Fence cost per metre in NZ (2026)

Updated 10 November 2026. Prices are published NZ figures, linked to their source. Your tradie quotes after seeing the job.

A 1.8 m timber paling fence costs about $160 to $310 per metre in NZ including GST, according to Calculate.co.nz (reviewed 9 November 2026). Colorsteel is $180 to $380 per metre. Other sources give lower figures, so use the range below as a guide and get a written quote.

The quick answer

The sources disagree, and not only on GST. Archipro’s $75 to $120 for treated pine paling is much lower than Calculate.co.nz’s $160 to $310. Archipro’s page is older and dated December 2024, and the Calculate.co.nz page says it uses 2026 trade and materials rates, so we lean on the newer one. Calculate.co.nz’s own FAQ gives a slightly narrower $180 to $280 per metre for 1.8 m timber paling.

What changes the price

Height. Calculate.co.nz says fences above 1.8 m add about 15% to 25% to the per metre rate.

Material. On the Calculate.co.nz table, chain-link or wire is the cheapest at $80 to $190 per metre, then timber paling, then Colorsteel, then horizontal cedar slats at $240 to $480.

Labour. Archipro gives labour alone at $55 to $110 per metre for simple timber fences.

Pool fences. CheckMyBuilder says a pool fence adds 30% to 50% because of Building Act requirements. Calculate.co.nz prices toughened glass at $320 to $800 per metre.

Gates. Calculate.co.nz suggests an extra $200 to $600 for a standard timber gate. CheckMyBuilder gives $400 to $2,500, with pedestrian gates cheaper than vehicle gates.

Old fence removal. CheckMyBuilder lists it as an extra cost, with no figure given.

Site. Slope, access, rock, and the length of the run all change the price. None of the sources we opened gives a figure for these.

A worked example

Using the Calculate.co.nz (2026, including GST) figures for 30 metres of 1.8 m timber paling fence:

• Fence: 30 m x $160 to $310 = $4,800 to $9,300
• One timber gate: $200 to $600
• Total: $5,000 to $9,900

For comparison, CheckMyBuilder (May 2026) puts a budget 30 m run of treated pine paling at about $4,000 to $7,000, and does not state GST.

If this is a boundary fence and you and your neighbour share the cost equally, each pays half of the fence part. Half of $4,800 to $9,300 is $2,400 to $4,650. Agree in writing whether the gate is part of the shared work.

Rules, licences and consents

Building consent. The MBIE exemptions guidance (sixth edition, version 2, January 2026) says building work on a fence (including a garden wall) not exceeding 2.5 metres high does not need a building consent. Measure from the top of the fence to the ground directly below. A 3 metre timber fence on a boundary does need one.

Resource consent. The same guidance says district plans under the Resource Management Act 1991 may require a resource consent for fences over a certain height, usually over 2 metres. Manawatū District Council tells residents that 1.8 metres is its limit before consent or planning approval is needed. Check your own council.

Pool fences. Fences to a swimming pool are outside the 2.5 metre exemption and need a building consent. The MBIE guidance gives the example of a new 1.2 metre fence around a pool: consent is required, the fence must be installed before the pool is filled with water, and inspections are required every three years from the code compliance certificate date. Check building.govt.nz pool safety pages for barrier details such as gates and gaps. We could not open that page when writing this, so read it before you buy materials.

The Fencing Act 1978. The Act is on legislation.govt.nz (version as at 24 January 2026). Section 9 says occupiers of adjoining land not divided by an adequate fence are liable to contribute in equal proportions to work on a fence. Community Law explains the steps:

• Talk to your neighbour first and try to agree.
• If they will not, serve a fencing notice that sets out the boundary, the work and materials, and the estimated cost.
• The neighbour has 21 days to send a cross-notice with objections. If they do not, they are treated as agreeing, and you can start work and recover half the cost.
• Work done before then is not shared.
• If you cannot agree within 21 days of a cross-notice, either of you can go to the Disputes Tribunal or the District Court.
• A fencing covenant or agreement registered on the title can change who pays what.
• A tenant counts as an occupier only if they have a tenancy of at least 10 years.

Pool fences and the neighbour. Section 9A of the Fencing Act says that where the Building Act requires a pool to have a fence, work needed only because of that requirement is the pool owner’s responsibility. Your neighbour is not required to pay more than they would have if the pool did not exist.

Licences. We could not find an NZ licensing register that covers ordinary fencing. Building a pool barrier is building work that needs a consent, so ask who is doing the work and whether they hold the right licence for it.

Questions to ask before you say yes

• Is the fence on the boundary, and has the neighbour agreed who pays what, in writing or by fencing notice?
• Is the price per metre or a total, and does it include GST?
• What timber, post size and treatment grade, and what is the warranty?
• Does the price include posts set in concrete, rails, gates, and removing the old fence and rubbish?
• Does the fence need a building or resource consent at this height or because of a pool?
• Who checks the boundary line, and what happens if the fence ends up on the wrong side?
• What deposit do you want, and when is the rest due?

How GoodTradie helps

GoodTradie is free for homeowners. You type the job in, we call you, and we find one local fencer, check their insurance, and book them. We do not send your job to several fencers or collect multiple quotes. When you have a quote, we compare it with published NZ figures like the ones above, which is a guide and not a guarantee of the best price. Type your fencing job into the box at the top of the page to get started.

Sources

• Calculate.co.nz, cost of a deck or fence calculator (2026, reviewed 9 November 2026)
• CheckMyBuilder, fence installation cost (May 2026)
• Archipro, fencing costs, materials and complete guide (updated December 2024)
• Builderscrack, fence repair costs (2025)
• Building Performance (MBIE), building work that does not require a building consent, sixth edition v2, January 2026
• Fencing Act 1978, legislation.govt.nz (as at 24 January 2026)
• Community Law Manual, fences
• Manawatū District Council, building a fence
• Building Performance, pool safety

Need a fencer? See how we find and check one, or type the job in the box at the top.