Fence Calculator

Our Fence Calculator gives you an accurate material list before you buy a single board. Here's how to use it:

Step 1: Enter the total perimeter length of your fence in feet. For a backyard enclosure, add up all four sides.

Step 2: Enter the picket width — the face width of each individual board. Enter the gap between pickets. A gap of 0 gives a solid privacy fence; any positive value creates a spaced or decorative style.

Step 3: Enter your post spacing — the center-to-center distance between fence posts. The standard range is 6–8 feet (approximately 2 metres), which balances structural stability with material cost.

Step 4: Select the number of rails per section. Most privacy fences use 2 rails (one near top, one near bottom). Taller fences or those carrying heavy panels typically need 3.

Step 5: Click Calculate to see the complete material breakdown — posts, rails, and pickets — plus an automatic 10% waste buffer for cutting errors and damaged boards.

The calculator breaks the fence into three components:

Posts: Number of posts = ⌈Fence Length ÷ Post Spacing⌉ + 1 The extra post closes the final section. Example: a 100 ft fence with 8 ft spacing → ⌈100 ÷ 8⌉ + 1 = 14 posts.

Sections and Rails: Sections = Posts − 1 Total rails = Sections × Rails per section For 14 posts and 2 rails: 13 × 2 = 26 rails.

Pickets: Pickets per section = ⌊Post Spacing ÷ (Picket Width + Gap)⌋ Total pickets = Pickets per section × Sections Example: 8 ft sections, 3.5-inch picket, 0.5-inch gap → ⌊96 ÷ 4⌋ = 24 pickets per section × 13 sections = 312 pickets.

All quantities are multiplied by 1.10 to include a 10% waste allowance.

Planning a fence project starts with knowing exactly how much material to buy. Ordering too little means an extra trip to the hardware store mid-project; ordering too much wastes money. This calculator takes the guesswork out of the process by estimating the number of posts, rails, and pickets you need based on your fence dimensions and design preferences.

Understanding the Components A typical fence consists of three main elements. Posts are the vertical supports driven into the ground at regular intervals — they define the sections of the fence. Rails are the horizontal beams that run between posts; most fence styles use two rails per section, though decorative or tall fences may use three or four. Pickets are the vertical boards that attach to the rails and form the visible face of the fence.

Post Spacing The space between posts is one of the most important decisions in fence design. Too wide and the fence may flex or sag over time; too narrow and you'll spend more on posts than necessary. The industry standard ranges from 6 to 8 feet (roughly 2 to 2.5 metres), which balances structural stability with material cost.

Post Depth Every post must be buried deep enough to stay upright. A widely used rule of thumb is that at least one-third of the post's total length should be below ground and set in concrete. For a 6-foot fence, that means posts should be at least 9 feet long, with 3 feet buried underground.

Buying Extra Material Even experienced builders make cutting errors or encounter warped boards. Adding a 10% buffer to your material estimate is a standard and recommended practice. Any leftover pieces can always be kept for future repairs.