Fence Panel and Picket Calculator
Calculate the number of fence panels, pickets, posts, and rails needed for your fencing project based on total fence length and spacing.
Formulas Used
Number of Panels:
Panels = ⌈ Total Length ÷ Panel Width ⌉
Number of Posts:
Posts = Panels + 1
Total Picket Space:
Picket Space (ft) = Total Length − (Posts × Post Width in ft)
Pickets per Panel:
Pickets/Panel = ⌈ (Picket Space ÷ Panels) ÷ (Picket Width + Gap in ft) ⌉
Total Pickets:
Total Pickets = Pickets/Panel × Panels
Total Rails:
Total Rails = Rails/Panel × Panels
With Waste Factor:
Adjusted Quantity = ⌈ Base Quantity × (1 + Waste% ÷ 100) ⌉
Picket Board Feet:
Board Feet = (1 in × Picket Width in × Fence Height ft ÷ 12) × Total Pickets (with waste)
Assumptions & References
- Posts are placed at every panel boundary (one post per panel end, shared between adjacent panels), giving Panels + 1 total posts.
- Picket width and gap are entered in inches; all other dimensions are in feet.
- Pickets are assumed to be 1-inch nominal thickness for board-foot calculations.
- The waste factor accounts for cuts, defects, and measurement errors; 10% is a common industry standard.
- Rail length equals panel width; rails span between posts within each panel.
- The last panel may be shorter than a full panel width if total length is not evenly divisible.
- Post depth (buried portion) is not included; a common rule of thumb is to bury ⅓ of the post height plus 6 inches.
- Reference: RS Means Building Construction Cost Data; NAHB framing guidelines.