How Many Heras Fence Panels Do I Need?
Working out how many temporary fence panels you need isn’t complicated once you know the panel size and the length of what you’re enclosing. Here’s a straightforward way to get the number right the first time, plus the bits people tend to forget, like feet, couplers and access.
Start with the panel size
Standard temporary fence panels (often called Heras panels, after the original manufacturer) come in a few sizes, but ours measure 3.45m wide and 2m high. Anti-climb and hoarding panels may differ, so it’s always worth checking the spec of whatever you’re ordering.
Although each panel measures 3.45m wide, planning around 3.4m per panel gives you a small margin rather than calculating to the exact panel width.
Measure your perimeter
Walk the boundary you want to enclose and measure it in metres. For a straight run, that’s just the length. For a compound or site, add up all the sides.
For example, a rectangular plot 20m long and 10m wide has a perimeter of 2 × (20 + 10) = 60m.
Do the sum
Divide your perimeter by the 3.4m planning allowance per panel, then round up:
60m ÷ 3.4m = 17.6, so you’d order 18 panels.
Always round up rather than down. It’s far better to have one spare than a gap you can’t close on the day.
Don’t forget the feet and couplers
Panels don’t stand on their own, so factor these in before you order:
- Feet (blocks): each panel sits in weighted concrete or rubber feet, and where two panels meet, they usually share one. As a rough guide, allow about one foot per panel for a continuous run, plus an extra for the end of a straight line that doesn’t loop back. Order a couple of spares either way.
- Couplers (clamps): these lock neighbouring panels together, normally two per joint. For 18 panels in a closed loop, that’s around 18 joints, so roughly 36 couplers.
See a Heras fence setup in practice
For a real-world example, see how panels, feet and couplers were used for this Heras fence installation at Steyning Leisure Centre, creating a secure perimeter around the bin storage area.
Allow for gates and access
You’ll nearly always need a way in and out, and it’s tidier to fit a gate into the run than to leave a gap:
- Pedestrian gate – 1.1m wide and 2m high. That’s about a third of a panel’s width, so it slots into the run rather than replacing a whole panel.
- Vehicle gate – 4.2m wide. Slightly wider than a standard panel, so it takes up just over one panel’s worth of your perimeter.
The cleanest way to account for gates is to subtract their combined width from your perimeter first, then divide what’s left by 3.4 for your panel count.
For example, on that same 60m perimeter with one vehicle gate: 60m − 4.2m = 55.8m, then 55.8m ÷ 3.4m = 16.4, so 17 panels plus the gate.
Think about the ground and the weather
A few things change what you actually need once you’re on site:
- Soft or uneven ground can leave panels sitting less securely, so you might want extra feet or ground pins.
- Exposed or windy locations need bracing (stabiliser struts) and extra ballast to stop panels going over.
- Debris netting or printed banners act like a sail and increase wind load, so they call for more bracing and heavier feet, not fewer.
For projects that require a secure temporary perimeter, our Heras fencing range for site security includes panels and the components needed to build a complete run.
Quick checklist
- Allow roughly 3.4m per panel when planning your run
- Panels = perimeter ÷ 3.4, rounded up
- Feet ≈ one per panel, plus a few spares
- Couplers ≈ two per joint
- Gates: subtract gate widths (pedestrian 1.1m, vehicle 4.2m) from the perimeter first
- Add bracing and ballast for wind or netting.
Should you buy or hire Heras fencing?
Once you know how many panels you need, consider whether to buy or hire your Heras fencing based on the requirements of the site’s perimeter. The right choice often depends on how long you need the fencing and whether you’ll use it again on future projects.
Getting the quantities right before you order helps you avoid finding that you’re short on panels or components once installation begins.
If you’re not sure how it all adds up for your particular site, send us the dimensions, and we’ll help you work out a sensible order.