18/09/2025 11:04 AM
When installing fencing, not every space will match the standard panel sizes available. As standard, most fence panels are 6ft or 1.83m wide. When a smaller panel is required, we recommend using one of our cut down kits to reduce the width of a fence panel during the installation.
When to use a Cut Down Kit?
A cut down kit is used when standard fence panels don’t quite fit the space available. This is often the case at the end of a fence run, where the remaining gap is smaller than a full panel. It’s also useful when creating corners in a fence layout or installing a garden gate in a specific position that interrupts the usual panel arrangement.
What Does a Cut Down Kit Do?
A cut down kit is designed to help reduce the width of a fence panel so it can fit neatly into a smaller gap. Rather than ordering a bespoke fence panel size, which can be more costly and take longer to manufacture, using a cut down kit is often the simplest and most cost-effective solution.
What’s Included in a Cut Down Kit?
Cut down kit contents are dependent on the type of fence panel it is for (be sure to buy the correct one) but usually they contain:
- Timber components – used to rebuild and strengthen the cut edge of the panel.
- Fittings such as screws – to securely fix everything back together.
Why Use a Cut Down Kit Instead of Bespoke Panels?
- Cost-effective – bespoke sizes are more expensive.
- Quicker solution – no waiting for a custom-made panel.
- Flexibility – you can adapt panels on-site as needed.
How to use a cut down kit
Cutting down a fence panel consists of reducing the width by cutting the panel down one side, and then reattaching the side frame, or creating a new side frame with what is provided in the kit; timber sections and fittings such as screws.
Every panel is different and all our fence panel cut down kits include instructions on how to cut a panel down.
Do all fence panels styles require a cut down kit?
Most of our fence panels have optional cut down kits for when a panel needs to be reduced in width, but not all fence panels require a cut down kit.
Featherboard panels and timber palisade panels are great examples of styles that are simple to resize without a kit. To reduce their width, you just need to remove the pales where the cut is needed, trim the rails to the desired size, and then reattach any pales as necessary. Remember that all cut ends will need to be treated with our Cut treatment preservative.
Installation Advice
While cutting down a fence panel may sound straightforward, it requires the right tools and knowledge to ensure the panel maintains its durability and finish. For this reason, we always recommend consulting, or better still, using one of our Approved Installers. They have the experience to carry out the work correctly and ensure the fence line remains strong, safe, and looking its best.
If you are taking on the project yourself, read our instruction document and remember that all cut ends will need to be treated using our cut treatment preservative purchased on our website.
How to reduce the width of our Vertical Tongue and Groove Fence Panel