Fence Calculator
Calculate posts, rails, pickets, concrete, and total cost for a fence run.
Your details
Style
Cost
This calculator runs entirely on your device. Nothing you enter is uploaded, stored, or sold. How this works
Estimated material cost
$3,194
$18 per linear foot over 180 ft
Includes your inputs, the full breakdown, and every row of the table.
Posts
25
23 sections at 8.0 ft
Rails
69
3 per section
Pickets
393
5.5" wide
Concrete bags
52
2.0 ft deep holes
- Posts (25 × $18.00)
- $450
- Rails (69 × $9.00)
- $621
- Pickets (393 × $4.25)
- $1,670
- Concrete (52 bags)
- $273
- Gates (1)
- $180
- Total materials
- $3,194
- With professional installation (~2×)
- $6,389
What this means
- Set posts 2.0 feet deep — roughly one third of the above-ground height — and below your local frost line, whichever is deeper.
- Corner and gate posts carry far more load than line posts. Use a larger post, a deeper hole, and more concrete at those locations.
- Call 811 before digging. Utility locates are free and hitting a gas or fibre line is not.
How the fence calculation works
A fence estimate starts with the number of sections: total length divided by post spacing, rounded up. Posts equal sections plus one, plus an extra post at every gate. Rails and pickets follow from there.
Post depth is the part people shortcut and regret. The rule of thumb is one third of the above-ground height buried, or below the local frost line — whichever is deeper. A six-foot privacy fence catches enormous wind load, and shallow posts lean within a couple of seasons.
Frequently asked questions
How far apart should fence posts be?
Eight feet is standard for wood privacy fencing and matches common rail lengths. Six feet gives a stiffer fence in high-wind areas; some vinyl and metal systems specify their own spacing.
How many bags of concrete per fence post?
Typically one to two 60 lb bags per line post for a six-foot fence, and more for corner and gate posts. The calculation above sizes holes at three times post width and one third of fence height in depth.
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Disclaimer. This calculator is provided for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, legal, medical, or engineering advice. Results are estimates based on the inputs you provide and the assumptions described above. Confirm any figure with a qualified professional before acting on it.