Should You Build with Picket Fence Panels or Individual Pales?
When planning a new picket fence, one of the first questions to consider is how you want to build it:
Do you buy ready-made fence panels or build it yourself using individual picket pales and rails?
At Clarke Fencing, we offer both options—and each has its pros and cons depending on your budget, space, and confidence with DIY. This guide will help you decide which method is best for your garden project, based on cost, appearance, flexibility, and installation time.
What’s the Difference?
Picket fence panels are pre-assembled sections, usually 1.83m (6ft) wide, where the pickets are already fixed to the rails at even spacing. These are fast to install and ideal for straight, level runs.
Individual picket pales, on the other hand, let you build the fence from scratch. You’ll attach each board to horizontal timber rails between posts, spacing them out manually. This gives you full control over layout and design.
Browse all options in our picket fencing category.
Why Choose Picket Fence Panels?
If you’re looking for a quicker, more straightforward installation, panels are the obvious choice.
Benefits of using panels:
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Faster install time – just drop in and fix between posts
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No measuring or spacing required – all boards are evenly spaced from the factory
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Consistent finish – ideal if you want a neat, symmetrical run
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Ideal for level ground – panels sit flat and straight when installed correctly
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Lower skill threshold – great for first-time DIYers
Panels are especially well suited to front garden boundaries, walkways, or decorative features where straight lines and speed matter. You can install them between wooden fence posts or concrete posts, using wood screws for easy mounting.
View our picket fence panels in 0.9m and 1.2m heights, available in sawn brown or planed green finishes.
Why Choose Individual Pales?
If you’re after complete flexibility and a more traditional, hand-built feel, building with individual pales is the way to go.
Benefits of using pales:
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Customisable spacing – Clarke’s recommended 70mm spacing gives you full control over airflow and visibility
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Adaptable to slopes or curves – ideal for irregular gardens or changes in elevation
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More control over look and feel – choose your own rail positions, post spacing, and picket layout
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Stronger structure in uneven ground – each board is anchored individually
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Easier repairs – if one board is damaged, you can replace it without removing a full section
This option is best if you’re looking to create a longer-lasting boundary, match specific design preferences, or work around tricky garden shapes.
To get started, pair your individual picket boards with:
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Brown horse rail for sawn brown pickets
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Planed back rail for planed green pickets
Cost Comparison
Panels tend to have a slightly higher upfront cost per metre, but the labour and install time are lower. You’ll also likely use fewer fixings and have a quicker project overall.
Building with individual pales might require more time and tools, but can reduce material cost in large gardens—especially if you’re spacing pickets further apart or working around uneven boundaries.
In both cases, you’ll need:
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Posts: one per panel or approx. every 1.8m for custom runs
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Postcrete: 1.5–2 bags per post
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Post saver sleeves for timber longevity
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A matching picket gate if needed
Which Option Is Easier to Maintain?
Panels: Quicker to replace a full section, but trickier if one picket gets damaged
Pales: Easier to replace one board, easier to tweak spacing or height later
If maintenance flexibility is important, individual pales may offer long-term benefits.
What If My Garden Isn’t Flat?
If your garden slopes, individual pales are often the better option. You can follow the contour of the land by adjusting the height of each board or using a stepped pattern.
Panels can also be stepped on sloped ground, but may leave gaps underneath or require custom gravel boards to close the gap.
Need help with this? Our blog explains more here:
👉 How to Build a Picket Fence
Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing between panels and individual pales. Both options can deliver a fantastic result—it just depends on what matters most for your project.
If you want something fast and consistent, picket fence panels are ideal. They’re quick to install, look clean and symmetrical, and require very little measuring. They’re perfect for level gardens or front boundaries where appearance and efficiency are the priority.
On the other hand, building with individual pales gives you total flexibility. You control the spacing, adjust for sloping ground, and can easily replace individual boards in future. It takes a little more time, but offers a stronger structure and a truly custom finish.
Whichever route you choose, Clarke Fencing supplies everything you need to get the job done properly—posts, rails, fixings, and matching gates. If you’re still not sure what’s best for your layout, feel free to ask—our team is always happy to help.
Build Your Fence Your Way with Clarke Fencing
Whether you prefer the speed of picket panels or the freedom of individual pales, Clarke Fencing has you covered. We stock everything you need—from posts and rails to gates and fixings—so you can build your picket fence with confidence.
Need help planning your layout? Visit us in store or get in touch with our team and we’ll talk you through quantities, spacing, post depths, and material pairings to suit your garden.
Explore our full Guide
👉 Sawn Brown vs Planed Green Pickets: Which Finish Is Right for You?
