Getting quotes for an aluminium slat fence in Australia and feeling the sticker shock? You're not alone — installed prices run $290–$480 per metre. But if you design the job yourself with a free takeoff tool, order the materials factory-direct and handle the install over a weekend, the same fence can cost roughly half. This guide breaks down exactly where the savings come from, with a worked 20-metre example.
For a standard 1.8 m high aluminium slat fence in Australia (2026 indicative ranges):
| Approach | Per metre (AUD) | 20 m total (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Local installer (supply + install) | $290 – $480 | $5,800 – $9,600 |
| DIY (free design + factory-direct supply + own labour) | $135 – $160 | $2,700 – $3,200 |
That's a saving of roughly $3,000 – $6,400 on a 20 m fence — about 50–65%. These are indicative ranges; your specification and site move the number. Run your own measurements through our free calculator for an exact materials list.
Three buckets, biggest first:
This is the big one. Our cost-per-metre guide puts Australian supply-only materials at $95–$170/m and installed at $290–$480/m. The gap — labour, concrete footings, site prep and the installer's margin — is what you keep when you DIY. Setting posts in concrete is the only genuinely skilled part; the slats themselves go up fast.
Australian supply-only prices ($95–$170/m) include importer and distributor margins. Ordering made-to-order panels factory-direct cuts those links out. Indicative factory EXW is roughly $55–$80/m for standard slat fencing; add sea freight (LCL), port charges, customs clearance, delivery and 10% GST, and the landed cost sits around $120–$150/m — still below local supply-only pricing, for a product made to order in your exact height, profile and colour.
Traditionally you'd pay a designer or spend hours with a tape measure and a spreadsheet. Our Fence Designer & Estimator builds the full takeoff — panels, posts, custom end panels, gates — in about a minute, free, and sends it straight for a factory quote.
| Cost item | Hire an installer | DIY factory-direct |
|---|---|---|
| Materials (panels, posts, rails, fixings) | Included | ~$1,100 – $1,600 (factory EXW) |
| Freight + port + customs clearance + delivery | Included | ~$700 – $900 |
| GST 10% (on goods + freight + insurance) | Included | ~$180 – $250 |
| Concrete, fixings top-up, tool hire | Included | ~$250 – $350 |
| Labour | Included | $0 (your weekend) |
| Total | $5,800 – $9,600 | ~$2,700 – $3,200 |
Freight is the swing factor: it favours bigger jobs. On a 10 m fence the per-metre freight is roughly double the 20 m figure; on 40 m+ it drops further. Always price the delivered total before comparing.
A realistic weekend for a handy homeowner on flat ground:
Tools: post-hole digger or auger hire (~$100–$150/day), level, string line, drill, concrete mix. Our factory installation guide covers spacing, depths and the mistakes that ruin the finish.
For the materials alone, factory-direct EXW is typically well below Australian supply-only retail. Whether the landed price wins depends on freight — small orders carry high per-metre freight, so the saving grows with job size. Get a delivered quote and compare it against the $95–$170/m local supply-only band.
A 20 m run on flat ground: one day for posts (plan around concrete cure time), one day for infill. Add a day if you're new to it or the ground is hard.
Usually not up to 1.8–2.0 m, but limits vary by council and front fences often have stricter rules. Check your council's fencing policy before ordering materials.
You can do the physical install, but pool barriers must pass a compliance inspection — factor the inspection cost in and follow the standard exactly (height, gaps, self-closing gate).
Price your own fence in 60 seconds
Try the free Fence Designer & Estimator — full materials takeoff, then one tap for a factory-direct quote.