Fence Calculator
Posts, panels, rails and hardware for wood, vinyl, chain link and picket fences - by linear feet, height and gate count.
How many fence posts and panels do I need for 100 linear feet? How many pickets in a 4 ft picket fence? How many tension bands per terminal post on a chain link install? These fence calculators handle the four most common DIY fence types - pre-built panel (wood or composite), custom-built picket, chain link and vinyl. Each tool returns posts (broken out by type where it matters), panels or pickets, rails and the specific fittings each system needs. Cross-link to the post hole concrete calculator for the exact concrete-per-post bag count, including post displacement and frost-line depth.
Frequently asked questions
With 8 ft panels: 13 sections, 14 posts (15 with one gate). With 6 ft panels: 17 sections, 18 posts. Always add one extra post per gate because gates need solid posts on both sides for hinge and latch strength. The fence calculator handles all standard panel widths.
With 1x4 pickets (3.5 in actual) spaced 2 inches apart: 218 pickets. Tighter 1 inch spacing: 267 pickets. 1x6 pickets at 2 in spacing: 160 pickets. Always buy 5-10% extra for splits, knots and miscuts.
Line posts are lighter, evenly spaced (10 ft on-center standard) and only support the fabric vertically. Terminal posts are heavier and set deeper - they bear the horizontal tension of the fabric. Every chain link fence needs terminal posts at corners, gates and ends, plus 2 terminal posts per gate.
About 1.5 bags of 60lb concrete per post for a wood 4x4 in a 10 inch by 30 inch hole. Vinyl posts need closer to 2 bags each because vinyl flexes and the footing does the structural work. The post hole concrete calculator gives the exact count including post displacement.
End posts (routed on one face), line posts (routed on two opposing faces), corner posts (routed on two adjacent faces at 90 degrees) and gate posts (heavy-gauge, no routing - gates screw to them directly). Each has its own SKU and cannot be substituted. Ordering the wrong split is the #1 vinyl fence mistake.
All fencing tools
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