What Is Palisade Fencing? Cost, Heights & Installation (UK Guide)

Palisade fencing is the UK's standard high-security perimeter fence: vertical steel pales bolted to horizontal rails on heavy steel posts, hot-dip galvanised for decades of low-maintenance service in typical UK conditions. It's the fence you see around substations, depots, schools, car parks, yards and industrial sites — anywhere that needs a serious, climb-resistant boundary. This guide explains what palisade fencing is, the profiles and heights available, what it costs, how it's installed and the British Standards that matter.

What is palisade fencing made from?

Palisade fencing is made from mild steel. Vertical pales (the upright sections) are bolted to two horizontal rails, which are in turn bolted to steel posts set into the ground or anchored to a concrete base. The assembly is hot-dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461, giving a zinc coating that resists rust for decades — typically 25+ years in normal inland conditions, and less in coastal or heavy-industrial environments — with little or no maintenance. Security-grade palisade is manufactured to BS 1722 Part 12, the UK standard for steel palisade security fencing.

D profile vs W profile pales

Palisade pales come in two profiles, and the steel thickness varies by grade:

• D profile (commonly 3mm, with heavier 3.5–4mm grades for high-security SP specifications) — a rounded face with a pointed triple-prong top. Harder to grip and climb, it's the standard choice for commercial and high-security sites.
• W profile (commonly 2–2.5mm) — a lighter, lower-cost notched W-shaped section. Note that 2mm is a commercial grade, 2.5mm is general-purpose, and 3mm is available for higher-security W-profile runs. Best suited to lower-risk environments and budget-driven specifications.

For most commercial and industrial security work, D profile is the recommended choice. If a specification has to meet BS 1722 Part 12 security grades, confirm the exact pale thickness for that grade.

What heights are available?

Steel palisade is supplied in five standard heights, each suited to a different security level:

• 1.8m — lower-security domestic and light commercial boundaries.
• 2.0m and 2.1m — common school and council depot specifications.
• 2.4m — the workhorse commercial security height used across most industrial sites.
• 3.0m — high-security for prisons, substations, MOD sites and high-value perimeters.

You can buy each height as complete 2.75m run kits or as individual components. Use our galvanised palisade fencing range to see every height, and the built-in calculator on each height page to work out exactly what your run needs.

Bolt-down vs concrete-in posts

Palisade posts are fixed in one of two ways. Bolt-down posts have a welded baseplate and anchor to existing concrete or hardstanding using anchor bolts — faster where a slab already exists. Concrete-in posts are set into a freshly-dug concrete footing and are the gold standard for security on new installations.

How much does palisade fencing cost per metre?

Palisade fencing is typically priced per metre of run, and the cost depends on three things: height, profile (D costs more than W) and fixing method. As a rough guide, lighter 1.8m W-profile runs sit at the lower end, while 2.4m and 3.0m D-profile runs cost more per metre because they use heavier steel and longer posts. The most accurate way to price a job is to enter your total fence length into the calculator on the relevant height page — it works out the runs, posts and fittings and shows the exact live price.

How to install palisade fencing

In outline: set out the line and dig or drill the post positions; fix the posts (concrete-in to footings, or bolt-down to a slab); bolt the horizontal rails to the posts; then bolt the pales to the rails, spacing them evenly. Runs are built around 2.75m bays, and posts are shared between adjacent runs — so the count is easy to get wrong on a long fence. The calculator on each height page handles it for you. For large or complex layouts with multiple corners, it's worth requesting a project quote.

Maintenance

Hot-dip galvanised palisade needs very little maintenance. The zinc coating protects the steel for decades with no painting and no rot, and only routine checks for damage. Any cut ends made on site should be treated with a galvanising repair spray to keep the protection continuous.

Where to buy palisade fencing

Rackerman supplies the full UK trade-standard range — all five heights, D and W profile, bolt-down and concrete-in, plus every individual component. Browse the galvanised palisade fencing collection, or jump straight to a height calculator to price your run: 1.8m, 2.0m, 2.1m, 2.4m or 3.0m. For projects over 50m or layouts with multiple corners and gates, contact us for a project quote.

Palisade fencing FAQs

What is palisade fencing?

Palisade fencing is a high-security steel fence made of vertical pales bolted to horizontal rails on steel posts, hot-dip galvanised for long life. It's widely used for commercial, industrial and infrastructure perimeters in the UK.

What is palisade fencing made from?

Mild steel pales, rails and posts, hot-dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461 and, for security grades, manufactured to BS 1722 Part 12.

What is the difference between D and W profile palisade?

D profile is heavier steel (commonly 3mm, up to 3.5–4mm for security grades) with a rounded, harder-to-climb face — best for high security. W profile is lighter (commonly 2–2.5mm) and lower-cost, suited to less hostile sites.

How much does palisade fencing cost per metre?

It varies by height, profile and fixing method. Enter your fence length into the calculator on the relevant height page for an exact, live price.

How do you install palisade fencing?

Fix the posts (concrete-in or bolt-down), bolt the horizontal rails to the posts, then bolt the pales evenly to the rails. Runs are built around 2.75m bays and the height-page calculator works out exactly how many runs, posts and fittings you need.

Does palisade fencing need maintenance?

Very little. Hot-dip galvanised palisade typically lasts decades with only routine checks; site-cut ends should be treated with a galvanising repair spray.