What's Included in the Price
- Removal and disposal of the existing fence (if replacing)
- Post holes dug to 600mm+ depth, H4-treated posts set in concrete
- Rails (top and bottom), palings or panels installed and capped
- One pedestrian gate with hardware (if specified)
- Compliance with AS 1684 Residential Timber-Framed Construction for structural framing requirements
Materials account for roughly half the total. The rest covers labour, old fence disposal, and concrete for post footings. Gate hardware (hinges, latches, drop bolts for double gates) is normally included in the gate line item.
What Affects the Cost
- Fence length. A single side boundary of 15–20 metres is common across Sydney's suburbs. Full perimeter replacements of 40–60 metres are larger jobs with proportionally lower per-metre rates.
- Timber species. Treated pine paling ($75–$120/m installed) is the standard for boundary fences. Hardwood ($180–$350/m) is chosen for street-facing or feature fences where appearance and longevity matter. Merbau is the most popular hardwood in Sydney, followed by ironbark.
- Fence height. 1.8 metres is standard for rear and side boundaries. Front fences in most Sydney council areas are capped at 1.0–1.2 metres for solid styles.
- Ground conditions. Sydney sits on a mix of sandstone and Wianamatta shale. The eastern suburbs and Hills District often have sandstone close to the surface, requiring rock-breaking equipment for post holes, which adds $20–$40 per post. Clay soils in the western suburbs hold concrete well but can be slow to dig in wet conditions.
- Gates. A timber pedestrian gate adds $300–$800. Double driveway gates run $1,200–$3,000. Automated sliding gates start at $3,500–$7,000 installed.
- Old fence removal. Pulling out an old fence with deep concrete-set posts is more work than it looks. Some homeowners remove the old fence themselves to save on the quote.
- Access. Narrow side passages in inner-west terraces and semis mean materials carried by hand rather than dropped off by truck, adding labour time.
A 15-metre treated pine paling fence on a flat suburban block with easy access and no gate sits toward $2,000. A full-boundary hardwood fence across a sloping block with driveway gates, old fence removal, sandstone rock-breaking, and tight side access pushes toward $10,000.
Sydney-Specific Considerations
Inner-west shared boundaries. Newtown, Marrickville, Enmore, Stanmore, and Dulwich Hill. Terrace and semi-detached homes share boundaries with one or two neighbours. Under the NSW Dividing Fences Act 1991, neighbours must share the cost of a "sufficient" dividing fence equally. You can upgrade beyond the sufficient standard (e.g. hardwood instead of pine), but you can only recover half the cost of the basic option from your neighbour. A sufficient fence in most inner-west areas is treated pine paling at 1.8 metres. Talk to your neighbour before getting quotes, and issue a Fencing Notice in writing if you want the cost-sharing protections the Act provides. If agreement cannot be reached, the matter goes to NCAT.
Sandstone and the eastern suburbs. Suburbs like Randwick, Coogee, Vaucluse, and parts of the Hills District sit on sandstone. Post holes in sandstone require rock-breaking equipment, and some contractors charge a per-post surcharge for rock. Ask whether rock-breaking is included in the quote or charged as a variation. In contrast, suburbs across the western sprawl (Penrith, Blacktown, Liverpool) sit on clay soils where standard auger drilling is straightforward.
Strata and townhouse fencing. In townhouse complexes across suburbs like Ryde, Lane Cove, and the Northern Beaches, fencing between lots may be common property. Check your strata plan before commissioning work. The owners corporation may be responsible for shared fences, and approval is typically required before any changes.
Front fence height restrictions. Most Sydney councils limit solid front fence height to 1.0–1.2 metres in residential zones. Above this, a Development Application is generally required. In heritage conservation areas (Paddington, Balmain, Hunters Hill), front fence style, materials, and height may need to match the period of the home. Timber picket fences are commonly required in these zones.
Pool fencing. Sydney has a high concentration of residential pools, particularly in the eastern suburbs, North Shore, and Hills District. Any fence serving as a pool barrier must comply with AS 1926.1: minimum 1.2m height, 900mm non-climbable zone, maximum 100mm gaps, and a self-closing, self-latching gate.
Dial Before You Dig. Water, gas, and telecommunications services commonly run along property boundaries throughout Sydney. Call 1100 before any post hole work. This is a free service and takes 2–3 business days. Your fencing contractor should not start digging without it.
Hiring a Licensed Carpenter in NSW
In NSW, a contractor licence is required for residential building work over $5,000 (including GST). Verify the licence through NSW Fair Trading. For fencing, the relevant category is typically a general carpentry or building contractor licence.
Ask for:
- Current NSW contractor licence number
- Proof of public liability insurance (minimum $5 million is standard)
- A written quote that specifies timber species, treatment grade (H4 for in-ground posts), post spacing, and fence height
- Confirmation that Dial Before You Dig has been called
- Whether rock-breaking is included or charged as a variation
Worth checking:
- A good contractor will explain the NSW Dividing Fences Act process for shared boundaries
- They will have called Dial Before You Dig before starting
- They will specify H4-treated posts for ground contact (not H3)
- They will provide a written contract for work over $5,000
Once the fence is up, timber fences benefit from a protective coating within the first 6–12 months. See our deck and fence painting guide for product options and costs.
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on current licensed carpenter and fencing contractor rates across the Sydney metropolitan area, adjusted for typical material costs in NSW. All prices include GST. Figures cover standard residential timber fencing. Colorbond, aluminium, pool-specific fencing, and masonry fences may fall outside these ranges.