Wood Fence Calculator
Wood fence projects live or die on getting the post count and section count right before you order. This calculator turns your fence run length into sections, posts, and a total materials cost for picket, privacy, or split rail styles.
Covers curves, corners and offcuts. 5–15% is normal.
Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere or stored.
Ordering tips
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Coverage & waste
Material profile
Start with your total fence run length and add a waste percentage to cover end cuts and layout adjustments. Divide that adjusted length by the length of one section (6 ft for picket and privacy panels, 10 ft for split rail) to get your section count, rounding up. Posts are calculated separately by dividing the run length by your post spacing (commonly 6 ft on-center) and adding one for the starting post. Multiply sections by the per-section price and posts by the per-post price, then add the two together for your total.
Wood Fence Style Comparison
Picket, privacy, and split rail fencing use different section lengths and post spacings. Use this as a quick reference before you plug numbers into the calculator above.
| Fence Style | Sold As | Typical Post Spacing |
|---|---|---|
| Picket fence | Pre-built 6 ft sections | 6-8 ft on-center |
| Privacy fence | Pre-built 6 ft panels | 6-8 ft on-center |
| Split rail | 2 or 3-rail, 10 ft sections | 10 ft on-center (matches section length) |
How to calculate wood fence materials
- Measure the total fence run in linear feet, including any turns.
- Add waste 5% is standard to cover trimming and layout errors.
- Divide by section length 6 ft for picket/privacy panels, 10 ft for split rail, and round up.
- Calculate posts divide the run by your post spacing and add one for the start post.
- Price it out multiply sections and posts by their unit costs and add them together.
Worked example
Here’s the math for a 150 ft picket fence run with 5% waste and posts spaced every 6 ft.
- Fence run150 ft
- Length with 5% waste157.5 ft
- Sections needed (6 ft each)27 sections
- Posts needed (6 ft spacing)27 posts
- Section cost (27 × $65)$1,755
- Post cost (27 × $18)$486
- Total material cost$2,241
Setting Fence Posts Correctly
Post depth matters more than post count for a fence that stays straight. As a rule of thumb, set posts at least a third of their above-ground height into the ground, and always dig below your local frost line so winter heave doesn’t push posts out of plumb. A 6 ft fence typically needs post holes 24-30 in deep, backfilled with concrete or a gravel base for drainage.
Corner posts, gate posts, and end posts carry more load than line posts and are usually set in a larger hole with more concrete. This calculator treats every post the same for a straight run, so budget a little extra for reinforced corner and gate posts, plus hardware like gate hinges and latches that aren’t included in the section or post counts above.
Common mistakes
- Skipping corner and gate poststhe calculator assumes a straight run, so add extra posts and hardware wherever the fence turns or a gate opens.
- Ignoring the frost lineposts set too shallow in cold climates can heave and lean within a year or two.
- Buying rail packs instead of full sectionspicket and privacy fencing is priced here as pre-built sections, so mixing in individual rails or pickets throws off the count.
- Using a flat waste percentage on a sloped yardsloped or stepped fence lines usually need more trimming, so bump waste above the default 5% if your yard isn’t flat.
What this calculator assumes
Adjust your result if your project differs from these.
- The fence run is a straight line, or the total length of all straight segments added together.
- Picket and privacy sections are pre-built 6 ft units; split rail sections are pre-built 10 ft units.
- Posts are spaced evenly on-center at the spacing you enter, plus one starting post.
- Waste percentage covers trim cuts and minor layout adjustments, not corner or gate framing.
- Prices are based on the per-section and per-post costs you enter, not a specific retailer.
Common questions
How many fence posts do I need for a 150 ft fence?
At a standard 6 ft post spacing, a 150 ft run needs about 27 posts (150 / 6, plus one starting post).
What waste percentage should I use for a wood fence?
5% is a safe default for a straight run. Bump it up for yards with lots of corners, slopes, or obstacles you’ll need to cut around.
Do split rail fences use the same post spacing as picket fences?
No. Split rail sections are typically 10 ft long and posts are spaced to match, while picket and privacy fences usually use 6-8 ft post spacing.
Does this calculator include gate hardware?
No. It totals sections and posts for a straight run. Add gate posts, hinges, and latch hardware separately.
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Wood Fence Calculator Estimate
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Project
| Shape | — |
| Dimensions | — |
| Total length | — |
| Material | — |
| Waste allowance | — |
Shopping list
| Units needed | — |
| Stakes | — |
| Estimated total cost | — |
Notes
Estimate generated by materialcalculate.com. Confirm quantities with your supplier before ordering.