A timber fence is one of the most satisfying projects you can take on around the home. It adds privacy, lifts your street appeal and, done well, lasts for decades. But the difference between a fence that stays straight and solid for twenty years and one that leans and rots inside five usually comes down to the supplies you buy, not the day you build it.

At A Class Building Materials, we sell fencing timber to Melbourne homeowners and tradies every week, and the same questions come up again and again. So here is a straight, practical guide to buying timber fencing supplies in 2026: what you actually need, what to look for, and roughly what to budget.

What a timber paling fence is actually made of

Before you price anything, it helps to know the parts. A standard paling fence has four core components.

Posts are the backbone. They carry the whole fence, and they sit in the ground, so they take the most punishment. Rails run horizontally between the posts and the palings screw onto them. Palings are the vertical boards that make up the face of the fence. And plinth boards (sometimes called kickboards or gravel boards) sit along the bottom to keep your palings off the wet ground, which is one of the cheapest ways to add years to the fence's life.

On top of that you'll need the consumables that hold it all together: galvanised or stainless steel screws or nails, and bags of concrete to set the posts.

Treated pine or hardwood: which timber to buy

This is the first real decision, and it comes down to budget and look.

Treated pine is the popular, cost effective choice. It's lighter to handle, easy to work with, and when it's properly treated it stands up well to the Australian climate. Supplied and installed, a treated pine paling fence typically runs $75 to $120 per metre in 2026.

Hardwood such as merbau or spotted gum is denser, heavier and more premium. It resists warping better and has a richer natural grain, but you pay for it. A hardwood paling fence generally costs $100 to $190 per metre supplied and installed. Many people split the difference by using hardwood posts for strength and treated pine palings to keep the price sensible.

Understand treatment levels: H3 and H4

If you remember one thing from this guide, make it this. Treated timber is graded by how much protection it has against rot and insects, and the two grades that matter for fencing are different for different parts.

Use H4 treated timber for posts. Anything that goes into the ground needs H4, because it's rated for in ground contact where moisture and termites do the most damage. Skimping here is the single most common reason fences fail early.

Use H3 treated timber for palings and rails. H3 is rated for above ground outdoor use, which is exactly what those components are. Buying H3 for the parts that never touch soil keeps your costs down without cutting corners where it counts.

When you buy, check that the timber is stamped with its treatment level and that it comes from a reputable mill. A Class Building Materials only stocks properly treated fencing timber, so you're not left guessing.

How to work out how much you need

You don't need to over order or under order if you plan it out.

Posts are usually spaced about 2.4 metres apart, so divide your total fence length by 2.4 and add one for the final post. For a fence up to 1.8 metres high, plan on three rails per span (top, middle and bottom); shorter fences can get away with two.

For palings, measure your fence length in millimetres and divide by your paling width, allowing a small gap or overlap depending on the style you want. Add roughly five to ten percent extra for offcuts, splits and mistakes. It's far cheaper to buy a few spare palings up front than to make a second trip.

If maths isn't your favourite part of the job, our team can size a full materials list from your measurements in a few minutes.

What to check before you pay

A few quick checks separate good fencing timber from the stuff that will give you grief.

Look down the length of each post and paling for straightness, and pass on anything badly bowed or twisted. Check for large loose knots, deep splits or soft spongy patches, which are signs of poor drying or rot. Make sure posts are a consistent thickness so your rails sit true. And always confirm the treatment stamp is present rather than taking it on trust.

Smart ways to save in 2026

Buying supplies well is where you save real money. Order everything in one go so your timber comes from the same batch and matches in colour and size. Ask about bulk pricing if you're doing a long run or a whole yard, because per unit costs drop quickly at volume. And factor in delivery: getting a full pallet dropped at your gate is usually cheaper and far easier than a dozen trips with timber hanging out of the boot.

If you're a tradie doing repeat work, a trade account is worth setting up for the pricing and the account terms alone.

Ready to price your fence?

Everything about a lasting fence is decided before the first post goes in. Choose the right treatment levels, order the correct quantities, and give the timber a proper once over in the yard, and the build itself becomes the easy part.

That's where the right supplier makes all the difference. A Class Building Materials stocks quality treated pine and hardwood fencing timber across Australia, and our team is happy to turn your measurements into a complete materials list with clear pricing. Get a quote today and start your fence with supplies you can count on.