Wooden Fence Posts

Buy Wooden Fence Posts for Warm, Reliable Boundaries

The backbone of a great-looking fence is a straight, dependable post. Wooden fence posts from East Coast Fencing combine the natural warmth of timber with the practicality installers love—easy to trim, simple to notch for rails and gates, and pressure-treated to withstand the damp, four-season reality of British gardens. Specify the right section, length and fixings, partner with compatible panels and a protective base detail, and you’ll build a boundary that stays true, quiet and good-looking for years. Ready to get started? Add your posts to basket today and take advantage of free delivery on orders £99+.

Why choose timber posts?

Timber is adaptable, cohesive and forgiving on site. If your boundary jogs, your levels dip, or you’re resolving a tricky corner, timber posts give you the scope to notch, trim and fine-tune without specialist tools. They also deliver a unified look alongside natural cladding—particularly closeboard and picket—so the whole run reads intentionally “of a piece”. For gateways and bespoke screens, timber makes it straightforward to set hinge positions, add rails where you need them and maintain a consistent visual language from end to end.

Pick the right section for strength and calm lines

Post section governs stiffness. Taller privacy runs, coastal corridors and hilltop gardens reward heavier sections; you’ll notice the difference during the first gale when the skyline remains steady and creak-free. On modest partitions and front gardens, a slimmer section may suffice, but don’t be tempted to under-spec where wind or gate forces concentrate—posts work hardest where they’re least visible. If you’re pairing with dense cladding like closeboard fence panels or double slatted designs, stepping up the post size is a small cost for a big stability gain.

Lengths, embedment and centres—set out once, set out right

Plan for generous embedment below finished ground plus any step you need across slopes. It’s usually better to order a touch long and trim on site than to be caught short and compromise. Keep bay centres around the \~1.83m panel standard to minimise racking; on very exposed sites, shortening centres slightly calms the fence and reduces bending moments. Decide early whether you’ll step or rake—either can look excellent if you commit and keep datums consistent.

Foundations that don’t move

Form clean holes, tamp a granular base on soft ground and set posts plumb in two directions against a taut string line. Backfill with a dependable mix; a rapid-set option from our cement products category keeps pace on long days, while traditional mixes offer working time where you need sculpted haunching around corners or gates. Finish the footing with a slight fall away from the timber so rain sheds rather than pooling at the post.

Build as a system: boards, panels and rails

Great posts deserve compatible components. Protect lower cladding from damp soil and strimmer rash with a base detail—choose wooden gravel boards for a continuous timber look or concrete gravel boards for belt-and-braces durability in high-traffic corridors. Above, select fence panels that match privacy and airflow needs: solid closeboard for maximum screening, hit & miss or slatted panels where wind relief matters. If you’re building from scratch, tie the structure together with straight square rails or weather-shedding cant rails at the top. Finish with panel capping to shed water and unify the skyline.

Gate posts—spec up where loads concentrate

Gate leaves transmit twist and impact; hinge and latch posts should step up in section and embedment. Choose purpose-sized gate posts, fix hinges with through-bolts where appropriate and pair with robust hardware from garden gate furniture. Keep latch heights glove-friendly and ensure the leaf parks open cleanly without clipping bins, walls or planters.

Timber care: treatment, cuts and detailing

Pressure treatment protects against fungal decay and insect attack—crucial at the base where moisture lingers. If you trim posts or notch for rails, seal fresh end grain with a compatible product before setting. Keep soil and mulch below the gravel board line and maintain a small ground gap beneath panels for airflow. Cap posts to shield end grain and complete the silhouette; repeating cap shapes along a run does more visual work than most realise.

Fixings and brackets—small choices, long dividends

Use exterior-grade galvanised or stainless fixings sized to the section so they bite firmly without bursting through. Pre-drill near edges on dry stock to prevent splitting, and align screw heads in tidy rows—presentation isn’t just cosmetic; aligned fixings flex more uniformly in wind, keeping fences quieter. Where rails meet posts, proper brackets beat improvised packers that trap water and buzz over time; find suitable options in ironmongery and screws, fixings & fasteners.

Working around corners, services and hardstanding

Land corner posts dead plumb and carry rail datums through the turn so the skyline feels continuous. Around downpipes and taps, plan access gaps and avoid boxing in services; if you must notch, treat fresh cuts and keep fixings clear of masonry spalls. Over patios or decking where digging is impractical, bolt-down supports can hold light screens; for full-height privacy near hardstanding, concrete-in remains the gold standard.

Finish and colour—coordinate the whole scheme

Green treatment mellows to silver for a relaxed, garden-led look; brown grounds taller fences and complements clay brick and timber decking. If you prefer a design-led palette, modern charcoal or soft black frames planting and porcelain paving beautifully. Repeat finishes across posts, panels, caps and gates to avoid a patchwork effect. Where you want lightness above solid fencing, top with fence topper trellis—the timber posts you’ve chosen will welcome the extra height without visual bulk.

Maintenance—little habits, long life

Once a year, check for movement after winter weather, tighten fixings and refresh decorative stains where needed. Brush away leaf build-up at the base, keep planters slightly off the post face for airflow and avoid aggressive jet-washing that forces water into joints. With thoughtful detailing and seasonal checks, wooden fence posts will keep your boundary straight, quiet and handsome for years.

Ready to build?

Choose the right sections and lengths, set sound footings and assemble with compatible boards, panels and rails. Wooden fence posts from East Coast Fencing are the warm, adaptable route to a boundary that performs in real life—backed by free delivery on orders £99+.

We also supply wooden fence posts in wholesale quantities through our dedicated stockist portal, GardenFencingSupplies.co.uk, making it easy for merchants and stockists to browse, order, and manage their fencing requirements online.