Fence Calculator
Posts, sections, rails, pickets or panels, concrete, and gate hardware from your fence length — with spacing and waste built in.
Fencing math trips people up because posts, rails, and pickets each follow a different rule, and gates change all three. Enter your run length and this calculator returns the posts to set, the sections between them, rails by height, pickets or panels, the concrete bags, and gate hardware.
Set the post footings with help from the Concrete Calculator, measure the yard run with the Square Footage Calculator, and budget the whole job in the Renovation Budget Estimator. For comparing a DIY install against a quote, see the DIY vs contractor cost guide.
FAQ
- How many fence posts do I need?
- Divide the total length by the post spacing and round up to get the number of sections, then add one for the final end post. A straight, open run always has one more post than sections; a fully enclosed yard uses one fewer.
- How much concrete per fence post?
- The common rule is two 50-lb bags per 4×4 line post in standard soil. Bump end, corner, and gate posts — or 6×6 posts — to three or four bags. This calculator uses your bags-per-post value across the total post count.
- How many pickets for a fence?
- Multiply the boarded run (length minus any gate openings) by 12 inches and divide by the picket width plus the gap. A 1×4 with a 1/4-inch gap covers 3.75 inches each. Add waste for cuts and dog-ear trimming.
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