One of the most common questions we receive at GreatFence.com is: Do your aluminum fence panels arrive assembled? The answer depends on the size of your order — and it’s all designed with your shipping cost and installation experience in mind.

Most aluminum fence panel orders do arrive assembled. However, for small orders of 3 panels or fewer, we ship the panels unassembled to provide a more digestible and cost-effective freight fee. Assembling a couple of panels on-site is quick and simple, even for DIYers.

Why Small Orders Ship Unassembled

Shipping long, assembled fence panels for very small projects can result in unusually high freight charges. To help customers avoid this, we break down small residential orders of 3 panels or fewer into compact packages. These ship unassembled — with rails and pickets separated, labeled, and ready for fast on-site assembly.

This approach dramatically reduces shipping costs, especially for customers ordering only a few replacement panels or a short run of fencing.

Most Fence Panel Orders Arrive Assembled

For medium and large orders, aluminum fence panels are typically shipped assembled. That means the pickets are inserted into the rails and secured based on your selected configuration. No extra parts or tools are required on arrival — just follow our Installation Guide to complete the job.

All fence panels are built to order — based on grade (Residential, Commercial, or Industrial), height, width, style, and color. For more details on packaging, visit our Shipping Policy page.

Are Aluminum Fence Panels Welded?

No — aluminum fence panels are not welded. This is intentional and beneficial. The non-welded configuration allows panels to be trimmed on-site and racked during installation. Welded panels would limit flexibility and slope adaptation.

However, aluminum gates from GreatFence.com are fully welded at every picket-to-rail connection. Our gates are built for strength, security, and automation compatibility depending on the grade.

Can You Trim Aluminum Fence Panels On-Site?

Yes. GreatFence.com fence panels are designed to be trimmed to fit during installation. Most commonly, residential panels are trimmed when working around irregular spaces, columns, or when a fence run doesn’t divide evenly.

Use a power saw with a metal-cutting blade and proper safety gear to trim fence panels to your desired width.

Can Aluminum Fence Panels Be Used on Slopes?

Absolutely. All fence panels from GreatFence.com are designed to rack to match the slope of your terrain.

• Slight slopes: Standard rackable panels
• Medium slopes: Maximum rackable panels
• Large slopes: Panels can be stair-stepped or custom trimmed

For help with slope installation, visit our Aluminum Fence on Slopes page.

Do Aluminum Gates Arrive Assembled?

Yes — and they are fully welded. Unlike fence panels, all gates are welded at every picket-to-rail intersection and powder coated before shipping. Gates are shipped assembled, and only the hinges and lock/latch need to be installed on-site.

You can explore our Single Gates and Driveway Gates pages to view options across residential, commercial, and industrial grades.

Conclusion: Assembled for Convenience, Unassembled for Savings

So, do aluminum fence panels arrive assembled? The answer depends on your order size:

• 3 panels or fewer? We ship them unassembled to save you money on freight.
• 4 or more panels? They’ll likely arrive fully assembled and ready to install.

No matter the configuration, GreatFence.com provides premium, American-made aluminum fencing that’s easy to install, rackable for slopes, and strong enough to last a lifetime.