Fence Calculator

Posts, pickets, rails, concrete and cost for any fence style

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Calculated estimates for your project
Total length100 ft (96 ft of fence, 12 sections)
Posts14: 10 line, 0 corner, 2 end, 2 gate, 8 ft long
Pickets232 (210 + waste)
2x4 rails, 8 ft36 (3 per section)
Concrete56 bags of 50 lb (4 per post, 11" x 30" holes)
Materials cost$1,873 ($19 per ft)
Hire it out$2,000 to $3,500 installed

Turn these numbers into a build plan.

  • 100 ft length
  • 14 posts
  • 232 pickets
Materials List
Recommended materials and quantities
Posts, 4x4 x 8 ft14, $252
Concrete, 50 lb bags56 (4 per post), $392
Gravel for hole bottoms7 bags, $35
2x4 rails, 8 ft36, $252
Pickets, 5.5 in232 (210 + 22 waste), $812
Picket nails or screws1392, $70
Rail screws or brackets144, $15
Gate hardware kits1, $45
One 8 ft section, 6 ft tall1 run, 100 ft, 14 posts, 1 gate

Open in designer to draw these runs to scale, place the gates and get a stake-out sheet.

Exact picket and baluster gaps, with a printable layout, are in the picket spacing calculator. Bigger post holes or piers: post hole concrete and footing calculator.

Next you will need

Fence Picket Spacing CalculatorSonotube Concrete Calculator

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Project plan · built from your numbers

Privacy fence, 100 ft x 6 ft

100 ft of 6 ft privacy fence in 1 run on 14 posts set 8 ft apart, with 36 rails and 232 pickets. Posts are 8 ft long, set 24" deep on gravel in 56 bags of concrete. Stain or seal every 2 to 3 years.

Materials
$1,873
Time
2 weekends
Level
Intermediate
8 steps 8 tools 8 materials
  1. 1

    Check property lines, rules and utilities

    Confirm the property line from your survey, check HOA and city rules for a 6 ft fence (many require a permit above 6 ft), and call 811 before digging.

    • Locate property line
    • Permit or HOA approval if needed
    • Call 811 and wait for marks
  2. 2

    Lay out 14 posts

    Stake the ends and corners, run a string, and mark post centers every 8 ft along the 100 ft line. Adjust spacing slightly so the last bay is not a sliver.

    • Corners staked
    • String tight and straight
    • 14 post centers marked
  3. 3

    Dig the holes

    Dig each hole 11" wide and 30" deep (post depth plus 6" of gravel), then add the gravel and tamp it.

    • All holes 30" deep
    • Gravel in the bottom
    • Spoil piled on a tarp
01 · Your numbers
Length
100 ft
Posts
14
Pickets
232
Est. cost
$1,873
02 · The plan

8 steps · 8 tools · 8 materials

5 more steps, the full tool list and a shopping list you can check off as you go.

03 · Finished

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3/5

Privacy fence, 100 ft x 6 ft

Finished in 2 weekends · $1,873 DIY

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Borrow these 8 tools from neighborsFull how-to guide: Build a wood fence

Worked example: 100 ft of 6 ft privacy fence

  1. Sections. 100 ft minus a 4 ft gate is 96 ft, at 8 ft spacing 12 sections.
  2. Posts. 14 posts (10 line, 2 end, 2 gate), 8 ft long set 24 in deep.
  3. Rails. 3 per section, 36 2x4s at 8 ft.
  4. Pickets. 210 5.5 in pickets butted tight, 232 with 10% waste.
  5. Concrete. 56 bags of 50 lb, 4 per post, about $1,873 in materials all in.

How many fence posts do I need?

Posts = sections + 1 for each straight run, minus shared corners, plus one per gate. Sections = run length / post spacing, rounded up.

Fence length6 ft spacing8 ft spacing
50 ft108
100 ft1814
150 ft2620
200 ft3526

How many pickets per foot?

PicketGapPer footPer 100 ft
3-1/2"None3.43343
3-1/2"2-1/2"2.00200
5-1/2"None2.18219
5-1/2"1/4"2.09209
5-1/2"1"1.85185
7-1/4"None1.66166

Board on board with 1.5 in overlap needs about 1.7 times the butted count. For exact counts per section and a printable layout, use the picket spacing calculator.

Fence styles compared

StyleRailsTypical heightPost spacingInstalled per ft
Privacy36 ft8 ft$20 to $35
Board on board / shadowbox3 to 46 ft8 ft$25 to $45
Picket23 to 4 ft8 ft$15 to $30
Split rail2 to 33 to 4 ft10 ft$12 to $22
Vinyl or wood panelBuilt in6 ft6 or 8 ft$25 to $45
Chain linkTop rail4 ft10 ft$12 to $25

How much concrete per fence post

Bags per hole, hole 3 times the post width, 6 in of gravel under the post
PostHoleDepth50 lb bags80 lb bags
4x410 in30 in32
4x410 in36 in42
4x412 in42 in64
6x616 in36 in85
6x616 in48 in127

Wider footings and piers are in the Sonotube calculator and the concrete footing calculator.

Fence cost per foot

Estimate your fence before you get quotes. Materials for wood privacy run about $10 to $18 per foot, vinyl $20 to $30 and chain link $8 to $15. Installed prices are roughly double. Enter a quote in the calculator to see how it compares per foot. The fence building cheat sheet covers setting posts and hanging gates.

Need a post-hole auger for this? Rent vs buy it here.

Fence calculator FAQ

How many fence posts do I need for 100 feet?

14 posts at 8 ft spacing and 18 at 6 ft for a straight run with no gate. Each gate adds one post, and each corner between runs is shared.

How many pickets for 100 feet?

About 219 5.5 in pickets butted tight, 209 with 1/4 in gaps, or 200 3.5 in pickets at a 2.5 in gap, plus 10% for culls. Board on board takes about 1.7 times the privacy count.

How many 2x4 rails per section?

Two for fences 5 ft and under, three for 6 ft fences, and four for 8 ft fences or heavy board on board. With 8 ft post spacing each rail is one 8 ft 2x4.

Do corners and gates need extra posts?

Corners do not: one post ends one run and starts the next. Gates do: a gate opening splits the fence, so it needs a post on each side, one more than a straight run. Use 6x6 or a steel-reinforced 4x4 for gates over 4 ft.

How many bags of concrete per fence post?

A 4x4 in a 10 in hole 30 in deep takes 3 bags of 50 lb concrete (2 of 80 lb), with 6 in of gravel underneath. A 6x6 in a 16 in hole 42 in deep takes 6 bags of 80 lb.

How long are fence posts for a 6 ft fence?

8 ft posts set 24 in deep. Where the frost line is deeper than 2 ft, use 10 ft posts so the bottom sits below frost.

How much does it cost to build a fence?

Our 100 ft, 6 ft privacy example with one gate is about $1,873 in materials ($19 per foot). Hired out, wood privacy runs $20 to $35 per foot installed.

How deep should fence posts be?

A third of the post length, at least 24 in, and below the frost line in cold climates. Put 6 in of gravel in the bottom for drainage.

Do I need a permit to build a fence?

Many towns require one over 6 ft, and HOAs often control style and height. Check your property line, and call 811 at least three business days before digging.

Should I use wood or vinyl fencing?

Wood costs less upfront and needs stain or sealer every 2 to 3 years. Vinyl costs 2 to 3 times more, never needs paint, and can crack in hard cold.

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