Fencing installation is setting fence posts into the ground, usually in concrete, and fixing panels or boards between them to mark a boundary, add privacy or keep children and pets in, with gates fitted where access is needed.
Homes across Edinburgh and the Lothians vary a great deal, so we price new fencing and gates only after seeing the property. Our coverage takes in Edinburgh, Livingston, Musselburgh and Bathgate and the surrounding districts. As a guide, expect £1,150–£2,900 including VAT in Scotland; the final figure depends on size, materials and access. Any permissions are checked against the rules for Scotland before we quote.
- Guide price
- £1,150–£2,900 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–3 days for a typical garden
- Planning rules
- Scotland
- Price level
- About 4% below the national guide
- Towns listed
- 7
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Fencing and gates prices in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Prices for new fencing and gates vary from house to house, but in Edinburgh and the Lothians most projects fall within £1,150–£2,900 including VAT. That reflects costs in Scotland, about 4% below the national guide. Treat the table as a budgeting aid; the written figure follows a survey we carry out for free.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Edinburgh and the Lothians |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs or a short run | Replacing a few panels and posts, or a short run of up to about 6m. | £300–£850 |
| Typical garden boundary | About 20m of panel or closeboard fencing with concrete posts and gravel boards. | £1,150–£2,900 |
| Composite or long runs with gates | Composite or premium fencing, longer runs, or a driveway gate. | £2,900–£6,700 |
What moves the price up or down:
- Total length and height of fencing
- Fence style and material: panels, closeboard or composite
- Post type: concrete, timber or aluminium
- Ground conditions, slopes and removal of the old fence
What’s included?
- Measured survey of each fence run, levels and slopes
- Removal and disposal of the old fence and posts
- Concrete or timber gravel boards to keep panels off the soil
- Panels or boards fixed level or stepped to follow the ground
- Post caps and capping rails where specified
- Site cleared and waste removed
Housing across Edinburgh and the Lothians
Edinburgh's New Town is a planned Georgian sandstone townscape within a World Heritage Site, and districts such as Marchmont and Leith have Victorian tenements. Bungalows and villas fill the suburbs, Midlothian has former mining villages, Livingston was built as a new town, and East Lothian villages often have red pantile roofs.
Listed and conservation-area homes need careful window and stone repairs. Bungalows commonly suit loft conversions and dormers, and suburban semis take extensions and garage conversions.
East-coast weather brings cold winds, haar and frost, and exposed hills around the city catch wind-driven rain.
Do you need permission in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
Edinburgh and the Lothians is in Scotland, so the planning and building rules set out below are the ones that apply. We confirm the details with the council before we quote.
In Scotland, gates, fences and walls up to 2 m high are usually permitted development, with a 1 m limit in front of the house or next to a road.
A building warrant is not needed for ordinary garden fences.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
From survey to handover
Free site survey
It starts with a survey at the property, free of charge. We check condition, access and services, ask how you want the finished result to look, and answer any questions you have about new fencing and gates.
Written quote
You get the price in writing, itemised so you can see where the money goes. As long as the specification stays the same, that is the price you pay for new fencing and gates.
Plan and prepare
Before anyone starts, we confirm the programme in writing, check whether consents are required and arrange deliveries. If a skip or scaffolding on the road needs a permit, we apply for it.
Build and hand over
The job proceeds in the order set out in the programme, with dust and debris kept under control. Finally we tidy away, inspect the work together and pass the finished project over to you with its paperwork.
What you can expect from us
Questions about new fencing and gates in Edinburgh and the Lothians
How much does a new fence cost?
About 20m of new panel or closeboard fencing with concrete posts costs £1,150–£2,900, including removal of the old fence. As a guide, allow roughly £55–£130 per metre plus a small fixed cost for removal and waste. Lap panels sit at the lower end, while closeboard, slatted and composite fencing cost more. Gates, slopes and hard ground add to the price. We confirm a fixed price after measuring.
Do I need planning permission in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Edinburgh and the Lothians is in Scotland, so Scotland's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Is the price fixed?
Yes, for the specification we agree. Your written quote sets out exactly what is included at a fixed price. It only changes if you ask for something different, or if a problem the survey could not reasonably reveal later needs extra work. In either case we explain the change and confirm it in writing before going ahead.
How high can my fence be?
Fence height limits depend on planning rules, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you live in. In England, fences up to 2m high are usually permitted development, reduced to 1m next to a road used by vehicles. Higher fences need planning permission. We check the rules for your boundary before quoting.
What kind of gate do I need?
The right gate depends on its job. A side gate for access to the back garden is usually timber or metal, around 0.9m to 1m wide, with a secure lock. Driveway gates are wider, often in pairs, and need strong posts. Composite and metal gates resist warping. We measure the opening, check posts and suggest hinges, latches and locks for security.
Towns in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Choose your town from the list to see how we price and plan new fencing and gates in your part of Edinburgh and the Lothians, including typical time on site.