Wood Picket Fence Calculator
Calculate pickets, rails, posts and fasteners for any picket fence by linear feet and picket spacing.
The wood picket fence calculator returns pickets, rails, posts and screws for any classic picket fence. The picket count math depends on picket width and the gap between pickets - a typical 1x4 picket (3.5 in actual width) with a 2 in gap repeats every 5.5 in, so a 100 ft fence needs 218 pickets. Tighter spacing gives a more solid look (and more privacy at fence height); wider spacing gives a more airy decorative look. Rails are typically 2x4s spanning between posts, with 2 rails on fences up to 4 ft and 3 rails for taller fences. Posts space every 6 or 8 ft - 8 ft is standard for prefab rails and most lumberyard stock lengths.
Explore all our fencing calculator tools, or browse the full construction & home improvement diy calculators.
Frequently asked questions
With 1x4 pickets (3.5 in actual) spaced 2 inches apart, each picket+gap module is 5.5 inches wide. A 100 ft fence (1200 inches) needs 218 pickets. Tighter 1 inch spacing: 267 pickets. 1x6 pickets with 2 inch spacing: 160 pickets. Always buy 5-10% extra for splits, knots and miscuts at the end of the run.
4 ft is the classic American picket fence height - tall enough to keep small dogs in, short enough to maintain the open neighborhood look. 3 ft for very decorative or front-yard-only fences. 5-6 ft picket fences exist but require taller posts and 3 rails - at that point most homeowners switch to a stockade privacy fence instead.
2 inches is the classic spacing - airy enough to see through but solid enough to look like a real fence. 1/2 to 1 inch for partial privacy without going to a stockade design. 3-4 inches for a very open garden look common in cottage gardens and around vegetable beds. The smaller the gap, the more pickets you need - and budgets scale with picket count.
Pressure-treated 2x4 is standard for fence rails. 2x3 is sometimes used to save money but bows over time. For long-lasting rails use cedar or redwood, which resist rot without chemical treatment but cost 2-3x more than pressure-treated. Always set rails on edge (4 in dimension vertical) so they resist sagging.
2 screws per picket per rail - so 4 screws total for a 4 ft fence with 2 rails, 6 for a taller 3-rail fence. That works out to 8 screws per linear foot of fence at standard spacing - so a 100 ft fence needs about 800 screws, or 5 lbs of 1.5 inch exterior-rated screws. Always use exterior-rated screws (coated or stainless) to avoid rust staining the wood.