Picket fence calculator
Fence length, picket width and gap: you get pickets with waste, posts, rail footage and boxes of screws.
Purchase quantity
105 unit
Net measurement: 100 unit · Waste 5 %
- Pickets105 unit
- Posts8 post
- Rails31.5 m
- Screws (2 per picket per rail)1 box
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How it's calculated (visible formula)
pickets = ceil(length ÷ (picket + gap)) × (1 + waste); posts = ceil(length ÷ spacing) + 1
- Net geometric measurement, no waste.
- Adjustable waste % for cuts and breakage.
- Purchase rounded up to sellable units (boxes, bags, buckets, boards).
How to calculate it, step by step
- Measure fence length.
- Pick picket width and gap.
- Pickets = length ÷ (picket + gap), plus 5%.
- Work out posts and rails from spacing.
- Add screws: two per picket per rail.
Worked example: 50 ft, 3½ in pickets, 2½ in gap
- 600 in ÷ 6 in = 100 pickets
- +5% = 105
- 50 ÷ 8 = 7 + 1 = 8 posts
→ 105 pickets, 8 posts, 105 ft of rail and 1 box of screws.
Common mistakes
- Uneven gaps — use a spacer block.
- Not leaving 2 in clear above the ground.
- Using non-galvanized nails.
Pro tips
- Use a spacer block for consistent gaps.
- Keep pickets 2 in off the ground so they don't wick water.
- Paint or seal pickets before installing to reach every edge.
- Cut the tops with a template so they match.
From calculation to quote
Add labour, overhead and your margin, and generate the professional PDF.
FAQs
- What gap between pickets?
- 2–3 in is classic; under 4 in where children or small dogs are around.
- How many pickets per foot?
- With 3½ in pickets and 2½ in gaps, 2 per foot.
- Screws or nails?
- Galvanized or stainless screws — they don't back out with moisture changes.
- How tall is a picket fence?
- 3–4 ft is typical.
- Pointed or rounded tops?
- It's aesthetic; dog-ear and pointed tops shed water.
- How many rails?
- Two up to 4 ft; three for taller fences.
Sources and standards
Maintained by Srikanta M · Formula v1.0.0 · Verified 2026-09-10 · Updated 2026-09-10 · Limits: quantity estimation, not structural design or site supervision.