Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 23 September 2026
Exeter's mix of housing throws up all sorts of fencing jobs. You've got the Victorian terraces around St Leonard's and Newtown with tiny courtyards needing close-board panels, the newer estates out at Pinhoe and Monkerton where developers often use flimsy featherboard that needs replacing within a few years, and the more rural fringes towards Pinn or Alphington where post-and-rail or stock fencing for paddocks and larger gardens is the norm. Clay-heavy soil across much of the city means fence posts can shift or lean over time, so a decent contractor will know to set posts deep with proper concrete footings rather than just bashing them into the ground. Anyone who's dealt with Exeter's wetter winters knows what happens to timber that's been badly fitted or left untreated.
The businesses listed here come from public business listings, ranked mainly on review rating and how many reviews they've built up, with a small boost for those who have a proper working website and a phone number that actually gets answered. We also check each business's homepage to confirm fencing work is genuinely their main trade, not just something they've tacked onto a joinery or landscaping listing, which keeps unrelated tradespeople off this page. Listings flagged as permanently closed get stripped out automatically. Where you spot a Trust Verified badge, that business has gone further and passed our full verification, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. Our How We Verify page sets out exactly what that involves. For businesses without the badge, those same checks haven't been done by us, so it's worth working through them yourself before you commit to anything.
Before booking, ask for a written quote that breaks down materials and labour separately, and find out whether the price includes removal of your old fencing and disposal of the waste. Confirm what type of timber or panel they're proposing (pressure-treated softwood lasts a lot longer than untreated), and check whether they're using concrete gravel boards to stop the bottom of the fence rotting out early, which is a common issue given how much rain Exeter gets. If the job involves a boundary shared with a neighbour, it's worth having that conversation early to avoid disputes later. Get two or three quotes minimum, ask to see photos of previous work in the area, and check whether they offer any guarantee on posts or panels. A contractor who's confident in their work won't mind you asking these questions.
How We Select & Rate The Best Fencing Contractors in Exeter
Ranking is driven by review rating and review count pulled from public business listings, with a small lift given to businesses showing a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm fencing contracting is genuinely their main line of work, and listings flagged as permanently closed are removed automatically. Businesses marked Trust Verified have gone through our full verification process, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information; see our How We Verify page for the complete list. Other businesses on this page haven't been independently verified by us, and being included isn't an endorsement. Always do your own checks before hiring anyone.
Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. Every other listing is ranked on rating and review count from third-party business listings. How we rank & verify →
Paul Jackson Landscaping & Fencing is an Exeter-based fencing contractor with a five-star rating across more than a hundred Google reviews, suggesting consistent, reliable results for residential and commercial clients. Operating across Devon, the business covers fencing installation and landscaping work for neighbours throughout the EX4 area and beyond.
Rated 5.0 across 18 Google reviews, Premier Fencing & Astro serves residential and commercial customers in Exeter, installing fencing and artificial grass surfaces. The consistent rating across a range of projects points to reliable workmanship and straightforward service from a local contractor.
Fencing contractors serving Exeter and the surrounding area, Fester's Fencing Services handles residential and commercial fence installation, repair, and replacement. With a 4.3-star rating across customer reviews, the company has built a steady local reputation. Their website at exeterfencing.co.uk provides further detail on the work they carry out.
Transparency notice: Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. All other listings are ranked by a combined score drawn from ratings and review counts published on third-party business listings, plus basic completeness signals such as a working website and phone. A Trust Verified badge means we have independently checked that business's documents; businesses without it have not been independently verified by us. How we verify →
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How much does a fencing contractor cost in Exeter?
For a standard close-board fence with concrete posts, expect somewhere between £70 and £120 per metre supplied and fitted, depending on height and timber quality. A simple featherboard panel fence tends to come in cheaper, often £50 to £90 per metre, while post-and-rail for a larger garden or paddock can vary a lot depending on ground conditions and how many gates are needed. Small repair jobs, like replacing a couple of rotten posts, might only cost £150 to £300. Prices shift depending on access (a fence down a narrow side return in Heavitree takes longer than an open garden in Pinhoe), so it's normal to get two or three quotes before deciding.
How long does it take to install a garden fence?
A typical domestic garden fence, say 15 to 20 metres, usually takes one to two days once the contractor is on site. Larger jobs or ones needing concrete posts to set and cure properly can stretch to three or four days. Wet weather can slow things down too, particularly if the ground's already waterlogged from Exeter's autumn and winter rain, so build in some flexibility around your timeline rather than booking something immediately after.
Do I need planning permission for a new fence in Exeter?
Most garden fences don't need planning permission as long as they're under 2 metres high, or under 1 metre if they front a road. If your property is in a conservation area, such as parts of the city centre or St David's, or if it's listed, there can be extra restrictions, so it's worth a quick check with Exeter City Council's planning department before work starts. A good contractor will usually flag this too, but the responsibility sits with the homeowner.
Who's responsible for a boundary fence between neighbouring properties?
It depends on what's recorded in the property deeds, which isn't always obvious. Some deeds specify which side owns which fence, often marked with a T symbol on the boundary plan, but plenty of properties have no clear record at all. If you're replacing a shared fence, it's worth talking to your neighbour before booking anyone, both to agree on splitting costs and to make sure there's no disagreement about the exact boundary line.
What's the best type of fence for a windy or exposed garden?
Solid panel fencing can act like a sail in strong wind, which is a real issue on exposed plots out towards Exminster or up on higher ground near Pennsylvania. Post-and-rail with wire mesh, or slatted fencing with gaps, lets wind pass through rather than pushing against a solid surface, and it puts a lot less strain on the posts. If you want privacy as well as wind resistance, ask your contractor about staggered board or hit-and-miss fencing, which gives decent screening without the same wind loading as a solid panel.
What should I check before hiring a fencing contractor in Exeter?
Ask to see photos or addresses of recent jobs nearby so you can judge the standard of finish yourself. Request proof of public liability insurance and check they're happy to put the job details, including materials, timescale and cost, in writing before starting. Look them up on Companies House if they're a limited company, and read through recent reviews rather than just the star rating, since the comments often reveal how they handle problems or delays. If a job needs planning consideration, such as boundary height near a road, ask how they'd handle that too. Getting a written quote from at least two contractors makes it much easier to spot anyone pricing unrealistically low or high.
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