Wood Fence Cost Calculator

How to estimate a wood fence

Posts at 8-ft spacing: (length ÷ 8) + 1. Rails: 2 per bay (top + bottom) for a 4-ft fence, 3 per bay for 6+ ft. Pickets: length × 12 ÷ 3.75 (3.5-in picket + 1/4-in gap). Add 10% waste on all materials. Post holes need concrete — one 50 lb bag per hole for standard 4×4 posts in firm soil.

Wood fence cost calculator FAQ

How much does a wood fence cost per linear foot?

A basic pressure-treated pine privacy fence typically costs $15 to $30 per linear foot in materials. Cedar or redwood runs $25 to $45 per foot. Installed cost (materials + labor) usually doubles the material cost, putting most wood fences at $25 to $60 per linear foot installed.

How many fence posts do I need?

Posts go every 6 to 8 feet on center. For an 8-foot spacing: divide fence length by 8 and add 1 for the end post. A 100-foot fence needs about 14 posts at 8-foot spacing. Corner and gate posts should be set closer (no more than 4 feet from the corner) and use heavier stock.

How deep should fence posts be set?

Set posts at least one-third of the total post length below grade, plus 6 inches for gravel drainage. For a 6-foot fence, use 9-foot posts set 3 feet deep. In freeze-thaw climates, posts must go below the frost line to prevent heaving — typically 36 to 48 inches in northern states.

How many pickets do I need for a privacy fence?

Standard pickets are 3.5 inches wide with a 1/4-inch gap between them, giving a spacing of 3.75 inches center-to-center. Divide fence length in inches by 3.75 and round up. A 100-foot fence needs about 320 pickets. Board-on-board (overlapping) style uses roughly 20% more pickets.