Fence Calculator
Enter the length of a run of fence and the post spacing you will use, and get the posts, the rail boards and the pickets to buy; the working shows the bays and the real gap between pickets, and gates, post depth and concrete are not counted.
Estimates for planning, not professional advice. Read the full notice.
Example: a run of fence
14 4x4 board, 8 ft
- Bays between posts 13
- Posts 14
- Rails, one bay long each 39
- Pickets 200
- Real gap between pickets 0.041 ft
Estimate for planning, from what you entered and the product data shown. Check product labels and your supplier before you buy.
Your project
Enter a size to see your total.
Each product is rounded up once for the whole project, so the total can be less than the items bought alone added together. A line counted from a cut layout (sheets, boards or tiles laid out piece by piece) is counted for each item and added.
Shopping list
| Item | Size | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Posts | 4x4 board, 8 ft | 14 |
| Rails | 2x4 board, 8 ft | 39 |
| Pickets | 1x6 fence picket | 200 |
Save on this device
Saved projects
No saved projects yet.
Worked example: a run of fence
Show the working
- Bays: the run over the post spacing, rounded up 100 ft ÷ 8 ft = 13 bays
- Posts: one more than the bays on a run with two ends 13 bays + 1 = 14 posts
- Rails: the bays times the rails in each bay, cut from the rail board length 13 bays × 3 rails = 39 rails
- Pickets: with the gap shown, whole pickets fill the run 100 ft ÷ 6 in = 200 pickets
Assumptions
The figures behind the example. Sourced figures link to their source below; a default is a starting value to check against your label or supplier.
| Assumption | Value | Details and changes |
|---|---|---|
| Waste allowance | 0% | |
| Default Your own allowance, added once to the total. Check your label or supplier. | ||
Feet and inches, like 12' 6"
Posts and bays by run length and spacing
Posts for a single run with a post at each end, by run length and by post spacing
| Run length | Posts at 6 ft | Posts at 8 ft | Posts at 10 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 ft | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| 50 ft | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| 100 ft | 18 | 14 | 11 |
| 150 ft | 26 | 20 | 16 |
| 200 ft | 35 | 26 | 21 |
Each count is the run over the spacing, rounded up, plus one post. Corners, gates and the posts of a closed shape are in the calculator above or are not counted.
Questions
How many fence posts do I need for 100 feet?
At the spacing in the example a hundred feet needs 14 posts for a single run with a post at each end; the table gives other lengths and spacings.
How far apart should fence posts be?
The spacing is a number you type, and the calculator counts what you give it. The example uses the length of a common panel; use the spacing your fence panels, rails and local rules call for.
How many pickets do I need for 200 feet?
400 pickets at the width and gap in the example, with a gap at both end posts; a wider picket or a larger gap changes the count and the real gap is shown.