Fence Calculator
Calculate posts, rails, pickets and concrete for a wood fence of any length.
What you need
22
Posts needed — One per spacing interval, plus one to end the run, plus two per gate.
- Pickets needed
- 344
- Rails needed
- 57
- Total rail length to buy
- 456.0 ft
- Fence sections
- 18.8
- 60 lb bags of concrete
- 44
Rails span between posts at your chosen height's rail count.
About 2 bags per post for a 6 ft fence in a 10 in hole.
Estimates for planning. Confirm quantities with your supplier before ordering — see the assumptions below for the figures used.
How to use the fence calculator
A fence is a repeating unit: post, rails, pickets, repeat. Enter the total run and your post spacing, and this calculator gives you the whole material list — including the concrete for setting the posts.
What this calculator assumes
Every estimate depends on figures that vary by supplier and conditions. These are the ones used here, so you can sanity-check the result against your own quote.
- Post count is one per spacing interval plus one to end the run, plus two per gate. Corners and direction changes need an extra post each — add those to your total.
- Rails per section: 2 for fences up to 4 ft, 3 for 5–6 ft, 4 for 8 ft. Some designs use a kickboard as well.
- Concrete is estimated at two 60 lb bags per post, typical for a 6 ft fence in a 10 in diameter hole about 2 ft deep. Gate and corner posts want more, and deeper.
- Post depth should be at least one third of the above-ground height and below the local frost line. Hardware, gate kits, and any concrete for gate posts beyond the two-bag estimate are not included.
- Fence height, setback and which side faces out are often regulated. Check local rules and confirm your property line before building.
Frequently asked questions
How far apart should fence posts be?
Eight feet on centre is standard and matches stock rail lengths. Six feet is noticeably stronger and worth it for tall privacy fences, windy sites, or uneven ground where rails would otherwise have to bend. Ten feet is possible with heavy rails but tends to sag.
How many pickets do I need for a 100 ft fence?
For a butted privacy fence using 5½ inch pickets, 100 feet is 1,200 inches ÷ 5.5 ≈ 218 pickets, so about 230 with waste. Adding a gap changes it a lot — a 2 inch gap drops it to around 160.
How deep should fence posts be?
At least one third of the above-ground height, and always below your local frost line. For a 6 foot fence that means a 2 foot minimum, and 2½ to 3 feet in freezing climates. Gate and corner posts should go deeper still — they take all the load.
How much concrete per fence post?
About two 60 lb bags for a 4x4 post in a 10 inch hole 2 feet deep. A 6x6 gate post in a 12 inch hole 3 feet deep needs closer to five. Use the fence post calculator for an exact figure based on your hole size.
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