Fence Calculator
Turn a fence line into a lumber list: posts, pickets, rails, and the concrete to set them — for privacy or picket styles, before you price a single board.
Call 811 before you dig. Utility locating is free and required in most states — buried gas, power, and fiber lines sit at post-hole depth. Also confirm your property lines, height limits, and permit requirements with your local building department (and HOA) before setting a single post.
Add up all runs; measure along the ground.
Standard dog-ear pickets are 5.5″ wide.
Classic pickets are 3.5″ (1x4) wide.
2–2.5″ is typical; match the gap to the picket for a classic look.
10 ft is the usual maximum for line posts on residential chain link.
Post spacing is set by the rail length — the rails have to reach.
Counted at 4 ft wide each; gate hardware and boards are extra.
Each corner adds a post.
You need
Enter fence length
| Material | Amount |
|---|---|
| Posts (4x4) | — |
| Rails (2x4, 8 ft) | — |
| Concrete, 80 lb bags | — |
| Terminal posts | — |
| Chain link fabric | — |
| Tension bars / bands | — |
| Tie wires | — |
| Concrete, 60 lb bags | — |
Treated dog-ear pickets commonly run $3–$7 each.
What Will This Fence Cost?
Fencing is quoted by the linear foot, and gates are priced separately — a detail that surprises people when the quote arrives. This prices the run you entered above, both ways.
Gate count comes from the calculator above. Post-hole digging is the labor that makes or breaks a DIY fence — rent a two-person auger.
Estimated fence cost
Enter fence length above
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price per foot | — |
| Gates | — |
| Labor portion | — |
National ranges for planning and checking a quote. Rocky soil, slopes, and tear-out of an old fence all add cost.
What fencing costs per linear foot in 2026
| Fence type | DIY materials | Installed | 150 ft run, installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain link | $8–15/ft | $20–45/ft | $3,000–6,750 |
| Wood privacy | $10–22/ft | $25–50/ft | $3,750–7,500 |
| Vinyl | $15–30/ft | $30–60/ft | $4,500–9,000 |
| Aluminum / steel | $18–35/ft | $35–70/ft | $5,250–10,500 |
Gates add $250–900 each installed, or $80–300 for a DIY kit. Labor is 40–60% of an installed fence.
What actually moves a fence quote
- Corners and gates cost more than straight runs. Every corner needs a braced post set deeper, and gate posts carry a swinging load — which is why a zigzag property line costs more than the same footage in a straight line.
- Slope is a real surcharge. A fence on a grade must be either stepped (visible gaps at the bottom) or racked (panels that follow the slope). Both take longer, and racking rules out most pre-built panels.
- Rocky or clay soil doubles digging time. If a neighbor's fence install hit rock, yours will too — mention it when getting quotes so it's priced honestly rather than added later.
- Tear-out of an old fence is separate, commonly $3–8 per linear foot including disposal.
- Vinyl costs more up front, less over time. It never needs staining; wood needs sealing every two to three years, which is real money and real weekends across a 20-year life.
- Check the property line before anything else. A fence built even a foot over is the single most expensive mistake in this category — a survey costs far less than moving a finished fence.
How to Calculate Fence Materials
A wood fence is four counts — posts, rails, pickets, and concrete — all driven by length, height, and post spacing:
- Posts: divide the length by post spacing, round up, and add one for the end. Add a post per corner; gates hang on the posts you already counted.
- Rails: 2 per section for 4 ft fences, 3 for 6 ft, 4 for 8 ft.
- Pickets: fence length in inches ÷ (picket width + gap). Butted privacy fences use a 0 gap.
- Concrete: about 1½ bags of 80 lb mix per post for a 24″ hole — deeper holes for taller fences take 2.
Fence formulas
Posts = ceil(length ÷ spacing) + 1 + corners
Pickets = (length − gate widths) in inches ÷ (picket width + gap)
Rails = sections × rails per section
Worked example — 100 ft privacy fence, 6 ft tall, 2 corners, 1 gate: 13 sections → 16 posts, 39 rails, and 96 ft of picketed run ÷ 5.5″ = 210 pickets, set with about 23 bags of 80 lb concrete.
Materials for Common Fence Lengths
6 ft privacy fence, 8 ft post spacing, one 4 ft gate, two corners:
| Fence length | Posts | Rails | Pickets | 80 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | 10 | 21 | 101 | 15 |
| 100 ft | 16 | 39 | 210 | 23 |
| 150 ft | 22 | 57 | 319 | 32 |
| 200 ft | 28 | 75 | 428 | 40 |
| 300 ft | 41 | 114 | 646 | 59 |
Chain Link and Split Rail Are Counted Differently
A board fence is posts, rails and pickets. The other two common fences don't work that way, which is why a generic fence calculator gives you the wrong list.
Chain link
Chain link is built around the difference between terminal posts and line posts. Terminals — the ends, every corner, and both sides of every gate — are heavier, take a bigger hole, and carry all the hardware, because the fabric is stretched against them. Line posts in between just hold the fabric up and can be lighter and shallower.
That's why the calculator gives terminals a 1.2 cu ft hole against 0.6 for line posts — a 100 ft run with two corners and a gate needs about 21 bags of concrete, not the 15 you'd get by treating every post the same.
The parts people forget to order are the small ones: a tension bar for each terminal, tension bands at roughly one per foot of height per terminal, and tie wires at about 1.2 per foot of fence. Fabric comes in 50 ft rolls and top rail in 21 ft lengths, so both round up in chunks.
Split rail
Split rail is the simplest fence to estimate and the easiest to get wrong, because the rail length sets the post spacing — not the other way round. Buy 10 ft rails and your posts go every 10 ft, full stop. Choosing "8 ft spacing" out of habit means the rails don't reach.
Posts are mortised (slotted) rather than flat-faced, and line posts need slots on both sides while ends need them on one. Split rail is also normally set in tamped gravel rather than concrete — the fence is meant to flex, and concrete traps water against the post. The concrete figures below are there if you want them, but most split rail doesn't need them.
Tips Before You Build
- Call 811 before digging. Free utility marking, required in most states, and it takes a couple of days — schedule it first.
- Check property lines and permits. Fence height limits (often 6 ft back yard, 3–4 ft front) and setbacks are local rules; HOAs add more.
- Set posts below the frost line and crown the concrete so water sheds away from the wood.
- Buy 5–10% extra pickets. Some arrive warped or split; culls make great stakes and rot boards.
- Keep pickets 2″ off the ground — end-grain ground contact is the fastest way to rot a fence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many posts for 100 feet of fence?
14 for a straight run at 8 ft spacing (13 sections + 1 end post); 18 at 6 ft spacing. Add one per corner.
How many pickets per foot?
About 2.2 per linear foot with standard 5.5″ pickets butted tight; about 1.6 per foot spaced with a 2″ gap.
How many rails for a 6 ft privacy fence?
Three per section — top, middle, bottom. Two for 4 ft fences, four for 8 ft.
How much concrete per post?
About 1½ bags of 80 lb mix for a 10″ × 24″ hole; 2 bags for the deeper holes taller fences need. Our concrete calculator has a dedicated post-hole mode.
How deep should posts be set?
One-third of post length, minimum 24″, below frost line. A 6 ft fence takes 9 ft posts set ~3 ft deep.
Should pickets touch the ground?
No — keep 2″ of clearance, or run a sacrificial rot board at grade.
How many posts for a chain link fence?
Terminal posts at every end, corner and gate side, plus line posts every 10 ft between them. A 100 ft run with 2 corners and a gate is 6 terminals and 9 line posts.
What spacing for split rail?
The rail length sets it — 10 ft rails mean posts every 10 ft. Don't pick a spacing independently or the rails won't reach.
Do HOAs or cities limit post spacing?
Many do — some cap it around 8 ft between posts regardless of what the fence style would normally allow. Check your local rules before ordering; a tighter cap means more posts than this calculator's default spacing returns.
Should boards be tight together or have a gap?
Tight (butted) for full privacy — that's what the picket count above assumes. Add a gap and you'll use fewer boards over the same run, but the fence stops being solid.
How much stain or sealant do I need, on top of the boards?
That's separate from the lumber count above — budget it on its own. One gallon of solid-color stain typically covers 150–300 sq ft depending on wood porosity, so a rough fence face needs more per gallon than a smooth one.
How much does a fence cost per foot?
Installed: $20–45 chain link, $25–50 wood privacy, $30–60 vinyl, $35–70 aluminum. DIY materials run roughly half that.
How much does a gate add?
$250–900 each installed, or $80–300 for a DIY kit. Gate posts carry a swinging load and are set deeper, which is why they're priced apart from the run.
Is it cheaper to build a fence myself?
Yes — labor is 40–60% of an installed fence. The catch is post holes: rent a two-person auger, and check for buried utilities by calling 811 first.
References
- Common Ground Alliance — Call 811 before you dig: call811.com
- American Wood Protection Association — treated wood use guidance: awpa.com
- University of Georgia Extension — fence planning and construction: extension.uga.edu
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