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Fence calculator
Industry standard
Result
Posts
Rail sections
Pickets
Region
Waste
Prices: national avg · Jun 2026 · sources
DiagramUpdates as you type

Estimate fence materials — posts, rail sections, and pickets — from your fence length, post spacing, and picket width.

Formula

posts = ceil(length ÷ spacing) + 1; pickets = length_in ÷ (picket_w + gap)

Method & sources
Formula basisIndustry framing practice
How we calculatePosts = run ÷ spacing + 1; rails and pickets derived from section length and the picket-plus-gap module.
Formula verified against the published standard above. Method last reviewed June 2026. Estimates are for planning — confirm against supplier quotes.

How it works

Posts are spaced 6–8 ft apart with one extra at the end. Pickets are counted by fence length divided by picket width plus gap.

Set posts in concrete

Use the concrete calculator to estimate bags for setting each post.

Worked example

A 100 ft wood privacy fence

For a 100 ft fence with posts every 8 ft: 100 ÷ 8 = 12.5, rounded up to 13 sections, needing 14 posts (one extra for the final end). With 2 rails per section that's 26 rails. For pickets at 5.5 inches wide with a 0.25-inch gap: 100 ft is 1,200 inches, divided by 5.75 inches per picket = about 209 pickets.

Each post should be set in concrete — figure one to two 50 lb bags of concrete per post depending on post and hole size, so 14 posts is roughly 20-28 bags. Use the concrete calculator to confirm based on your hole dimensions.

What affects your result

Common mistakes to avoid

Where the numbers come from

Counts are geometric. Picket width and gap vary by style — a standard dog-ear picket is 5.5″ wide.

Frequently asked questions

How far apart should fence posts be?

Typically 6 to 8 feet on center for wood fences.