Fence panels are one of those “everyone thinks they know” products until they have to pick the right height, finish, and style for their own garden. To make it easier, we’ve analysed the last 12 months of East Coast Fencing fence panel orders and converted the results into percentages, so the insight is useful without publishing commercially sensitive volumes.
The short version is this: Pressure Treated Brown is the most popular finish at 63.92%, with Pressure Treated Green on 36.08%. On size, 6ft x 6ft (30.04%) and 6ft x 5ft (29.55%) are almost neck and neck. On style, closeboard fence panels lead at 51.39%. Below, we break down what that usually means in real gardens, and how to build a longer-lasting fence system with the right fence posts, gravel boards, ironmongery, and cement products.
Key Statistics at a Glance
- Most chosen finish: Pressure Treated Brown at 63.92% (Pressure Treated Green is 36.08%).
- Top sizes: 6ft x 6ft (30.04%) and 6ft x 5ft (29.55%) are the two clear leaders.
- Leading style: Closeboard fence panels account for 51.39% of fence panel purchases in this dataset.
- The “mid-height” workhorse: 6ft x 3ft is a big share at 20.36%, which fits front gardens and low boundary runs.
How to Read the Numbers (and Why We Publish Percentages Only)
We’ve taken a full 12-month window of completed orders that included fence panels and grouped the results by finish (brown/green), size, and style. We then expressed everything as percentages. When we say “30.04% 6ft x 6ft”, we mean that if you picked a fence panel line from this period, it was more likely to be 6ft x 6ft than any other single size.
Most Popular Fence Panel Sizes (What People Actually Fit)
Size is where most people get stuck. The data makes it simpler. Two sizes dominate because they cover most common garden boundaries without overthinking it.
Quick Reference Table: Sizes, Where They Work Best, and What to Pair With
| Panel Size | Share of Purchases | Typical Use-Case | Good To Pair With |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6ft x 6ft | 30.04% | Rear boundaries, maximum privacy runs | Fence Posts + Gravel Boards |
| 6ft x 5ft | 29.55% | Strong privacy with a slightly lighter look | Fence Posts + Cement Products |
| 6ft x 3ft | 20.36% | Front gardens, low boundaries, tidy sectioning | Garden Gates + Ironmongery |
| 6ft x 4ft | 15.85% | Side boundaries, medium screening, mixed runs | Gravel Boards + Ironmongery |
| 6ft x 2ft | 4.20% | Low edging, neat divisions, topping sections | Trellis Panels + Fence Posts |
Brown vs Green Pressure Treated: What the Split Suggests
Pressure treated brown leads clearly in this dataset (63.92%), with green still a strong second (36.08%). In plain terms, more customers are choosing the “brown look” for the finish. That often suits modern gardens and newer landscaping, while green is still a classic choice where people want a more traditional timber look. Either way, the most important bit is not the colour. It’s how you keep the bottom edge of the panel away from wet ground.
If you want the fence to last, pair your fence panels with gravel boards and set posts properly using suitable cement products. That does more for lifespan than any “nice extra” later.
Style Snapshot: Closeboard Leads the Way
In this dataset, closeboard fence panels are the single biggest named style at 51.39%. Picket sits at 13.87%. The remaining 34.74% is grouped as “other style”, which usually means product names that do not include simple keywords like closeboard or picket. Decorative and specialist panels often fall into that bucket depending on naming.
Where the Demand Is: Top Counties by Share of Fence Panel Orders
We also looked at where fence panel orders are concentrated. The list below shows the top counties by share of fence panel orders in this dataset. Again, percentages only.
What the Most Popular Choice Looks Like in Each Top County
Even across different areas, the top pick is very consistent. In each of the top counties by share, the single most common combination is Pressure Treated Brown plus Closeboard, with either 6ft x 5ft or 6ft x 6ft as the size. That does not mean it’s right for every garden, but it’s a strong clue about what people pick when they want privacy and a sturdier feel.
| County | Most Common Combo | Share Within That County | Practical Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex | PT Brown + Closeboard + 6ft x 5ft | 22.02% | Privacy-first choice with a slightly lighter height than 6ft. |
| Kent | PT Brown + Closeboard + 6ft x 5ft | 14.14% | A common “fit and forget” spec for boundary runs. |
| Surrey | PT Brown + Closeboard + 6ft x 6ft | 15.43% | Maximum screening tends to win out in rear gardens. |
| London | PT Brown + Closeboard + 6ft x 6ft | 17.74% | Higher privacy is often the goal on tight boundaries. |
| Hertfordshire | PT Brown + Closeboard + 6ft x 5ft | 16.73% | A popular mid-point between height and a tidy look. |
| Norfolk | PT Brown + Closeboard + 6ft x 5ft | 12.93% | A practical spec that suits long, straightforward runs. |
| Hampshire | PT Brown + Closeboard + 6ft x 6ft | 15.73% | Full height for strong screening and a solid feel. |
| West Sussex | PT Brown + Closeboard + 6ft x 6ft | 13.81% | Privacy and presence tend to drive the choice. |
Practical Tips That Matter More Than Colour or Style
Most fence failures start at the posts or at ground level. If you want a fence that stays straight and looks tidy for longer, these are the bits to get right.
- Lift panels off wet ground: use gravel boards to reduce splashback and stop the bottom rail sitting in damp soil.
- Match posts to the job: a strong panel on weak posts still wobbles. Start with the right fence posts, then make sure fixings suit your setup.
- Set posts properly: good footings do the heavy lifting. Use suitable cement products so posts stay firm through wind and winter ground movement.
- Finish neatly: the right ironmongery and accessories keep gates swinging true and panels sitting properly on the line.
Choosing the Right Fence Panel for Your Garden
Popularity is a useful clue, not a rule. If you want maximum screening, it’s no surprise that 6ft x 6ft and closeboard are strong in the data. If you want privacy but prefer a slightly lighter feel, 6ft x 5ft is just as common overall. For front gardens and lower boundaries, 6ft x 3ft is the quiet workhorse at over a fifth of purchases. Whatever you choose, think in systems. Start with the right fence panels, add solid fence posts, protect the base with gravel boards, and set it all properly using cement products. That’s how you get a fence that stays straight, stays drier at the bottom, and looks good for longer.
