Fence Calculator
Estimate posts, sections, panels or pickets, rails, gates and material cost for one fence run or a closed perimeter. Enter your own dimensions and prices.
Formula used
Net infill length = total fence length − (number of gates × gate width).
Infill sections = ceiling(net infill length ÷ section width). For panels, section width is the panel width. For pickets, it is the maximum post spacing.
Posts = sections + gates + 1 for an open run, or sections + gates for a closed perimeter. The calculator treats each gate as one additional span.
Pickets = ceiling[ceiling(net length ÷ (picket width + gap)) × (1 + waste percentage)]. Unit conversion is performed before this division.
Checked examples
| Inputs | Method | Estimated result |
|---|---|---|
| 100 ft open run, one 4 ft gate, 8 ft panels, 5% spare | Panels | 96 ft net, 12 sections, 14 posts, 13 panels |
| 100 ft open run, no gates, 8 ft panels, no spare | Panels | 13 sections, 14 posts, 13 panels |
| 100 ft closed perimeter, no gates, 8 ft panels, 5% spare | Panels | 13 sections, 13 posts, 14 panels |
| 100 ft open run, one 4 ft gate, 5.5 in pickets, 1 in gap | Pickets | 178 base pickets; 187 with 5% spare |
| 30 m open run, one 1 m gate, 2.4 m panels, 5% spare | Panels | 29 m net, 13 sections, 15 posts, 14 panels |
| 24 m closed perimeter, one 1 m gate, 2 m panels, no spare | Panels | 23 m net, 12 sections, 13 posts, 12 panels |
How to measure for this calculator
- Measure the complete fence path along the ground and enter it as total length.
- Include gate openings in that total, then enter the number and width of equal gates.
- For panel fencing, enter the true panel width. For individual boards, choose pickets and enter the desired maximum post spacing, board width and gap.
- Add a modest spare percentage for cuts or damaged material. Prices are optional and should use one currency.
The result is an ordering estimate, not an engineering or code-compliance design. Confirm post depth, footing size, fasteners, property boundaries and permit requirements locally.
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