Why the sightline, not the boundary, should set the budget.
Most privacy problems come from one or two specific sightlines — a particular window, a neighbouring deck, an angle across a fence line at a certain time of day — not from the entire boundary being overlooked. Yet the default instinct when budgeting for privacy is often to price screening along the whole boundary length, because that feels like the safe, complete answer. This usually costs far more than the problem requires, since screen cost scales close to linearly with length once height and material are fixed: a targeted panel covering the specific sightline can resolve the actual problem for a fraction of what a full-length boundary treatment would cost.
This page sets out planning bands built around this distinction — targeted panel versus full boundary run — along with height, permeability and material as the factors that move price within each. Diagnosing the actual sightline before pricing is the step most likely to change which band a project falls into, more than any material choice.
Cost drivers
What moves the price, in order of impact.
Length is close to a linear cost driver — the decision to screen one point versus a whole boundary matters more than any other single factor.
Planning noteBefore pricing a screen by length, confirm the actual sightline first — a shorter, well-placed screen resolving the real problem is very often both cheaper and less visually intrusive than a longer boundary treatment.
Compare screen types
Built, planted and hybrid screening, at a comparable length.
Material choice affects cost, wind performance and how quickly the screen delivers full effect.
Built screen
CostPriced per linear metre by height and material
TimeframeImmediate, precise height and coverage from installation
ConsiderWind loading and visual bulk at greater heights
Planted screen
CostLower material cost per metre than a built screen of comparable eventual coverage
TimeframeTakes one or more seasons to reach full effect
ConsiderOngoing establishment care and shaping
Hybrid (built + planted)
CostModerate — built element sized to the specific sightline, planting softens the wider area
TimeframeImmediate privacy at the built section, softening over time elsewhere
ConsiderCoordinating two trades and two timelines
Worked scenarios
Two privacy problems, one boundary, very different budgets.
Both scenarios involve a similar suburban boundary, but the sightline diagnosis changes the scope entirely.
One overlooked seating area from a neighbouring two-storey deck
Standing at the affected outdoor seating area identifies a single sightline from a neighbour's upper-level deck, rather than the whole boundary being overlooked. A single targeted timber screen panel, roughly 2.4m wide and sized to the specific sightline height, resolves the issue without enclosing the wider courtyard. This scenario sits in the Entry band, typically $2,200–$3,500.
New subdivision, multiple sightlines across a close-set boundary
A smaller section with close-set neighbouring houses creates several distinct sightlines across roughly 14 linear metres of shared boundary, from more than one angle and elevation. Rather than one panel, this calls for a longer hybrid solution — two shorter built sections at the specific sightlines, combined with boundary planting along the rest of the run. This scenario moves into the Typical band, typically $8,500–$11,500, reflecting the combined length and the mix of built and planted elements needed to resolve multiple sightlines.
Before you screen
Confirm the brief is specific before pricing.
A precise brief is what keeps a privacy screening budget in the Entry or Typical band rather than defaulting to a full boundary run.
- Photograph the actual overlooked view from the seating or room in question, from the exact position it is experienced.
- Test height requirements with a temporary marker before committing to a permanent structure, since the minimum effective height is often lower than assumed.
- Confirm whether one section of boundary needs treatment or genuinely more than one, before requesting a quote for full-length screening.
- Check any height restrictions that may apply near the boundary with the relevant council before finalising a design.
- Consider the neighbour's outlook when finalising design — a considered, targeted screen reduces the likelihood of disputes compared with an oversized one.
Frequently asked questions.
Is it always cheaper to screen one point rather than the whole boundary?
In most cases yes, because screen cost scales close to linearly with length once height and material are fixed, and most privacy problems come from a specific sightline rather than the entire boundary. The exception is where multiple genuinely separate sightlines exist across a longer run, in which case a longer or hybrid solution may be needed regardless.
Does a taller screen cost proportionally more than a shorter one?
Height cost does not scale in a simple straight line — taller screens, particularly in wind-exposed locations, need meaningfully stronger framing and footings, which can push cost up faster than the height increase alone would suggest.
Are planted screens cheaper than built screens?
Planted screening generally has a lower material cost per metre for the eventual coverage achieved, but it takes one or more growing seasons to reach full effect, whereas a built screen delivers its full height and coverage immediately.
Do I need council approval for a privacy screen near my boundary?
Height restrictions near boundaries vary by council district plan, and some screen heights or locations may require consent. This should be confirmed with the relevant council before finalising a design, particularly for taller or freestanding structures.
Sources & methodology
Designed to show its working.
Boundary and height rules vary by council. This page sets out general planning ranges and cost mechanics; confirm any relevant restrictions for the specific property before construction.