Calculate the exact number of pickets, rails, and posts needed for your custom wood fence project.
General Specs
ft
in
in
Number of horizontal boards connecting the posts.
Materials Summary
Plotting a fence line?
Provide your fence length and picket dimensions to generate a structural material list.
About this calculator
Overview
Unlike pre-assembled vinyl panels, wood fences are typically built 'stick-by-stick' on-site. This structural approach allows for custom curves and terrain adjustments, but requires careful counting of individual components. This calculator estimates the vertical pickets, longitudinal rails, and foundational posts required for a standard privacy or picket design.
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Pro Tips
Use 3 horizontal rails for any fence taller than 5 feet (1.5m) to prevent pickets from warping or bowing.
Always round your post count up. It's better to have one extra post for a corner than to be one short.
Include a 10% waste factor for pickets to account for boards with deep knots, splits, or severe warping.
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Fun Facts
"Standard individual wood pickets are usually 5.5 inches (14cm) wide, marketed as '6-inch' boards."
"Most residential wood fences are designed with 8-foot (2.4m) post spacing to match standard lumber lengths."
"Pressure-treated wood is the industry standard for posts and rails due to its rot and insect resistance."
