Installing a garden gate in 2026 typically costs between £300 and £2,500 all-in, covering supply and fitting. The widest variable is the gate itself — a straightforward timber side gate bought off the shelf and hung by a carpenter sits comfortably under £500, while a made-to-measure wrought iron driveway gate with electric automation can clear £2,000 before you add groundworks.
Labour is generally a small portion of the total for manual gates. A competent joiner or fencer can hang most pedestrian gates in two to four hours. Automation and heavier metalwork push the job into a full day or more, often involving groundworks, concrete, and an electrician.
Garden Gate Installation Cost Breakdown by Type
The table below shows typical all-in costs for supply and fitting in the UK in 2026. Costs assume standard access with no significant groundworks.
| Gate Type | Gate Only (Supply) | Fitting Labour | Total Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timber (softwood, off-the-shelf) | £80–£200 | £150–£250 | £300–£500 |
| Timber (hardwood or made-to-measure) | £200–£600 | £200–£350 | £450–£950 |
| Steel / mild steel | £250–£700 | £200–£350 | £500–£1,100 |
| Wrought iron (traditional) | £400–£1,200 | £250–£450 | £700–£1,700 |
| Composite (wood-effect plastic) | £300–£800 | £150–£300 | £500–£1,100 |
| Automated / electric (single) | £600–£1,500 | £400–£800 | £1,100–£2,500 |
| Automated / electric (double driveway) | £1,000–£2,500 | £600–£1,200 | £1,700–£3,800 |
Prices above are national averages. London and south-east rates typically run 20–30% higher.
What Drives the Price?
Gate Material
Timber is the cheapest option when bought as a standard pressure-treated softwood gate from a fencing or builders’ merchant. Hardwood (oak, iroko) costs more upfront but lasts considerably longer without treatment. Timber gates are prone to swelling in wet weather if not properly treated and hung with clearance gaps.
Steel and mild steel gates offer good strength at a mid-range price. They are factory powder-coated, which reduces ongoing maintenance. Bespoke steel work by a local blacksmith will cost more than a catalogue product.
Wrought iron is at the premium end of manual gates. The material is denser and more complex to fabricate than mild steel, and most wrought iron gates are custom made. Expect to wait four to eight weeks for delivery.
Composite gates use a PVC or aluminium core clad in a wood-effect finish. They do not rot, warp, or need painting, making them popular for side access gates. Cost is similar to steel.
Automated gates carry additional costs: the motor kit (£300–£800 for a quality unit), power supply, intercom or keypad, and sometimes safety sensors required by BS EN 12978. Installation frequently requires a Part P-registered electrician to sign off the electrical connection, adding £100–£250 to the bill.
Posts and Groundworks
Many quotes focus on the gate and hanging hardware and exclude post installation. If existing posts are sound, the job is simpler. New posts for a timber gate typically add £100–£300; concrete pillars for a heavy metal or automated gate add £300–£800 and need time to cure before the gate is hung.
Gate Width and Opening Style
Standard pedestrian gates are 900mm wide. Driveway gates are typically 2.4m to 5m wide (single or double leaf). Wider gates require heavier hinges, stronger posts, and more labour. Single-leaf driveway gates are simpler to automate than double-leaf.
Typical Day Rates for Fitters
| Trade | Day Rate (2026 UK) |
|---|---|
| Carpenter / joiner | £200–£350/day |
| Fencer | £180–£300/day |
| Metalwork / blacksmith | £250–£450/day |
| Gate automation specialist | £300–£500/day |
| Electrician (Part P) | £250–£400/day |
Most pedestrian gate installations are priced as a fixed job rather than a day rate. Get at least three quotes and check whether they include posts, concrete, and hardware.
Worked Example: Wrought Iron Side Gate
Scenario: A semi-detached house needs a traditional wrought iron side gate measuring 900mm wide × 1.2m high, hung between brick piers that already exist.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Wrought iron gate (standard catalogue, powder-coated black) | £520 |
| Heavy-duty hinges and latch | £65 |
| Labour (half day, metalwork fitter) | £190 |
| Total | £775 |
If the brick piers needed building from scratch, add approximately £400–£600 for a bricklayer.
Automated Gate Considerations
Automated garden gates must comply with the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) as transposed into UK law post-Brexit. In practice this means:
- A risk assessment and CE/UKCA marking where applicable
- Safety edges or photo-electric beams to prevent trapping (BS EN 12978)
- A clearly marked emergency stop or manual release
- Regular maintenance by a competent person
Many homeowners underestimate the ongoing cost of automation. Annual maintenance contracts from gate specialists run £80–£200 per year. Motor units from reputable brands (BFT, FAAC, Nice) have better long-term part availability than no-name imports.
Planning Permission
Most garden gates do not require planning permission in England if they are less than 1m high adjacent to a highway (including a footpath) or less than 2m elsewhere. Listed buildings and conservation areas may have additional restrictions — check with your local planning authority before ordering. In Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the rules differ slightly.
Ways to Keep Costs Down
- Buy supply-only and hire a local fencer. Online gate suppliers often sell at lower prices than merchant trade counters. Buying supply-only and providing the gate to a fencer can save £100–£200 versus a full supply-and-fit package.
- Choose stock sizes. Made-to-measure gates carry a 30–60% premium over catalogue sizes. If your opening can be adjusted slightly, stick to a standard width.
- Reuse existing posts. Getting a professional to assess whether existing posts are sound before assuming they need replacement can save significant cost.
- Manual over automated. If security is the main concern, a quality manual gate with a good padlock or Yale-style latch offers strong deterrence at a fraction of the cost of full automation.
When to Call a Specialist
For a straightforward timber or composite pedestrian gate hung on existing posts, any competent carpenter or fencer is suitable. For wrought iron work, seek someone with metalwork or blacksmithing experience. For any automated system, use a specialist gate installer — preferably a member of the Door and Hardware Federation (DHF) or the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers — who can certify the installation and carry appropriate public liability insurance.
