Fence Material Calculator

Calculate the precise quantity of posts, rails, and pickets for your wood or vinyl fence project.

Fence Layout

Unit System

Fence Length (ft)

Post Spacing (ft)

Picket Width (in)

Picket Gap (in)

Materials Summary

Time to go shopping?

Enter your fence layout details to generate a structural material checklist.

Overview

A materials list is vital for budgeting and ordering. This calculator provides the raw counts for the main components of a wood fence. It assumes a standard design where each section is supported by two posts and multiple horizontal rails.

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Pro Tips

Add one extra post for every gate or major corner (90° turn) in your fence layout.
Use 10-foot posts for a 6-foot fence to allow 3-4 feet of depth in the ground below the frost line.
Consider using screw-shank or ring-shank nails to prevent pickets from pulling away as the wood dries.

Fun Facts

"Most retailers sell pickets in 4, 6, and 8-foot (1.2m, 1.8m, 2.4m) heights."
"The horizontal rails are usually 2x4 lumber, providing the lateral strength of the fence line."
"Standard residential post depth should be at least 1/3 the height of the post for structural stability."

Formula: Posts = ceiling(L / S) + 1; Pickets = (L × 12) / (W + G)

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