Measure the run
Record the total fence length in one unit, then subtract the width of any gates you plan to install.
Tool Switcher: Fence
Project toolsTools
Fence planning tool
Fence Calculator
Turn a fence run into whole posts, rails, pickets, concrete bags, and fasteners for a wood privacy or picket fence.
- Posts, rails & pickets
- US and metric units
- Full material ticket
Fence planning tool
Fence Calculator
Estimate fence posts, rails, pickets, concrete, and fasteners.
Methodology
From a run length to a material ticket
Divide into sections
Split the run into bays between posts using your post spacing, rounding up to whole sections.
Count posts, rails, and pickets
Posts close every section plus each gate side. Rails run per section, and pickets fill the run at the pitch of their width plus gap.
Plan concrete and fasteners
Concrete bags scale with the post count, and fasteners scale with the pickets. Both are planning estimates.
Worked example
A 100 ft run with 8 ft post spacing
100 ftfence run
÷8 ftpost spacing
=13 sections14 posts
From 13 sections, this run needs 14 posts, 39 rails, 240 pickets, and 28 bags of concrete before a 10% allowance.
Frequently asked questions
A second look at the estimate.
How many fence posts do I need?
Divide the run by your post spacing and round up to get the sections, then add one to close the far end, plus two posts per gate.
How many pickets for a 100 ft fence?
Divide the run by the picket pitch (width plus gap), then add a waste allowance. A 100 ft privacy fence with 1×6 pickets takes about 240 pickets at 10% waste.
How much concrete per post?
About two 50–60 lb bags per post for a typical 6 ft fence. Heavier gate or corner posts often need three. This calculator uses an editable bags-per-post value.
Can I enter metric dimensions?
Yes. Metric mode uses metres for the run, spacing, and gates, and centimetres for picket width and gap.
How is the cost estimated?
Enter a price per post and per picket. The calculator multiplies each by its count and sums them. Without prices, no cost is shown.
Sources and limitations
This tool estimates fence materials for planning. It does not select post depth, footing design, or gate hardware, and it does not replace local building, zoning, or HOA requirements or retrieve live prices.
- International Residential Code — IRC 2021 — Footings and fence post requirements — reference for post spacing and footing guidance.
- Concrete bag calculator — compare bag sizes for the post-hole concrete.
- Concrete calculator — estimate volume for footings or a slab.
Post spacing, rails per section, concrete bags per post, and fastener counts are planning estimates for a typical wood privacy fence. Confirm local frost depth, wind, and code requirements before digging.
Last reviewed: September 7, 2026