Fence Calculator
Enter your fence length and post spacing to get posts, sections, rails, and pickets for a wood or picket fence.
Fence line
Set the gap to 0 for a solid privacy fence, or a positive value for a spaced picket look.
You'll need
Posts
0
0 sections at 8 ft
Rails0
Pickets / boards0
Add an extra post and concrete bag per gate. Posts use ~1–2 bags of concrete each.
How to estimate fence materials
Sections are length ÷ spacing (rounded up), posts are sections plus one, and rails are sections × rails-per-section. Pickets are the fence length in inches divided by the picket width plus gap. Add a post and concrete for each gate.
Quote fencing and exterior work on-site
ProBuildCalc turns your iPhone's LiDAR scanner into a job-site measuring kit — walk the space and it captures the square footage, material takeoff, and a blueprint automatically. No tape measure, no graph paper.
Fence calculator FAQ
- How many fence posts do I need?
- Divide the fence length by the post spacing (usually 8 ft) to get the number of sections, then add one — a 96-ft fence at 8-ft spacing needs 12 sections and 13 posts.
- How far apart should fence posts be?
- Six to eight feet on center is standard. Eight feet is most common for wood fences; tighter spacing adds strength on slopes or in high wind.
- How many rails per fence section?
- Use 2 rails for fences under about 5 feet and 3 rails for 6-foot privacy fences to keep boards from warping.
- How many pickets do I need?
- Divide the fence length in inches by the picket width plus the gap. A solid privacy fence uses a 0-inch gap; a spaced picket look uses a positive gap.