Fence Calculator
Plan fence materials by run, not just total length. Build a purchase-ready list for wood panels, stick-built privacy, decorative picket, or vinyl panel fences with gates and geometry-based concrete.
Pick the system first. The calculator will load the matching spacing, rails, and picket defaults.
Enter each straight fence run separately so corners, gates, and slope choices stay accurate.
The default result gives you one realistic fence material list fast. If you want the contractor-grade version afterward, use the post-hole refinement step to separate line, corner, end, and gate posts before you buy concrete.
Presets load the common defaults, but you can still tune height, spacing, and waste for your exact job.
The post-setting math uses actual hole dimensions, gravel depth, and concrete bag yield instead of a flat bags-per-post shortcut.
Gate posts often need heavier support than line posts. Use the optional post-hole refinement after you calculate if you want separate grouped counts for line, corner, end, and gate posts.
Why Fence Estimates Need Runs, Not One Big Length
Fence jobs break at corners, end conditions, and gate openings. That is why a reliable estimate starts with separate runs instead of one total linear-foot number. Once you split the layout into runs, the calculator can count shared corners correctly, remove gate openings from the net fence length, and show the right post mix.
The same run graph also changes the material math by fence type. Premade panels care about section width and custom-cut last panels. Stick-built fences care about post spacing, rail count, picket bundles, and hardware. Treating those as one formula usually produces the wrong shopping list.
When the question narrows from full-fence materials to just the post support details, jump into the fence post depth guide, the concrete-per-post guide, or the post hole concrete calculator instead of forcing those questions into the broad fence estimate.
Once you trust the quantities, use the fence installation cost guide to translate the material list into installed-cost ranges.
Slope and Gate Planning Notes
Slope Strategy
Flat runs are the easiest case. Stepped runs work well when the grade changes in clear drops. Contour runs follow the grade more closely, but rigid premade panels may not fit cleanly unless the system is rackable.
If your yard is uneven and you want the tightest fit at the ground, stick-built fences usually give you more freedom to adjust each section than premade panels do.
Gate Planning
Gates are not just empty width in the fence. They remove fence length, add dedicated gate posts, and often change the footing and hardware package. Wide single gates sag more easily, which is why many drive openings work better as double gates with cane bolts and stronger framing.
The calculator treats gates as their own material group so you can see frame kits, hinge-latch sets, anti-sag kits, and gate-post concrete separately from the rest of the fence.
How the Fence Math Works
Panel mode: each run subtracts its gate openings first, then divides the remaining run by the selected section width or on-center system spacing. That returns the panel count and reveals when the last section may need trimming.
Stick-built mode: each run uses target post spacing to calculate sections, then converts those sections into rails and pickets. Pickets are translated into 12-pack bundles plus loose pieces so the output matches how wood fencing is often purchased.
Post-setting materials: concrete is based on hole geometry, not a flat bags-per-post guess. Hole diameter, hole depth, gravel base, soil cap, and bag yield all feed into the concrete and gravel totals.
Worked Example: Straight Privacy Fence
A homeowner is building a 100 ft straight privacy fence and wants a stick-built bill of materials.
- 1 Project: 100 ft straight 6 ft privacy fence with no gates
- 2 Mode: stick-built at 8 ft target spacing
- 3 Sections: ceil(100 ÷ 8) = 13 sections
- 4 Posts: 13 sections means 14 total posts on a straight run
- 5 Rails: 13 × 3 rails = 39 rails
- 6 Pickets: 100 ft = 1,200 in. 1,200 ÷ 5.5 = 219 raw pickets
- 7 Waste: 219 × 1.10 = 241 pickets to order
- 8 Bundles: 241 pickets = 20 bundles + 1 loose in 12-packs
- 9 Concrete: 14 posts at roughly 1.5 cu ft each = 56 fast-set 50-lb bags
Worked Example: L-Shape With Gate
A backyard fence has an 80 ft run, a 30 ft side run, and one 4 ft gate on the long side.
- 1 Project: 80 ft + 30 ft L-shape with one 4 ft gate on the long run
- 2 Mode: wood privacy panels at 8 ft nominal width
- 3 Net fencing: 110 total ft − 4 ft gate = 106 net ft
- 4 Long run: 76 net ft ÷ 8 = 10 panel sections after rounding up
- 5 Short run: 30 ft ÷ 8 = 4 panel sections after rounding up
- 6 Panels: 10 + 4 = 14 panels
- 7 Posts: 12 line posts + 1 shared corner + 2 ends + 2 gate posts = 17 total posts
- 8 Result: one shared corner is counted once, so the run graph avoids double-counting the elbow.
Worked Example: Sloped Yard
A 60 ft backyard drops enough that the owner wants to compare stepped fence planning against rigid panels.
- 1 Project: 60 ft yard on noticeable slope
- 2 Mode: stick-built, stepped terrain instead of premade panels
- 3 Sections: ceil(60 ÷ 8) = 8 sections
- 4 Posts: 8 sections means 9 straight-run posts
- 5 Rails: 8 × 3 = 24 rails
- 6 Why not panels: stepped or contour transitions often create custom-width headaches and visible bottom gaps with rigid premade systems.
- 7 Result: the stepped stick-built plan keeps section math manageable while matching the yard better than a fixed panel layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use premade panels or build the fence stick by stick? +
How much concrete does a fence post really need? +
How far apart should fence posts be? +
How should I handle a sloped yard? +
Why do fence gates sag over time? +
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