What fencing costs per metre in 2026
Updated October 2026
Fencing is priced by the metre, which makes it one of the easier trades to budget for, as long as you know the going rates and what pushes a quote up. The ranges below are 2026 guide figures for supply and install drawn from published Australian cost guides, and Sydney jobs often sit toward the top of each range. They are guide pricing only, never a quote: every fence gets priced on site by the fencer who will build it.
Guide prices per metre by fence type
| Fence type | Typical 2026 guide range per metre |
|---|---|
| Colorbond | $80 to $190 |
| Timber paling | $80 to $190 |
| Aluminium slat | $150 to $350 |
| Aluminium pool fencing | $100 to $350 |
| Frameless glass pool fencing | $300 to $800 |
A standard 1.8m Colorbond fence on a flat block usually lands in the lower half of its range. Timber paling has the same guide range as Colorbond, with lapped and capped styles at the upper end, with lapped and capped styles at the upper end. Aluminium slat costs more because every panel is fabricated from individual blades, and glass pool fencing is the premium option, with semi-frameless sitting below frameless. Published guides do not always agree with each other, which is another reason to treat all of this as a starting point rather than a price.
What moves the price
- Slope. Stepped or raked panels on a sloping block take more time and more material. Plenty of Shire streets are anything but flat.
- Old fence removal. Demolition and tip fees add to the metre rate, and asbestos fencing needs licensed removal at a real premium.
- Gates. Priced per gate on top of the fence. A side gate adds a few hundred dollars, automated driveway gates add thousands. See gates and automation.
- Corner blocks. More boundary metres than a mid-street block, and often two street frontages with different fence styles.
- Access and ground. Tight side access, rock instead of soil, and tree roots all slow the dig.
- Underground services. Post holes should not go in until a free Before You Dig Australia (byda.com.au) enquiry has located buried cables and pipes.
- Height and extras. Fences above 1.8m, lattice or slat toppers and retaining-wall plinths all add cost.
In NSW, residential building work over $5,000 (including GST), which can include fencing, generally needs a licensed contractor. Ask to see the licence and check it on the NSW Fair Trading register.
The half-share maths
On a shared boundary, the NSW Dividing Fences Act generally has adjoining owners contributing equally to a sufficient dividing fence. Worked example:
- 20 metres of boundary fence at $130 per metre is $2,600
- Split equally, that is $1,300 each
If you want an upgrade beyond a sufficient fence, say slat toppers or a taller fence, the usual position is that the extra cost sits with the owner who wants it. So if the upgrade takes the job to $3,200, the split is commonly $1,300 for your neighbour and $1,900 for you. That is general information, not legal advice, and what counts as sufficient depends on the circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
Does my neighbour have to pay half?
Generally yes for a sufficient dividing fence on a shared boundary, under the NSW Dividing Fences Act 1991. Start with a conversation and a shared quote. If you cannot agree, the Act sets out a fencing notice process, and after a month without agreement either owner can take it to the Local Court. Anything beyond a sufficient fence is usually paid by the owner who wants it. This is general information, not legal advice.
Why do quotes for the same fence vary so much?
Different fencers price removal, footings, materials and travel differently, and some quotes quietly exclude old fence removal or gates. Compare quotes line by line on the same scope, not just the bottom number.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace an old fence?
If the posts are sound, repairs usually win. If several posts have failed at ground level, replacement is normally better value than repeated patch-ups. See fence repairs, and ask the fencer to call it honestly.
The fastest way to turn these ranges into a real number is to have a local fencer walk your boundary. Tell us what you need and an experienced, insured local fencer who works your suburb will call you back with a free, no-obligation quote.