Fence painting cost guide

Painting your fence not only gives your garden a makeover but it also protects it from the weather. You can also stain your wooden fence if you don’t want to cover up the texture of it, but you'll still give it the waterproofing properties it needs.

So how much does fence painting cost?

Average cost to paint a fence

The cost to paint a fence will depend on the size of it, the type of paint or wood stain you use and where you are in the country, but here are the average prices:

These rates are averages based across the entire UK. To get a more accurate idea of labour costs in your area, take a look at the table further down the page. HaMuch has a large database of hourly and daily rates for painters and decorators across the country, and we've compiled an extensive list to help you budget.

Why should I paint my fence?

There are a few benefits to painting your fence that you should consider:

Improve your garden: Painting or staining your fence can give your garden a completely new look and feel. While lots of people go for a natural colour for their fence like green or brown, some homeowners choose a bold colour to make it a feature in their garden. The choice is yours!

Extend your fence's life: By painting your fence, you're waterproofing it and protecting it from the elements. Giving it this extra protection will prolong your fence's life – and since a new fence is costly, you could save yourself hundreds of pounds.

Increase kerb appeal: If you paint or stain the fence facing the road, you'll improve the look of your home to your neighbours and prospective buyers. If you're planning on selling your home soon, it's certainly worth giving your fence a fresh lick of paint to impress buyers as soon as they reach your property.

Cost to stain a fence

The average cost to stain a fence is £30 per panel. Wood stain costs slightly more than paint, but you'll preserve the texture of the fence whereas paint will cover it. There's some evidence to suggest that staining a fence gives it more waterproofing protection, but both techniques offer good coverage.

Here are the average costs to stain a whole fence:

Small wooden fence: £120

Medium wooden fence: £180

Large wooden fence: £240

Fence power washing and staining cost

A painter and decorator might not power wash your fence for you before staining, but it's certainly worth getting a few quotes from different professionals to see if they can include it in the cost.

It usually costs between £60-£120 to pressure wash a fence depending on its size, so expect to spend anywhere between £180-£350 for fence power washing and staining.

Is it cheaper to paint or stain a fence?

It's cheaper to paint a fence. While wood stain costs around £10 per panel, fence paint costs an average of £6.50 per panel. So including labour, it costs around £26.50 per panel to paint a fence, whereas staining it costs £30 per panel.

The average costs to paint a whole fence are as follows:

Small wooden fence: £105

Medium wooden fence: £160

Large wooden fence: £210

Wrought iron fence painting cost

Wrought iron fencing is completely different to wooden fencing so requires a different type of paint. The condition of your wrought iron fence will also have a big impact on how much it will cost to paint.

We'd expect it to cost between £25-£36 per section of iron railings to paint, including all materials. Labour cost is usually higher for metal fencing as your painter will need to ensure that the railings are completely free of rust and flaking paint before they start.

How many hours does it take to paint a fence?

It will take between 4 hours and 2 days to paint a fence, depending on how big your fence is and the condition it's in. If your fence needs pressure washing before it's painted, you should leave it to dry for at least 48 hours to allow all the moisture to evaporate.

Wrought iron fences may take longer to paint than wooden fences because there are often lots of intricate nooks and crannies to get into. There's also more prep work involved, including sanding and priming, to ensure that the surface is smooth and ready to paint.

Can I legally paint my side of my neighbour's fence?

Citizens Advice states that you must not paint your side of your neighbour's fence without their permission.

Most neighbours will be happy for you to paint your side of the fence if you speak to them first and ensure that it doesn't affect their side of the fence. If you're concerned about future problems, you could ask your neighbour to sign and date a letter stating that they give you permission to paint your side of their fence.

How much does 5 litres of fence paint cover?

5 litres of fence paint should cover 10 fence panels, or up to 30 square metres, with one coat. Most painters and decorators will recommend two coats to get a bold finish.

It's always worth getting a good brand of fence paint to reduce the need for multiple coats and to get the best weather protection. Quality brands include Cuprinol, Ronseal and Johnstone's.

Good fence and shed paint will cost between £2-£4 per litre.

Get competitive quotes

It's best to get a range of quotes from exterior painters and decorators to ensure you get the best price for your fence painting or staining project. Post your job on HaMuch now to get in touch with trusted painters and decorators in your area.

Estimates for common painter and decorator jobs;

Rates for other trades