Fence Calculator
A fence is a list of components that all depend on one layout, and this calculator builds that layout first. Enter the run length, the fence height, post spacing, corners, ends and gates; the engine works out the net run after gate openings, places the posts, and then derives everything that hangs on them — rails by height, pickets or panels by surface area, concrete for the holes, and a hardware allowance. Choose the fence type and the surface components change to match: wood pickets, pre-built panels, or chain-link all calculate differently even though the post layout is shared. Gate posts are counted separately from line, corner and end posts so nothing is doubled. The output is a practical shopping list for homeowners, contractors and anyone replacing a run of fence who needs quantities for posts, rails, surface material, concrete and gates before contacting suppliers.
Calculator input
What this calculator calculates
- Net fence run after gate openings are removed
- Post totals split into line, corner, end and gate posts
- Rails required in pieces, derived from height and stock length
- Pickets, panels or chain-link by fence type, with waste included
- Concrete volume for post holes plus a hardware allowance
- A shopping list of every component for quoting and purchasing
Projects this calculator covers
- Privacy fenceTall close-board or board-on-board runs where rails, pickets and post counts all scale with height.
- Picket and panel fenceStandard residential styles where panels or pickets cover the calculated surface area.
- Runs with gatesGate openings subtracted from the run, with their posts counted separately from line posts.
- Corners and changing directionCorner posts identified explicitly so a boundary that turns is planned correctly.
How the calculation works
Post geometry is calculated first. Rails, pickets/panels, concrete and hardware are then derived from that layout and your fence-type inputs.
Formula: Estimated post positions use net run ÷ spacing, with corners, ends and gate posts handled separately. Surface components are then rounded up with waste.
Worked example
100 ft × 6 ft wood-picket fence
Gate, corner and terrain geometry can change exact post placement.
Reading the results
- Estimated posts versus exact placement. The post count comes from net run divided by spacing plus the ends, corners and gates you declare. Real layouts adjust for slopes and fixtures, so treat the count as a material estimate, not a setting-out drawing.
- Rails follow height. Rails per section change above six feet in the engine defaults. Height, not length, drives that number, which is why two hundred feet of six-foot fence and eight-foot fence are different orders.
- Surface material depends on type. Pickets are counted as individual boards, panels as whole units, chain-link as linear feet. Switching type changes the unit you order, not just the quantity.
- Concrete and hardware are estimates. Hole volume uses the diameter and depth assumptions shown, and hardware is a planning allowance. Confirm both against the post and gate systems you actually buy.
Assumptions
Central engine assumptions can be inspected in the methodology view. User-entered prices never get replaced with invented market prices.
Practical planning guidance
- Map corners, ends and gate openings before ordering anything — the post layout drives every other quantity.
- Check post-hole requirements against the soil, frost depth and local rules rather than accepting the default hole.
- Measure the run along the actual fence line, including dips and rises, because slope adds real length.
- Decide the fence type first; pickets, panels and chain-link produce different units and different totals.
- Keep the shopping list with the height and spacing used, so a supplier can check the layout against the quantities.
Common mistakes
- Counting gate posts twice by including them in the line-post spacing as well as the gate calculation.
- Assuming post spacing alone determines exact placement when corners and ends are also in the run.
- Treating hardware allowances as a complete manufacturer-specific system rather than a planning figure.
- Ordering rails by length without checking the stock length the calculation assumed.
- Forgetting concrete for the holes, which is easy to miss because it does not appear on a fence invoice line.
Important limitations
Frequently asked questions
How does it work out the whole fence take-off?
Post positions come from the net run divided by spacing, with corners, ends and gate posts added. Rails follow the height, and the picket, panel or chain-link quantity follows the surface area of the run.
How many pickets or panels does the fence need?
The surface area from net run times height is divided by the unit coverage of the chosen fence type, then increased by the waste allowance for cuts.
Does it calculate concrete for the post holes?
Yes. Hole diameter and depth assumptions produce a concrete volume for the posts, listed as its own quantity on the shopping list.
How does a gate affect the calculation?
Gate openings are subtracted from the run before posts are placed, and each gate contributes its own posts separately so the spacing is not counted twice.
Can I plan a fence with corners?
Yes. Enter the number of corners; the engine treats them as distinct posts rather than ordinary line positions.
Does this tell me the exact post positions?
No. It produces a material estimate from spacing and layout inputs. Setting out on site still needs a tape, pins and judgement about slope.
Planning guides
Related calculators
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Enter your dimensions, then calculate. Results stay tied to the tested engine.