Costs & pricing
Why Fencing Quotes for the Same Garden Vary So Much
A wide spread between quotes usually reflects different specifications, not different honesty, and the trick is finding out which spec you're actually buying.
It's common to gather three fencing quotes for the same boundary and see them land nowhere near each other, sometimes by a factor of two. This guide works through where that gap genuinely comes from, so you can tell a fair price from a stripped-down one before you commit.
Figures below are indicative guide ranges based on the kind of work we quote across London and Hertfordshire — they are not a quotation. Every job is priced after a free site visit, and the written price we give is the price you pay.
Different specifications wearing the same name
Two quotes can both say 'closeboard fencing' and describe entirely different builds: one with 22mm feather-edge boards on 3x2 arris rails and concrete posts, the other with thinner boards on timber posts and no gravel boards. The name on the quote tells you almost nothing until you ask for the specification behind it, board thickness, rail size, post material and gravel boards, all of which affect both price and lifespan.
Labour, overheads and the crew behind the price
A company running its own trained team, carrying full public liability insurance and offering a written guarantee has running costs a one-person operation without insurance simply doesn't, and that difference shows up in the price. It isn't a reason to automatically choose the cheaper quote; it's a reason to ask what's standing behind the figure if something goes wrong after completion.
- In-house teams versus subcontracted or one-off labour hired per job
- Insurance cover level, and whether it's current rather than lapsed
- Whether a written guarantee is offered, and for how long
What's included versus what's assumed
The widest gaps we see between quotes come down to inclusions rather than workmanship: disposal of the old fence, access arrangements, gravel boards and ironmongery are the items most often left off a lower figure and billed separately later. Our checklist page on what a fencing quote should include sets these out in full if you want to work through a quote you've already received line by line.
Timing, demand and seasonal pricing
Prices can flex a little with demand: late spring and early summer are typically the busiest months for fencing work, and a quote gathered in that window may sit slightly higher than one for the same job booked in winter, simply because crews are in higher demand. This isn't a trick, it's ordinary seasonal demand, and it's worth asking whether booking outside peak season could improve either the price or the lead time.
How to actually compare two very different figures
Rather than comparing totals, break each quote into its component parts, boarding, posts, gravel boards, ironmongery, access, disposal and guarantee, and compare like for like across each line. Once specifications are matched, most of the apparent gap between quotes narrows considerably, and what's left is a genuine reflection of the company's overheads, insurance and reputation.
Frequently asked
Is the cheapest fencing quote ever the right choice?
Sometimes, but only once you've confirmed it covers the same specification, disposal, guarantee and insurance as the more expensive quotes.
Why does one quote include a written guarantee and another doesn't?
Guarantees cost the business offering them something in ongoing accountability, and not every operator offers one; we back every job with a written guarantee as standard.
Does seasonal demand really affect fencing prices?
Slightly, yes. Late spring and early summer are typically busier, and prices can sit marginally higher in that window than in quieter winter months.
How much can two quotes for the same fence legitimately differ?
It varies, but differences of 30 to 50% are common once specification, insurance and inclusions are accounted for, rather than being a sign either figure is dishonest.
What single question narrows the gap between two quotes fastest?
Ask both companies to confirm board thickness, post type, gravel boards and disposal in writing; that alone usually explains most of the difference.
Should I be suspicious of a quote that's far cheaper than the others?
Not automatically, but check insurance cover, guarantee terms and specification closely before accepting it.
Does company size affect the quote figure?
It can. An in-house team with its own equipment and insurance carries overheads that a single self-employed fitter without cover doesn't, and that's often reflected in price.
Want this priced properly for your garden?
Free site visit across London and Hertfordshire, a written specification, and a fixed price. No obligation.