How it works
One run length and your picket size gives you the whole materials list.
Measure the run
Total length of fence in feet. Measure each straight run separately and add them.
Set the spacing
6 feet is stronger and standard for privacy fence; 8 feet uses fewer posts.
Get the full list
Posts, sections, rails and pickets, all in one place.
The post count is where people go wrong
A fence is four counts, and only one of them is tricky. Sections are the run divided by your post spacing, rounded up. Rails are sections multiplied by rails per section — two for a short picket fence, three for anything six feet tall. Pickets are the run in inches divided by the picket width plus the gap.
Posts are where the arithmetic bites. A run of fence needs one more post than it has sections, because there is a post at each end. A 100 foot run at 8 foot spacing has 13 sections but 14 posts. Ordering 13 leaves you one short at the very end of the job.
That formula assumes a single straight run. Every corner, every change of direction and every gate adds a post beyond the count, and gates need heavier posts than line posts because they carry a swinging load. Add one post per corner and two per gate opening, then set the gate posts in more concrete than the rest.
On spacing: 8 feet uses fewer posts and less concrete, which is why it is common on quotes. 6 feet is noticeably stiffer and holds a straight line better over the years, especially on a tall privacy fence that catches wind. For post holes, plan on a third of the post length in the ground — an 8 foot post for a 6 foot fence, set 2 feet deep. Our concrete calculator will size the footings.
Frequently asked questions
How many posts for a 100 foot fence?
Fourteen at 8 foot spacing: thirteen sections plus one, because both ends of the run need a post. Add one more for every corner and two per gate.
How far apart should fence posts be?
6 to 8 feet. Eight uses fewer posts; six is stiffer and stays straighter over time, which matters most on tall privacy fence.
How many pickets do I need per foot?
With a 5.5 inch picket and a quarter inch gap, about 2.1 pickets per foot. Set the gap to zero for a solid privacy fence.
How deep should fence posts go?
About a third of the post length. A 6 foot fence normally uses 8 foot posts set 2 feet into the ground.
More material calculators
Estimates are for planning only. Confirm quantities with your supplier before ordering.