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Get my free instant estimate → Call (03) 4328 3068Fence replacement cost in Melbourne
Replacing a fence means paying for the new fence plus taking the old one out. The figures below are market ranges from published, independent cost guides, not our prices. Your job lands wherever its length, height, posts, slope and access put it.
| Published market range | Melbourne figure (installed) |
|---|---|
| Standard 1.8m timber paling (commonly quoted middle) | About $120 to $190 per metreAcross published 2026 cost guides, see our paling fence cost guide |
| Budget 1.8m treated pine paling | About $84 to $115 per metreWhat's The Damage, October 2026 |
| Timber paling, materials and installation | About $150 to $170 per metreAirtasker, August 2026 |
| Lapped and capped | About $135 to $180 per metreWhat's The Damage, October 2026 |
| Hardwood palings and posts | About $170 to $200 per metreWhat's The Damage, October 2026 |
| Removal of the existing fence (extra) | About $15 to $40 per metreWhat's The Damage, October 2026 |
Taking the commonly quoted $120 to $190 per metre plus $15 to $40 per metre for removal, replacing a 30 metre boundary comes out somewhere around $4,000 to $6,900, before gates. Split 50/50 with a neighbour, that is roughly $2,000 to $3,450 each. A full-spec build (hardwood posts, three rails, plinth, lapped and capped) can sit at or above the top of published ranges.
Why is the spread so wide for what sounds like the same fence? Mostly spec and inclusions: post material, rail count, plinth, height, lapping and capping, and whether removal, gates and GST are in the number. Not every guide says whether GST is included, so check it on every quote you compare (our written quotes show one GST-inclusive total). For the breakdown by height and style, see the paling fence cost per metre guide and the wider cost of fencing in Melbourne, which has a worked example. For your own boundary, the free online instant estimate prices your drawn fence line in about 2 minutes.
What a proper replacement includes
Two quotes for "a new paling fence" can describe very different fences. This is what goes into a properly built replacement, and what we build as standard:
| Inclusion | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Hardwood posts set in concrete | Posts are what fail first, rotting at ground level. Hardwood in a concrete footing puts the most durable material where the fence is most exposed. See hardwood vs treated pine posts. |
| Three rails | On a full-height paling fence the middle rail stops palings bowing and twisting as the timber dries. A two-rail quote is cheaper for a reason. See heights and post spacing. |
| A plinth board at the base | Keeps the palings up off the soil, where timber rots fastest. |
| Treated pine palings | Butted as standard, or lapped and capped for gap-free privacy and a capping board over the paling ends. |
| Old fence removal and disposal | Itemised as its own line on the quote, so you can see exactly what it costs. See the old fence removal guide. |
| A written quote and written warranty | The full spec and one GST-inclusive total in writing, plus a written warranty on the workmanship. Check any builder's registration on the BPC practitioner register (ours is CDB-U 67771). |
Not included in our quotes: clearing vegetation along the fence line and protecting garden beds. Gates are priced separately.
A quote well below the others is not automatically a bad deal, but it is usually a different fence: treated pine posts, wider post spacing, two rails, no plinth, removal left out, or GST added on top. Line your quotes up with our 12-point fence quote checklist before you compare totals.
Step 1: repair or replace?
Push each post. If the posts are solid and the damage is a handful of palings or one rail, it is a repair, and repair-only work suits a handyman; we build full replacements. If posts are soft at ground level, a run leans, or you fixed it last year and it needs fixing again, the skeleton is gone and replacement is the value play. The full decision test lives in our fence lifespan guide; the rule of thumb is that when a third of the fence needs work, replacement wins.
Step 2: get your estimate, then book the free measure
Get your number first, then talk to neighbours: the conversation is easier with a real figure on the table. Our free online instant estimate prices your drawn boundary in about two minutes. When you are ready, book a free, no-obligation on-site measure: we check the length, levels, access and what is coming out, then send a written, itemised quote. Measures need 24 hours' notice, and there is no deposit to book.
Step 3: the neighbour conversation (shared fences)
Most boundary fences are dividing fences, and Victorian neighbours normally split the cost of a sufficient fence equally. In practice: knock on the door with your estimate, agree the split, done. The details, including who pays when one of you wants a higher fence, are in who pays for a dividing fence.
When agreement is not that easy, the Fences Act has a formal process: a written Fencing Notice, which gives your neighbour 30 days to respond. Our free Fencing Notice generator fills one in for you, ready to print and serve. If your neighbour still will not engage, see neighbour won't pay for the fence? for your options, starting with the free Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria. We can split the written quote across both owners from the start, which takes the awkwardness out of chasing a neighbour for their half.
If a storm or a fallen tree brought the fence down, urgent repairs have their own rules: see fence blown down in a storm? Who pays and what to do.
Step 4: permits (usually not needed)
A like-for-like boundary fence replacement up to 2m normally needs no building permit in Victoria. Going taller is the common trap: a 2.1m fence is over the 2m exemption and normally needs a permit (see paling fence heights: 1.8m vs 2.1m). The other exceptions worth checking with your council are front fences, fences near street corners, brick or masonry fences, pool barriers, heritage or other planning overlays, and any covenant on your title, all covered in the fence permit guide. In our home patch, see fence rules in Kingston, Bayside & Glen Eira.
Step 5: build day (what actually happens)
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Before the day | The free on-site measure confirms your written quote (booked with 24 hours' notice, no deposit to book). Tell us about anything staying put, like an existing gate you are keeping. |
| Demolition | The old fence comes down, posts and footings included, and is carted away for disposal. Removal and disposal is its own line on your quote. Clear plants and vegetation from the fence line before the day: vegetation removal and plant protection are not included. |
| Posts | Hardwood posts set in concrete, with the line and heights strung first. On sloped blocks the fence steps or rakes to follow the ground. |
| Rails and palings | Three rails go on, then the plinth board and treated pine palings. Lapped and capped builds add the overlapping paling layer and the capping board. |
| Gates | Priced separately on your quote. A new gate is hung and latched as part of the build. |
| Cleanup | Offcuts, nails and build waste cleared, then a walk-through with you. |
For a standard 20 to 40 metre suburban boundary this is one to two days on site. Long runs, stepped slopes and tight access stretch it; weather can shift it. The full timeline, from estimate to finished fence, is in how long does a new fence take.
Is your old fence fibro? Fibro (asbestos cement) fences on older properties may contain asbestos, and you cannot tell by looking. Do not cut, drill, break or water-blast it. WorkSafe Victoria advises that asbestos removal be done by a licensed removalist, so plan for one to take a fibro fence out before the new fence goes in; we do not remove fibro, and we flag it at the measure. More in our old fence removal guide and WorkSafe Victoria's asbestos guidance.
After the build
New treated pine needs 6 to 12 weeks to dry before painting or staining; doing it then adds years to the timber. The how and when is in painting a timber fence so it lasts.
Fence due for replacement? Price it in 2 minutes
Enter your address, draw the fence line and get a free online instant estimate. The on-site measure and written quote are free and no-obligation. Measures need 24 hours' notice, and there is no deposit to book.
Get my free instant estimate → Call (03) 4328 3068Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a fence in Melbourne?
As a market guide, published 2026 cost guides put a standard 1.8m timber paling fence in Melbourne at about $120 to $190 per metre installed, with budget jobs quoted from under $100 and hardwood or lapped and capped builds reaching about $200 or more. Removal of the old fence is usually extra, about $15 to $40 per metre. On those figures a 30 metre boundary lands somewhere around $4,000 to $6,900 including removal, before gates, or roughly half that each if neighbours split it. These are market ranges, not a quote. For a figure for your own property, draw your fence line on the free online instant estimate at expanse.builders.
How long does it take to replace a fence?
For a standard suburban boundary of roughly 20 to 40 metres, demolition and the new paling fence build typically take one to two days on site. Add lead time for quoting, neighbour agreement on shared fences, and scheduling. Weather, tight access and long or stepped runs extend the build.
Should I repair my fence or replace it?
Repair when the posts are solid and the damage is limited to a few palings or a single rail. Replace when posts have rotted at ground level, a whole run leans, or repairs have become a yearly event. If more than about a third of the fence needs work, replacement usually wins on value. We build full replacements rather than repairs, so for a repair-only job a handyman is usually the better call.
Who pays to replace a fence between neighbours?
In Victoria, neighbours normally share the cost of a sufficient dividing fence equally under the Fences Act 1968, and an owner who wants a higher standard than sufficient usually pays the difference. If you cannot simply agree, a Fencing Notice starts the formal process and your neighbour has 30 days to respond. The free Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria can help if you get stuck.
Does fence replacement include removing the old fence?
It should, but check. Removing and disposing of the old fence is a real cost that some quotes leave out, which is a common reason a cheap quote is not actually cheap. On our quotes it is its own line, so you can see exactly what it costs. Fibro (asbestos cement) fences are different: they may contain asbestos, and WorkSafe Victoria advises that asbestos removal be done by a licensed removalist before the new fence goes in.
Do I need a permit to replace a boundary fence in Victoria?
Generally no. Replacing a side or rear boundary fence like for like at up to 2 metres normally needs no building permit in Victoria. Fences over 2m (a 2.1m fence included), front fences, fences near street corners, pool barriers and heritage overlays are the exceptions worth checking with your council.
What should a fence replacement quote include?
The post material and how the posts are set, the number of rails, whether a plinth and capping are included, the paling style, the finished height, old fence removal and disposal, gates, what is excluded, one total that states GST, and a written warranty. Our standard is hardwood posts set in concrete, three rails, a plinth and treated pine palings. If a line is missing from a quote, ask for it in writing before you compare totals.
Related guides
- How to compare fence quotes in MelbourneA 12-point checklist
- Old fence removal MelbourneCost, disposal and fibro fences
- Hardwood vs treated pine fence postsWhich lasts longer?
- Lapped and capped fenceWhat it is, cost and is it worth it?
- Paling fence heights & post spacing1.8m vs 2.1m in Melbourne
- Neighbour won't pay for the fence?Your options in Victoria
- Fence blown down in a storm?Who pays and what to do (Victoria)
- Fence rules in Kingston, Bayside & Glen EiraHeights and permits
- Paling fence cost per metreMarket costs and what sets the price
- Who pays for a dividing fence?The Fences Act 50/50 rule explained
- Do you need a permit for a fence?Height rules and permits in Victoria
- Free Fencing Notice generatorFill in, print and serve, no signup
Areas we serve
Timber paling fencing by region: Eastern suburbs · South East Melbourne · Western suburbs · Northern suburbs
Close to home in the south-east: Heatherton · Cheltenham · Mentone · Moorabbin · Brighton · Bentleigh
Bayside: Brighton East · Hampton · Sandringham · Black Rock · Beaumaris · Highett
Also: Gates · Colorbond fencing
Sources: market ranges from What's The Damage: timber paling fence cost in Melbourne (updated October 2026) and Airtasker: fencing cost (updated August 2026), both checked October 2026; these are not our prices. Fences Act 1968 (legislation.vic.gov.au), Fencing in Victoria (vic.gov.au), Fencing Notice templates (vic.gov.au), Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria, WorkSafe Victoria: asbestos and Building and Plumbing Commission: find and check a practitioner. General information only, current at October 2026. Site conditions vary; your written quote and timeline are confirmed at the free on-site measure.