into a slab, and buried services, all add time. |
| Gates | Vehicle gates, double leaves and wide openings are priced as separate items, and access control adds more. |
| Site conditions | Restricted hours, live sites, permits, traffic management and plant all affect the programme. |
Two smaller items are often left out: removing an existing fence (optional, priced separately) and finish (galvanised only, or galvanised plus a powder coat).
What a contractor needs to price it
Send as much of this as you have. "Not sure" is a fine answer for any item:
- Site postcode and a rough length in metres.
- Height, or what the fence needs to do (mark the boundary, deter, stop climbing).
- System, if one is specified: drawings, a spec or a BoQ.
- Gates: how many, how wide, pedestrian or vehicle.
- Ground: grass, soil, tarmac or concrete.
- Access, working hours and any start date or deadline.
- Photos of the line and any existing fence.
Comparing quotes fairly
Check each quote states the same system, height, length, number and size of gates, finish, and whether removal and disposal are included. A cheaper quote often leaves something out: gates priced as extras, an assumed soft dig, or no allowance for access. Ask what happens if the ground turns out to be harder than expected.
VAT
GoodFence is not VAT registered, so no VAT is added to our prices. When comparing with a VAT-registered contractor, check whether their figure is before or after VAT.
Get it priced
Upload drawings, a spec or just photos and a rough scope through the commercial enquiry. Each job is reviewed and priced by hand, with installation managed by GoodFence from survey to handover across London and the South East. For system choice, see 358 mesh vs palisade, twin-wire vs 358 mesh and the security fence height guide.
FAQs
How much does commercial fencing cost per metre? It depends on the system, height, ground and gates, so a single figure would mislead you. Send the length, height and site details for a price based on your job.
Is 358 mesh more expensive than palisade? Usually per metre, yes, because the mesh uses more steel. But the height, ground and gates can matter more than the system on a real job.
Is removing the old fence included? Only if it is in the scope. Removal and disposal are priced as a separate, optional item.
Do you charge VAT? No. GoodFence is not VAT registered, so no VAT is added.
