Fence Calculator

Planning a fence

Three numbers drive a fence material list: posts, rails, and pickets. This calculator takes your total run, your post spacing, and your picket width and gap, then counts each one so you can price the job before you head to the lumber yard.

How the counts work

• Posts — one per section plus a final closing post (sections + 1).
• Rails — your rails-per-section figure (usually 2 or 3) times the section count.
• Pickets — total length divided by each picket's width plus its gap.

FAQ

What post spacing should I use?

Six to eight feet is standard. Closer spacing is sturdier and handles wind better but costs more in posts and concrete. The counts here assume a single straight run; add corner and gate posts separately.

How deep should fence posts be set?

A common rule is to bury about one-third of the post's total length, or at least below your local frost line. For a 6-foot fence that usually means a hole around 2 to 3 feet deep set in concrete.

How do I account for gates in the count?

Subtract each gate's width from the picket run since gates use their own hardware, and add a sturdier post on each side of every gate opening. The standard post count here doesn't include those extra gate posts.

What picket gap should I enter?

For a privacy fence, a small gap of about a quarter inch lets the wood expand without buckling. For a picket or spaced-board fence, the gap is a style choice and is often equal to roughly one picket width.

Is this fence calculator free, and does it work on my phone?

Yes, it is completely free with no sign-up, runs entirely in your browser so nothing you enter is uploaded, and works on phones, tablets, and desktops, which is handy when measuring on-site.