Fence Material Calculator
Fence layout and material takeoff
Enter runs, gates, fence system, post holes, and prices
Result
Calculation summary
Enter values to see the result
Fence elevation preview
Panels or pickets, posts, rails, and gate opening
How to use this calculator
- 1Add each straight fence run separately, including the number and average width of gates within that run.
- 2Choose preassembled panels or site-built pickets, then enter actual product widths, post spacing, rails, fastener packaging, allowances, and optional post-hole geometry.
- 3Review partial panels, gate-post assumptions, slopes, concrete bag yield, local requirements, and supplier prices before ordering.
Formula
Net fence length = run length − gate openings; panels or bays = ceil(net length ÷ entered module width)
Every run is rounded independently. Installed posts equal fence bays plus one run endpoint plus one additional post per entered gate; purchase allowances are applied after installed quantities are totaled.
Calculation steps
- Convert each run and gate opening to meters and subtract gate openings from solid fence length.
- For panel mode, round panels within each run; for picket mode, divide each run into equal bays and calculate picket coverage from width, gap, or overlap.
- Count installed posts, optional post caps, rail stock, attachment fasteners, and whole fastener packages.
- When concrete is enabled, subtract the embedded post cross-section from the cylindrical hole and exclude entered gravel and top-backfill depth.
- Convert the concrete volume to whole bags using the exact yield entered from the selected product.
- Total only the material unit prices entered by the user.
Worked example
A 30 m run with one 1.2 m gate uses 28.8 m of fence infill. With 1.8 m panels, the layout needs 16 installed panels, 17 panels after 5% allowance, and 18 installed posts.
Assumptions
- Runs are independent straight segments; shared corners, gate positions, terminal-post types, and property-line geometry must be checked on the site plan.
- Panel width, post spacing, rail sizes, fastener patterns, post-hole dimensions, frost depth, wind exposure, and gate hardware come from the selected system, local requirements, or an approved design.
- Picket and rail calculations assume level equal bays; slopes, stepped panels, grades, angled corners, trims, and exact cut nesting can change quantities.
- Concrete volume is geometric and uses the entered cylindrical hole, post cross-section, gravel, top backfill, waste, and bag yield; soil and groundwater conditions are not designed.
- Chain-link fabric, tension hardware, masonry walls, electric fences, pool-barrier compliance, labor, permits, surveying, delivery, tax, finishes, and demolition are excluded.
- Before digging, verify property boundaries, permits, easements, underground utilities, and the applicable local fence and safety rules.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Should I use panel mode or picket mode?
Use panel mode for a product sold as complete fixed-width panels. Use picket mode when posts, rails, and individual boards are purchased separately.
How are gates handled?
Each run subtracts the entered gate width from solid fence length and adds one post beyond the normal run endpoint count for each gate. Mixed gate widths should be separated into additional runs or checked manually.
Does the calculator determine legal post spacing or hole depth?
No. Those values depend on the fence system, height, wind, soil, frost, local rules, and site design. Enter values from the manufacturer or approved local plan.
Why is a partial-panel warning shown?
The remaining run length is not an exact multiple of the entered panel width. Confirm that the selected panel can be cut and review the exact post-center layout.
How is concrete calculated?
The tool subtracts the embedded square or round post area from a cylindrical hole, uses only the entered concrete fill depth, adds waste, and divides by the entered mixed yield per bag.
Does estimated cost include installation?
No. It includes only the material prices entered in the calculator.