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Find a fencing contractor you can trust

A good fence keeps the dog in, the neighbours onside and the pool safe, and a good fencer gets the posts deep and the lines straight. We match you with one vetted local fencing contractor for your Colorbond, timber or pool fence.

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What a fencer can do

Colorbond steel fences for side and back boundaries
Timber paling and lapped-and-capped fences
Pool fences in glass or aluminium
Front fences, picket fences and slat screens
Gates, from side gates to sliding driveway gates
Replacing storm-damaged, leaning or rotting fences
Plinths and sleepers along the base on sloping blocks
Removing and disposing of the old fence

When to call a fencer

Most new fences start with one of a few things. The old one is leaning, rotting or came down in a storm. A new pool needs a compliant barrier. A renovation has left the front of the house looking bare. Or a new neighbour wants to go halves on something better than the tired old palings.

A fencing contractor handles:

Colorbond and timber paling boundary fences
Glass and aluminium pool fencing
Front fences, picket fences and slat screens
Single and double gates, including sliding gates across the driveway
Plinths and stepped panels on sloping blocks
Taking down and disposing of the old fence

Most boundary fences are dividing fences, which means your neighbour usually has a say and, in most states, a share of the cost. Each state has its own dividing fence law. The general idea is that neighbours split the cost of a standard fence, and if one of you wants something fancier or taller, that person covers the difference. If you can’t agree, there’s a formal notice process, and a tribunal or court can settle it.

Talk to your neighbour before you get quotes, and put what you agree in writing. If you’re not sure exactly where the boundary runs, a registered surveyor can peg it. That costs a lot less than moving a fence later.

Pool fences: get these right

Pool barriers are a safety issue, and the rules are strict. A pool fence has to meet the Australian Standard for pool barriers and your state’s own rules on height, gaps, self-closing and self-latching gates, and anything nearby a child could climb. Several states also require pools to be registered, inspected or certified. Ask your fencer to confirm the design complies before they start, not after.

Licences and approvals

Fencing licences vary a lot from state to state. In NSW, fencing work over $5,000 needs a contractor licence. In Queensland, a fence over $3,300 needs a QBCC licence whose class covers the material. Victoria needs a registered builder for fencing over $10,000, and SA treats most fences, other than post and wire, as building work that needs a licence. WA and the ACT don’t license fencers. Our licence checks by state show the rules and the register to search where you live.

Council approval is a separate question from the licence. Back and side fences under a set height usually go ahead without it, but the rules tighten for front fences, corner blocks, heritage streets and fences sitting on retaining walls. And before any post holes are dug, lodge a free Before You Dig Australia request, so nobody puts an auger through a gas, water or power line.

What a new fence costs

Fences are priced by the metre, and the material makes the biggest difference. A 1.8 metre Colorbond or treated pine paling fence often lands around $100–$200 per metre supplied and installed, while hardwood, aluminium slat and glass pool fencing cost more. Gates, a sloping block, rocky ground and removing the old fence all add to the bill, and on a dividing fence your neighbour’s share brings your half down. Our fencing price guide has typical ranges for each type. It’s a guide, not a quote.

How needatradie matches you

Tell us about the fence and your postcode, and we match you with one vetted local fencing contractor. We check the licence where your state requires one, plus insurance, ABN and reviews, before we send anyone your way. It’s free for homeowners, and you won’t have five fencers ringing you at once.

See fencing in Brisbane, fencing in Melbourne or all the areas we cover, or get a free quote.

Before you hire

A licence where your state requires one. NSW needs it over $5,000, Queensland over $3,300 and SA for most fences, Victoria needs a registered builder over $10,000, and WA and the ACT don't license fencers.
A quote that covers post depth, concrete footings, gates and taking away the old fence.
A Before You Dig Australia check before any post holes go in.
For pool fences, work that meets your state's pool barrier rules, plus any inspection or certificate they call for.
A clear plan for where the boundary is, and how the job affects your neighbour's side.
Public liability insurance and a written warranty on workmanship.

Indicative prices

Typical ranges for common jobs. A guide, not a quote.

Treated pine paling fence, 1.8 m (per metre) $100–$180
Colorbond fence, 1.8 m (per metre) · Removing the old fence is often extra $120–$200
Hardwood lapped and capped fence (per metre) $150–$250
Aluminium slat or privacy screen fence (per metre) $250–$500
Aluminium pool fence (per metre) · Must meet pool barrier rules $150–$300
Glass pool fence (per metre) · Semi-frameless at the low end, frameless at the top $350–$800

What a fencer costs →

Fencing: common questions

How much does a 30 metre fence cost?

It depends mostly on the material. As a rough guide, a 1.8 metre Colorbond or treated pine paling fence often lands around $100–$200 per metre supplied and installed, which puts 30 metres at roughly $3,000–$6,000. Gates, a sloping block and removing the old fence add to it, and if it's a dividing fence your neighbour usually pays half. It's a guide, not a quote.

Does my neighbour have to pay for half the fence?

In most states, yes, for a standard dividing fence. The dividing fence laws in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, SA and WA generally split the cost of a basic fence between neighbours, and whoever wants something better pays the extra. You usually need to give written notice first, and a tribunal or court can decide if you can't agree. Pool fences can be treated differently, so check.

What's cheaper, timber or Colorbond fencing?

Basic treated pine paling is usually a little cheaper to put up than Colorbond, but prices overlap depending on height, posts and your area. Colorbond often wins over time, because it doesn't rot, warp or feed termites and needs little upkeep. Timber looks warmer and is easy to patch a few palings at a time, but it needs staining or painting to last.

What's the best time of year to put up a fence?

Any time of year works, but dry, mild weather is easiest for digging post holes and setting the concrete footings. Waterlogged ground slows things down, so a wet spell can push a job back. Spring and summer are busy for fencers, so book ahead if you want it done before a pool goes in or before Christmas. A fence that's down after a storm is worth sorting straight away.

Do I need council approval for a fence?

Often not for a standard side or back fence under a set height, but the rules vary by state and council. Front fences, fences on corner blocks or in heritage areas, fences on top of retaining walls and anything over the height limit often need approval, and pool fences have their own requirements. Check with your council, or ask your fencer, before work starts.

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