Concrete vs Timber Fence Posts: Which Should You Choose?

The short answer

If you want a fence you can largely forget about, slotted concrete posts are the most popular choice for garden boundaries in the UK. If you want a fully timber look, need to cut posts on site, or are building something other than a straight panel fence, timber posts make more sense.

Concrete fence posts

Slotted concrete posts have a groove down each side. You set the post in the ground, then slide the gravel board and the panel down into the slots. There are no screws or brackets, and the panel can be lifted out again if it ever needs replacing.

Advantages

• They don't rot. The part of a post that fails first is usually where it meets the ground. Concrete doesn't have that problem.
• Panels are easy to replace. If a panel is damaged, you can lift it out and drop a new one in.
• Strong in the wind. Their weight and the way panels sit in the slots helps the fence cope with exposed sites.
• Pairs with concrete gravel boards, keeping all timber clear of the soil.

Disadvantages

• Heavy. A 9ft concrete post is a two-person lift.
• Can't be cut to length, so you need to order the right size.
• The look — some people prefer an all-timber appearance, though many find the grey blends in once plants grow.
• Panels must fit the gap, which means posts have to be set at the right spacing.

See our range of concrete fence posts, including intermediate, end and corner posts.

Timber fence posts

Timber posts are usually square-section pressure-treated softwood, commonly 75mm × 75mm (3in) or 100mm × 100mm (4in). Panels are fixed to the posts with screws or metal fence clips.

Advantages

• Lighter and easier to handle, which makes a big difference on a long run or with limited access.
• Can be cut on site to suit slopes, odd heights or a trimmed last panel.
• All-timber look that some people prefer, especially for a natural or cottage-style garden.
• Versatile — good for gates, pergolas, trellis and anything that isn't a standard panel bay.

Disadvantages

• Timber in the ground will eventually rot, especially in wet or clay soil.
• More fixings are needed to attach panels.
• Replacing a panel means unscrewing it rather than simply lifting it out.

Browse our timber fence posts in 75mm and 100mm sizes.

Side-by-side comparison

Which should you choose?

Choose concrete if…

• You're fencing a boundary and want to avoid replacing posts down the line.
• Your garden is exposed, or your ground is wet or heavy clay.
• You're using standard 6ft wide panels on a fairly level run.

Choose timber if…

• You want an all-timber look.
• Your garden slopes or has awkward angles that need posts cut to length.
• You're hanging a gate or building a feature rather than a straight panel run.

Getting the most from timber posts

If you go for timber, a few simple habits help: set posts in post mix with the top of the concrete sloping away from the post so water runs off, avoid burying the post in soil around the top of the concrete, and use a gravel board so the panel isn't sitting on the ground.

Post lengths

Whichever material you choose, about a quarter of the post should go in the ground. For a 6ft fence with a gravel board, that's usually a 9ft post; for a 5ft fence with a gravel board, an 8ft post. Our how many fence panels guide shows you how to count posts, and the installation guide covers setting them.