Fence Calculator
Estimate posts, rails, pickets, and concrete for a wood fence.
What is fence calculator?
A wood fence is a small materials puzzle: posts spaced evenly, two or three rails per section, pickets running picket-to-gap-to-picket, and concrete to set each post. Getting the counts right before you head to the yard saves a return trip — and most yards quote in those four units anyway.
This calculator takes a single linear-feet input plus a few configuration knobs (post spacing, rail count, picket width and gap, concrete bags per post) and returns every material count in one click. Add optional per-unit prices to see a total cost line by line.
The defaults match a standard residential 6-ft tall picket fence: 8-ft post spacing, 3 rails, nominal 1×6 pickets (5.5 in) with 1/2-inch gaps, 1.5 bags of 50-lb concrete per post. Adjust any of those for sturdier builds, custom spacing, or a different picket style.
When to use a fence calculator
- Backyard perimeter run — Quick total for a standard residential backyard before sourcing yard quotes.
- Side-yard or property-line fence — Estimate materials for a shorter, single-run fence between properties.
- Multi-rail ranch fence — Compare 2-rail vs 3-rail builds on the same linear footage.
How to use the Fence Calculator
- Measure the run in linear feet — Tape-measure the full length of fence you plan to build. Add gate widths in (subtract gate openings if you don't want pickets there).
- Pick spacing and rail count — 8 ft post spacing is the residential default; 6 ft is sturdier but uses more posts. 3 rails is standard for 4-ft+ tall fences.
- Confirm picket dimensions — 5.5 × 0.5 in is the nominal 1×6 picket with a typical 1/2-inch gap. Adjust if your design calls for spaced or tighter boards.
- (Optional) add yard pricing — Fill in per-unit prices to see a total. Leave any field blank to skip that line.
Worked examples
100 ft suburban yard (defaults)
Input: Length=100 ft, spacing=8 ft, 3 rails, 5.5×0.5 in pickets, 1.5 bags/post
Output: 14 posts, 39 rails, 200 pickets, 21 concrete bags200 ft perimeter, full pricing
Input: Length=200 ft + post=$18, rail=$9, picket=$4, bag=$5
Output: 26 posts, 75 rails, 400 pickets, 39 concrete bags, $2,938 total50 ft side run, 2 rails, narrow pickets
Input: Length=50 ft, picket=3.5×0.5 in, 2 rails
Output: 8 posts, 14 rails, 150 pickets, 12 concrete bags