Fence material calculator
Enter fence length, height, post spacing, rails, and gates. Get posts, rails, pickets, and concrete bag counts with ten percent waste included.
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Total length of the fence line, including gate openings along the run.
Frequently asked questions
- How far apart should fence posts be?
- Six-foot spacing is common for wood privacy fences; eight-foot spacing can work for lighter loads or metal posts. Always follow your local code and the fence style you are building.
- How are pickets counted?
- The tool assumes 3.5-inch-wide pickets with a 1/4-inch gap between them along the fence run. Gate openings are subtracted from the length before pickets are counted, then ten percent waste is added.
- How much concrete goes in each post hole?
- This calculator assumes about 0.6 cubic feet of concrete per post hole, which is a typical planning figure for standard residential posts. Deep frost footings or oversized holes need more.
- Do gates change the post count?
- Yes. The estimate adds two posts per gate for latch and hinge sides in addition to posts spaced along the fence line. Your hardware kit may differ, so confirm with your gate instructions.
- Does fence height change the material list?
- Height affects how long each post and picket must be, but the counts of posts, rails, and pickets depend mainly on fence length, spacing, and gates. Buy boards long enough for the height you selected.
How to use this fence calculator
Measure the total fence line in feet—the path your fence will follow, including space where gates will sit. Use decimal feet or feet plus inches. Fence height helps you buy the right post and picket lengths even though the count is driven mainly by how long the run is. Post spacing is the center-to-center distance between posts; six feet is typical for wood privacy fences, eight feet for lighter layouts.
Rail count is how many horizontal rails run between each pair of posts—often two for a six-foot fence or three for extra stiffness. Tell the tool how many gates you need and how wide each opening is. Gate width is subtracted from the picket run so you do not order pickets for openings. Posts add two per gate for hinge and latch sides on top of posts spaced along the line.
Results include posts, rails, and pickets with ten percent waste. Pickets assume three-and-a-half-inch boards with a quarter-inch gap. Concrete is estimated at six-tenths of a cubic foot per post hole, shown as forty-, sixty-, and eighty-pound bag counts. For big footings or a full slab, use our concrete calculator too. Walk the line, mark corners and gates, then confirm with your building department before you dig.
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