Garden fencing costs in Ireland depend on the fence length and height, materials, posts, access and old-fence removal. For a house in Dundalk or County Louth, ask for a current written supply-and-fit quote rather than multiplying a panel-only price by your boundary length.
Prices confirmed by Seamus: 2 October 2026. The rates below are Gardening Services Dundalk’s current guide prices for County Louth. They replace our older indicative ranges. Ask for a written quote confirming the specification, installation scope, VAT status and any extras before booking.
Fencing Costs Per Metre in Ireland
Fencing is usually compared per linear metre of completed fence. A retailer’s panel price alone does not cover the finished job. These are our local guide rates, not an Ireland-wide average or a fixed quotation for every site:
| Fence type | Current guide price per linear metre |
|---|---|
| D-rail fencing with concrete posts | €150 per metre |
| Feather board fencing | €180 per metre |
| Hit-and-miss fencing | €200 per metre |
| Composite panel fencing | €220 per metre |
Concrete posts are specified in the D-rail rate. Confirm the post type and finished height for the other designs. Other fence types need a separate quote. VAT, gates, removal, disposal and groundworks must be confirmed in your written quote; these figures do not establish which extras are included.
How to calculate the cost of 20 metres of fencing
Multiply the measured fence length by the current quoted installed rate, then add only the extras that the quote excludes. Ask for a total price before agreeing the work.
Using Seamus’s confirmed guide rates:
| Fence type | Calculation for 20 metres | Guide budget |
|---|---|---|
| D-rail with concrete posts | 20 × €150 | €3,000 |
| Feather board | 20 × €180 | €3,600 |
| Hit-and-miss | 20 × €200 | €4,000 |
| Composite panel | 20 × €220 | €4,400 |
These are length-times-rate examples, not site-specific quotations. Confirm VAT and any extras before using them as the full payable total.
Post and rail fencing cost per metre
Our D-rail fencing with concrete posts is €150 per linear metre as a guide rate. Other post-and-rail specifications need a separate quote. Confirm the number of rails, timber treatment, post spacing, ground conditions and whether mesh or gates are included.
What Affects the Cost?
Post type. Ask whether the quote specifies timber or concrete posts, the post dimensions and the footing method. Compare the installed specification rather than treating all posts as interchangeable.
Ground conditions. Rocky or very hard ground makes post-hole digging slower and more difficult. Soft or waterlogged ground may need deeper posts or concrete footings. Sloped gardens require more careful installation to step the fence properly.
Access. Fencing in a back garden with no side access, requiring panels and posts to be carried through a house, takes longer and usually costs more.
Removing old fencing. If there are existing posts to remove and dispose of, this adds to the cost. Concrete post removal in particular can be time-consuming.
Gates. Ask for gates to be itemised by size, material and hardware, including hinges, latches and fitting. A fence-only rate does not establish the installed gate price.
Height. Confirm the finished fence height and the posts needed for that design. Check the proposed height, location and material against the applicable planning rules before ordering (see below).
Planning Permission in Ireland
Louth County Council’s domestic boundary guidance describes exemptions for specified materials, including wooden fencing. It gives height limits of 2 metres generally and 1.2 metres for a boundary within or around the space in front of a house. Security fencing such as metal palisade is excluded from that guidance.
Height alone does not establish an exemption. Check the full conditions, any existing planning restrictions and your particular site with Louth County Council before starting. This guide is not a site-specific planning assessment.
Timber vs. Composite: Which Is Worth the Money?
The most common debate for residential fencing is between treated timber and composite materials.
Treated timber suits customers who want a traditional finish and are willing to maintain it. Ask about the treatment specification, post material and recommended painting or staining. Service life depends on the product, installation, exposure and maintenance; a universal lifespan should not be assumed.
Composite fencing can suit customers who prefer less painting or staining. Compare the manufacturer’s care instructions, installation system and warranty conditions. Composite still needs appropriate cleaning and secure installation; it is not maintenance-free in every setting.
Choose the installed specification that fits your boundary, exposure and budget. Ask the installer which options are suitable for your site and which materials they can actually supply.
Boundary Position and Neighbours
Confirm the proposed boundary position and permission to access neighbouring land before work begins. If ownership or responsibility is disputed, get suitable professional advice and check the relevant property documents rather than relying on a general garden guide.
Getting a Fair Quote
A proper fencing quote should include:
- Supply and installation of posts, panels or boards
- Post footings and concrete where required
- Removal and disposal of any old fencing
- Gate supply, hardware and installation if required
- Fence length, height, materials and finish
- VAT status and the full payable total
- Site access, estimated dates and any agreed warranty terms
Ask specifically whether removal of old posts is included. It sometimes is not, particularly for concrete posts embedded in the ground.
Local fence replacements with photographs
Our Louth Village fence installation records removal of an old overgrown fence, treated timber posts and panels, and a painted finish. Our Knockbridge fence replacement records removal of old posts and foundations and installation of new panels on treated timber posts set in concrete. The original before and after photographs show the work; no job dimensions or price are claimed.
For a free quote on fencing installation in Dundalk, Blackrock, Ardee, Carlingford, or anywhere across County Louth, get in touch here.
For more on fencing options and planning rules, see our garden privacy fencing ideas guide and our garden screening options post.
Visit our fencing service page for full details on the fencing and boundary work we carry out across the county.
