Reviewed: 12 August 2026. Painting is normally priced from surface area, access and preparation—not fence length by itself.
Convert the fence to paintable square metres before comparing quotes. A 20 m × 1.8 m solid face is 36 m² on one side or approximately 72 m² on both sides before allowing for edges, gaps, posts and rails. Open palings can create more brushable edge area than a simple rectangle suggests.
Surface-area calculation
Basic face area = length × height × number of faces. For 18 m of 1.5 m-high fence painted both sides: 18 × 1.5 × 2 = 54 m² of face area. Add posts, rails and edges according to the actual profile and coating method. Subtract large unpainted openings, not every narrow gap.
Preparation grades drive labour
| Condition | Likely preparation | Pricing effect |
|---|---|---|
| New dry dressed timber | Clean, prime/condition as system requires | Predictable but multiple-coat system |
| Weathered uncoated timber | Wash, dry, sand loose fibres, spot treatment | More labour and weather dependency |
| Failing paint | Scrape/sand, address decay and adhesion | Preparation can exceed application time |
| Existing stain | Clean and confirm compatible recoat | Product and colour may constrain result |
Paint or stain?
Paint gives an opaque colour system but needs sound preparation when it eventually fails. Stain retains more timber texture and can be simpler to refresh, but coverage, colour change and recoat intervals depend on the product and exposure. Ask the coating manufacturer for coverage and system instructions; do not convert a can label into an installed labour price.
Quote schedule
- Measured m² and sides included.
- Cleaning, sanding, masking and vegetation clearance.
- Primer, product, colour and number of coats.
- Spray, brush or roller method and overspray protection.
- Access to neighbour’s side and responsibility for permission.
- Rot/loose-board repairs excluded or included.
- Weather delay and curing assumptions.
Read timber fence maintenance and failure points before coating a decayed frame. Use the materials calculator for the fence take-off, but preserve the separate m² coating calculation in your quote brief.
Price the surface, not only the fence length
Painting cost follows the area and condition of the timber. A 20 m paling fence painted on both sides has roughly twice the accessible face area of the same fence coated on one side, before rails, posts, caps and gaps are counted. Height, profile and the number of cut-in edges also change labour.
Preparation is the variable most often missed
Sound, clean timber may need washing, drying and spot preparation. Weathered or peeling coatings can require scraping, sanding and priming; mould and salt deposits need suitable cleaning. New treated timber must be dry enough for the selected system. Resene's exterior guidance recommends preparation and a compatible primer/topcoat system rather than coating over contamination or failing paint.
| Condition | Likely work | Quote risk |
|---|---|---|
| New bare timber | Dryness check, clean, prime where specified, topcoats | Treatment moisture and weather |
| Sound existing coating | Wash, abrade where needed, recoat | Hidden adhesion failures |
| Peeling or grey timber | More removal, sanding, repairs and primer | Labour can exceed coating time |
| Restricted boundary side | Access agreement and hand work | Scaffolding, plants and neighbour access |
Build a comparable painting quote
State the fence length and height, faces included, coating system and colour, preparation standard, number of coats, minor repairs, plant protection and cleanup. Ask how wet-weather delays and inaccessible sections are handled. A cheap rate that excludes preparation is not comparable with a complete coating specification.
For replacement decisions, use repair versus replacement. For a new timber system, compare the installed fence first on timber fence costs.
Technical reference: Resene exterior preparation guidance. Product coverage and recoat instructions must come from the selected coating's current data sheet.