Fence materials calculator
Posts, rails and pickets for a fence run.
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How it's calculated
The run is divided by the post spacing to get the number of sections, and a fence needs one more post than it has sections. Rails are sections times rails per section. Pickets are the run in inches divided by the width of one picket plus the gap beside it. Concrete is posts times bags per post. Everything rounds up, and gates, corners and slopes add posts, so buy a few extra.
How far apart should fence posts be?
Eight feet is the usual maximum for a wood fence and matches 8 ft rails and 16 ft boards. Use 6 ft spacing for fences over 6 ft tall, heavy privacy boards or windy sites, and 10 ft for a post-and-rail farm fence.
How deep should fence posts go?
A third of the post length and at least 2 ft, below the frost line where the ground freezes. A 6 ft fence uses 8 ft posts set 2 ft deep. A 10 in diameter hole takes about two 50 lb bags of concrete per post.
Does the tool include gates?
No. A gate replaces one section of fence but needs its own two posts, usually heavier ones set in more concrete, plus the gate hardware. Subtract the gate width from the run, then add two posts per gate.
Results are estimates for informational purposes only and are not financial, medical or legal advice.