Fence Calculator
Enter your measurements
Results
- Pickets219 pickets
- Posts14
- Rails26
- Concrete (bags)28
Estimated cost
per linear foot of fence (material)
Material cost per linear foot runs from pressure-treated pine pickets, posts, rails, and concrete at the low end up to Western red cedar at the high end; gates are extra. Installed price covers post-hole digging, concrete, labor, and a standard gate; rocky terrain, demolition of an old fence, permit fees, or upgrades like cedar or decorative caps push the installed cost higher.
Estimate only — prices vary by region, supplier, and season. Get a local quote before buying.
This fence calculator figures out exactly how many posts, rails, pickets, and bags of concrete you need before you set foot in a lumber yard. Enter your total fence length, post spacing, picket width, gap preference, and number of rails per section, and it returns a complete material list — removing the guesswork that causes mid-project runs back to the store. Fence lumber is sold by the piece, not by the linear foot, so even small miscounts add up fast. Standard dog-ear pickets are nominal 1x6 boards with a 5.5-inch actual face width, so butted tight you get about 2.18 pickets per linear foot. Posts are typically set 6 or 8 feet on center, and post count drives concrete: plan on roughly 2 bags of fast-setting mix per hole. Because the calculator returns the theoretical minimum picket count, add a 10% overage on top to cover splits, warped boards, and angle cuts — the tool gives you the clean base number so you add that buffer deliberately instead of guessing at the register.
How it’s calculated
Posts = (length ÷ post spacing) + 1. Pickets = length × 12 ÷ (picket width + gap). Concrete ≈ 2 bags per post.
Worked example
For a 150-foot privacy fence with posts every 8 feet, 5.5-inch pickets butted tight with no gap, and 3 rails per section, the calculator returns 328 pickets, 20 posts, 57 rails, and 40 bags of concrete. That concrete figure is the one that surprises first-time builders — 40 bags just to set posts, before a single picket goes up — and it is easy to underestimate when you walk into the store without a material list in hand.
Inputs
- Fence length
- 150 ft
- Post spacing
- 8 ft
- Picket width
- 5.5 in
- Gap between pickets
- 0 in
- Rails per section
- 3
Result
- Pickets
- 328 pickets
- Posts
- 20
- Rails
- 57
- Concrete (bags)
- 40
- Estimated material cost
- $1,200 – $3,750
Materials & pricing near you
Fence lumber pricing swings with region, season, and product tier. Pressure-treated pine pickets are the cheapest and most widely stocked option across the US, while Western red cedar carries a clear premium and is easier to source in the Pacific Northwest than in the Southeast. Lumber prices spiked during 2021–2022 and have since eased but remain above pre-pandemic levels; expect to pay more in dense metro areas and less in rural markets near sawmills. Most yards set a minimum order for free delivery, so it pays to consolidate a full fence order rather than make repeat trips. Permits matter too: many municipalities require one for fences over 6 feet tall or any fence in a front-yard setback, and they enforce how far the fence must sit inside the property line — confirm local zoning before you dig post holes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure fence length for an irregular yard?
Walk the perimeter with a 100-foot tape, recording each straight run separately, then add the runs together. For curves, break them into short straight segments or roll a measuring wheel along the line. Do not measure from the property pins alone — your fence usually has to sit several inches inside the boundary depending on local setback rules, so confirm the required offset with your municipality before laying out posts.
What is the standard post spacing for a wood privacy fence?
Eight feet on center is the most common spacing for a standard 6-foot wood privacy fence using 2x4 rails. Six-foot spacing is stronger and better for taller fences, high-wind areas, or pre-built vinyl panels that cannot flex. Avoid spans longer than 8 feet with standard lumber rails — over time the rails sag between posts, which pulls pickets loose and makes the line look wavy.
How many bags of concrete do I need per fence post?
Two 50-pound bags of fast-setting concrete per post is a reliable rule for a 4x4 post in a 6-foot privacy fence, assuming a hole roughly 10 to 12 inches across and 2 feet deep. Taller fences, 6x6 posts, or loose, sandy soil call for a wider or deeper hole and often a third bag. Set the bottom of the hole below your local frost depth so the post does not heave in winter.
How much overage should I add to the picket count?
The calculator gives the theoretical minimum, so add about 10% for waste — splits, warped boards you reject at the pile, and angled end cuts around gates or corners. On the 328-picket example that is roughly 360 pickets ordered. Returning a handful of unused boards is far cheaper than stopping a half-built fence to make a second lumber run.