Fence calculator

A 24 ft straight run at 8 ft maximum spacing needs 3 panels and 4 posts before extra material. Add connected runs, position gates, or estimate pickets and rails instead.

Example measurements, not installation specifications. Replace them with your project and product details.

Connected runs share an end post with the next run. A closed loop also shares its first and last post.

Run 1

Run lengthOverall centerline run length, including its gate opening. Adjacent runs share endpoints only in connected mode.

Gate openingZero means no gate. One gate opening per run; split a line into connected runs for additional gates.

Gate starts atDistance from this run’s start to the first gate post. Panel quantities are rounded separately on either side of the gate.

Maximum post spacingIllustrative input, not a structural recommendation. Use the center-to-center spacing required by your panel or fence system.

Fence heightReference height for the elevation and purchase list. Choose post and board lengths for your design.

Concrete per postConcrete quantity from your footing design, net of post displacement. No hole size or depth is selected here.

cu ft

Concrete yield per bag

cu ft

Extra materialApplies to panels or pickets and rails only. Posts, gates and concrete stay at the specified count.

Price per panel / picket

Price per post

Each run shown separately; shared end posts are counted once. Panel spacing is diagrammatic.

Post lengths, gate hardware, fasteners and installation details need your system specification. Rail counts assume one stock rail per bay.

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How the fence calculator works

For each uninterrupted fence span, bays = round up (span length ÷ maximum post spacing). An open run needs one more post than its number of bays. A gate adds a bay between its two gate posts; panel counts are rounded independently on each side. Connected runs share their touching end post; a closed loop also shares its last and first post.

For example, a 24 ft run with a 4 ft gate starting at 10 ft leaves two 10 ft spans. With 8 ft maximum spacing, each span needs 2 panels: 4 panels, one gate and 6 posts total. A 24 ft run without a gate needs 3 panels and 4 posts. Extra material increases panels/pickets and rails, not installed post counts.

Pickets per uninterrupted span = round up [(span in inches + gap) ÷ (actual picket width + gap)]. This is a face-coverage estimate; post faces, mounting details and trim can change the final cut list. Rails = bays × specified rails per bay, then the extra allowance. Post concrete = post count × your concrete quantity per footing; bags use the yield you enter.

Reference quantities

Straight open runs, 8 ft maximum spacing, no gates or allowance.

Length (ft)	Panels	Posts
16	2	3
24	3	4
40	5	6
80	10	11

Before you buy

Verify property lines, permits, utility locations and your fence manufacturer’s actual mounting dimensions. Gate posts may need different sizes and foundations. This tool does not choose post embedment, footing depth, structural spacing or fasteners. Buy panels only if their usable spacing matches the entered value; short bays may need trimming. Rails and pickets exclude gate fabrication.

How do corners and gates affect post counts?

A corner shared by connected runs uses one post in the total, rather than two. A gate splits the run at the position you enter. Different gate-post sizes and hardware remain part of your product specification.

Sources & review

Lowe’s / Outdoor Essentials: fence material estimating. Lowe’s: layout and digging post holes. Reviewed October 20, 2026. Product coverage, spacing, waste and prices are user inputs. How we calculate. Concrete quantities.