Boundary fencing
Fencing quotes change with the material, the slope, the posts in the ground and who pays. The fencing calculator counts posts and bays from a length and a spacing. It does not apply a price.
The figures below are council estimating rates for a 1.8 metre fence, not a quote and not one neighbour's share. Blue Mountains lists pre-painted metal. Newcastle lists one minimum rate for metal or timber, and that estimate excludes GST. On a boundary, talk to the neighbour before the holes are dug. Contribution rules differ between Australia and New Zealand.
Published figures
Pre-painted metal fence, 1.8 m, council estimating rate, not a quote
$105 AUD per metre
Council estimating rate, not a quote. Blue Mountains City Council building cost calculator, line 'Fence: Pre-painted metal 1.8m'. The PDF is a unit-cost table for estimating building work. It does not say whether GST is included. It is not a timber paling rate and it is not one neighbour's share.
Source: Blue Mountains City Council, Building Cost Calculator Costings, July 2023 (opens in a new tab). Source checked Published July 2023. Checked 22 October 2026.
Metal or timber fence, 1.8 m, minimum estimating rate, not a quote
$134 AUD per lineal metre
City of Newcastle guide, line 'Fence / Metal/Timber (1.8m)'. Minimum rate for estimating development cost. The estimated development cost excludes GST. The line does not separate metal from timber, and it is not one neighbour's share.
Source: City of Newcastle, A Guide to Estimated Development Cost, Version 6, September 2025 (opens in a new tab). Source checked Published September 2025. Checked 22 October 2026.
What changes the price
- Material and height. Timber paling, Colorbond-style steel, and post-and-wire are different fences. Compare the same height and the same material.
- Ground. Rock, a steep slope, or a garden bed on the line changes posts and stepping.
- Gates. A gate is hardware and a post pair. Ask for it as its own line.
- Demolition. Taking away the old fence, including concrete post holes, is often extra.
- Who is on the boundary. The quote should say whether the price is the whole fence or your share, and what happens if the neighbour does not agree.
Questions to ask
- What material, height and post spacing are included?
- How many gates, and which way do they swing?
- Is removal of the old fence included?
- What ground did you assume?
- Is the price the full fence or one neighbour's share?
- Who marks the boundary?
Common questions
How does the post count work?
Bays are the length divided by the spacing, rounded up. Posts are one more than the bays, so both ends of the run are included. A 20 metre run at 2.4 metre spacing is 10 posts and 9 bays, and the last bay is shorter than the spacing. Change the spacing if your fencer uses a different bay.
Can you tell me the neighbour's share?
No. That depends on the fence, the agreement and the local rules. Get it in writing with the neighbour before you accept a quote.