Free fence material calculator: enter fence length, post spacing, picket width, gap and rails per section to get posts, sections, rails, pickets and concrete.
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Enter your values and press Calculate.
Enter the total fence length in feet, the post spacing, the picket width and gap in inches, and the rails per section. The calculator returns sections, posts, rails, pickets, and 50 lb concrete bags at one bag per post hole. Rails here are per-section pieces: a 100 ft fence at 8 ft spacing with 2 rails per section needs 26 rails, while a lumber-yard count in 16 ft stock boards would be lower, so check which count your supplier quotes. Add 5 to 10 percent extra pickets and rails for cuts and waste, and add gate and corner posts separately.
Five steps turn a tape-measure number into a materials list. Sections = fence length / post spacing, rounded up. Posts = sections + 1, because a straight run needs one more post than it has sections. Rails = sections × rails per section. Pickets = fence length in inches / (picket width + gap), rounded up. Concrete bags = posts × 1, using 50 lb fast-setting bags, since one bag fills about one standard post hole.
Worked example: a 100 ft fence at 8 ft spacing gives 13 sections (100 / 8 = 12.5, rounded up) and 14 posts. With 2 rails per section that is 26 rails, and with 6 inch pickets and no gap that is 200 pickets (1200 / 6). A second example: a 150 ft fence at 8 ft spacing with 5.5 inch pickets and a 0.5 inch gap needs 20 posts and 300 pickets (1800 / 6). Competitor worked examples agree on these counts, which is why this calculator is safe to hand to a lumber yard.
Measure the total run in linear feet, walking the boundary with a measuring wheel for accuracy. For a rectangular yard, add the sides you are fencing and subtract any side you are not fencing, such as a shared wall or an existing structure. Subtract gate openings from the length before calculating, because gate openings do not count toward post spacing, and add two heavier gate posts per gate afterwards.
Enter post spacing, picket width and gap, and rails per section, then press Calculate. The result is a straight-run estimate: corners and slopes may need extra posts, and a closed rectangle needs exactly one post per section, not sections plus one, because the loop closes on itself. Run each disconnected run separately and add the results.
To calculate fence materials for a backyard, measure every side you plan to fence, subtract gates, and settle the fence panels vs pickets calculator choice by deciding panels or individual pickets before you order.
Standard post spacing is 8 ft for wood panel fences and 10 ft for chain link. Use 6 ft spacing for taller fences, heavy gates, or windy areas, and 10 ft only for light, low fencing. Closer spacing means sturdier rails but more posts and concrete.
| Fence type | Recommended spacing | |---|---| | Light, decorative | 8 to 10 ft | | Standard wood picket | 8 ft | | Tall, windy area | 6 ft | | Heavy, gate support | 4 to 6 ft |
Rails by height: 2 rails for a 3 to 4 ft fence, 3 rails for a 5 to 6 ft fence, and 3 to 4 rails above 6 ft or for board-on-board. Bury posts at least one third of the total post length, typically 24 to 36 inches for residential fences, and below the frost line in cold climates. A 6 ft fence therefore needs an 8 ft post with a 2 ft bury. Hole diameter should be about 3 times the post width, for example 12 inches for a 4x4 post.
Picket count depends on width plus gap, not on fence height. With 5.5 inch pickets and a 0.5 inch gap, each picket covers 6 inches, so a 100 ft fence needs 200 pickets. With no gap, the same fence needs 218 pickets. With a 3.5 inch gap, the classic 60/40 split, it needs only 134 pickets.
| Gap | Look | Pickets per 10 ft (5.5 inch pickets) | |---|---|---| | 0 inch | Board on board, privacy | About 22 | | 0.5 inch | Classic picket | About 20 | | 1 inch | Open | About 18 | | 3.5 inch | Privacy gaps, spaced | About 13 |
For a privacy fence, set pickets flush with no gap or board-on-board so no light shows through. For a classic open picket look, use a 0.5 to 1 inch gap. Board-on-board uses about 30 percent more pickets than a flat privacy run because of the overlap, and shadow box needs roughly 3 pickets per foot of run.
Concrete is the question competitors answer most inconsistently, so here is the honest version. This calculator counts one 50 lb bag per post, which matches a standard 8 inch by 24 inch footing at about 0.33 cubic feet per post. Larger holes need more: a 4x4 post in a 10 inch hole 30 inches deep needs about 2 bags of 80 lb mix, and a 12 inch hole 36 inches deep needs 3 to 4 bags of 50 lb mix.
Bag yields for planning: an 80 lb bag gives about 0.60 cubic feet, a 60 lb bag about 0.45 cubic feet, and a 50 lb fast-setting bag about 0.375 cubic feet. If your holes are wider or deeper than standard, multiply the bag count in this calculator accordingly, and let concrete cure 24 to 48 hours before attaching panels. Call 811 or your local utility-locate service before digging, and check permits and HOA height rules first.
Add 5 to 10 percent extra for pickets and rails to cover cuts and waste, plus dedicated gate posts if you have a gate. It is cheaper than a second lumber delivery. Competitors disagree on the exact figure: one uses 5 percent, another 10 percent, so this calculator reports the exact count and lets you add your own margin.
For cost planning, published 2026 US ranges put wood privacy materials at about 15 to 35 dollars per linear foot, vinyl at 20 to 40 dollars, and chain link at 8 to 20 dollars, with professional installation roughly doubling the total. Posts fail first on wood fences, so use steel post brackets or rot-resistant species, stain or seal every 2 to 3 years, and keep pickets 1 to 2 inches off the ground so moisture does not wick up the wood.
At 8 ft spacing: 100 / 8 = 13 sections (rounded up) + 1 = 14 posts. Add 2 more per gate, and extra posts for corners. At 6 ft spacing the same fence needs 18 posts.
With 5.5 inch pickets and a 0.5 inch gap, each picket covers 6 inches, so 100 × 12 / 6 = 200 pickets. With no gap it is 218 pickets, and with a 3.5 inch gap it is 134 pickets.
Standard spacing is 8 ft for wood panel fences and 10 ft for chain link. Use 6 ft for taller fences, heavy gates, or windy areas, and 10 ft only for light, low fencing. Never exceed the panel width.
Bury at least one third of the total post length. For a 6 ft fence, use 8 ft posts buried 2 ft deep. In frost-prone areas, dig below the frost line, typically 36 to 48 inches.
One 50 lb bag fills about one standard 8 inch by 24 inch hole (0.33 cubic feet). A 10 inch hole 30 inches deep needs about 2 bags of 80 lb mix, and a 12 inch hole 36 inches deep needs 3 to 4 bags of 50 lb mix.
Most picket fences use 2 rails for a 4 ft fence and 3 rails for a 5 to 6 ft fence. Horizontal board fences use about one rail for every 2 to 3 ft of height. This calculator counts rails per section; 16 ft stock boards give a lower piece count.
Yes. Subtract the gate opening from the fence length before calculating, and add two heavier gate posts per gate. A typical gate also needs its own hardware and often double rails.
Add 5 to 10 percent extra for pickets and rails to cover cuts and waste, plus dedicated gate posts. It is cheaper than a second lumber delivery.
Materials only: wood privacy about 15 to 35 dollars per linear foot, vinyl 20 to 40 dollars, chain link 8 to 20 dollars. Add 50 to 100 percent for professional installation labour.
It depends on your area. Check local zoning laws and HOA rules for height limits and setbacks, secure any required permit, and call 811 to locate underground utility lines before digging post holes.