Fence Estimate Calculator

To estimate fence materials: 1) Measure the total perimeter in linear feet. 2) Divide by post spacing (usually 8 ft) and add 1 for the number of posts. 3) Multiply post count by rail count for total rail length needed. 4) For pickets: divide fence length by (picket width + gap). Example: 200 ft fence, 8 ft spacing = 26 posts, 78 rails (3 rails × 26 posts × 8 ft), and approximately 800 pickets for a standard 6 ft privacy fence.

Corner posts require extra bracing and are typically set deeper than line posts. Each corner adds about 1-2 additional 8 ft rails for diagonal bracing. Gates require: 2 gate posts (heavier than line posts), hinges, latch hardware, and gate framing material. A standard 4 ft walk-through gate uses about 20 linear feet of additional framing. For every 100 ft of fence, budget 1 corner post and 1 gate on average.

The biggest factors: 1) Post spacing - reducing from 8 ft to 6 ft increases post count by 33%. 2) Fence height - taller fences need more material and often more rails. 3) Terrain - sloping ground requires stepped or racked sections that may use more material. 4) Picket width and spacing - wider pickets with smaller gaps use more wood. 5) Corners and returns - each change in direction requires additional posts and bracing.

Always buy 10-15% extra material for waste, cuts, and future repairs. Pickets: add 10% (you may need to cut some shorter or discard damaged ones). Posts: buy 1-2 extra for replacements. Rails: 5% extra is usually sufficient. Concrete: buy an extra bag or two per 10 posts. Having extra material from the same batch ensures color consistency and allows easy repairs years later.