Fencing & decking
Fence Material Calculator
Posts, rails, pickets and concrete for a fence run, from its length and the post spacing.
Result
Post holes should go about a third of the fence height into the ground and below the frost line, whichever is deeper. Gates, corners and ends need heavier posts than line posts, and a fence is only as good as its corners.
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About this calculator
How far apart should posts be?
Six to eight feet for most timber fences. Eight is common because rails come in eight and sixteen foot lengths, but closer spacing is noticeably stiffer in wind.
How deep do posts go?
A third of the above-ground height as a rule, so two feet for a six foot fence, and below the frost line in cold climates. Corner and gate posts go deeper.
Why is there a gap option?
Because a privacy fence has no gap and a picket fence does. Timber also shrinks as it dries, so boards fitted tight when green open up later.
The formula
sections = length / spacing; posts = sections + 1; pickets = length in inches / (picket width + gap)
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