Sections and line posts
sections = ceil(interval length ÷ allowed span)
Each interval is calculated separately. That means a gate creates two fence intervals instead of disappearing inside one total-length formula.
Fence material & cost calculator
Plan every post, panel and gate.
Draw the runs, place openings, choose a fence system, then edit local prices. Results update instantly—no signup or upload.
Planning estimate
Starter material, site and labor allowances
Project length
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Total posts
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Fence boards
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Concrete
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Full materials & cost breakdown
| Item | Quantity | Unit cost | Subtotal |
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- Materials
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- Concrete, gates & hardware
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- Labor
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- Other
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- Contingency
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- Estimated total
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Assumptions & calculation notes
Private by design. Your dimensions and prices stay in this browser.
Auditable math. Gates, corners, post displacement, bag yield and overage remain visible.
Free output. Copy, share, CSV and print/PDF require no account.
Methodology
How this fence calculator works
The estimate follows the physical project: connected runs create corners, gates cut openings into individual runs, and each remaining fence interval is divided into buildable sections.
Boards or pickets
boards = ceil(interval length ÷ (board width + gap))
Use a zero gap for tight privacy boards, a positive gap for spaced pickets, or a safe negative value for overlap-style planning.
Concrete for posts
(hole volume − post volume) × post count × overage
The selected bag yield converts volume into bags. Always replace the example yield with the value printed on your product.
Worked layouts
Three fence estimates that basic calculators miss
Straight privacy run
100 ft, board-built, no gate
A maximum 8 ft spacing creates 13 fitted sections and 14 posts. Board count depends on actual board coverage, while concrete depends on the chosen hole and post sizes.
Closed yard with an opening
60 × 40 ft rectangle, one 4 ft gate
The four shared corners replace open-run end posts. The gate removes four feet from panel/board coverage and introduces two dedicated gate posts.
Chain-link boundary
Multiple runs, 10 ft maximum spacing
Fabric and top rail are measured as linear materials around openings, while terminal posts remain separate for fittings and heavier post selection.
Before ordering
Verify the site, system and local rules
Measure actual fence runs
Measure only the boundaries you will build. Record every change of direction and the intended location of each opening.
Match the manufacturer’s span
Panel width, post spacing, post size and gate hardware vary by product. Use the selected system’s installation instructions as the final specification.
Check frost, wind and soil
Post depth and footing size are site-specific. Local code or engineering requirements can be more conservative than an example value.
Locate underground utilities
In the United States, contact 811 before digging and follow the advance-notice rules for your state.
Visit Call 811Common questions
Fence planning questions
How many fence posts do I need?
For a single uninterrupted run, divide the length into spans that do not exceed your chosen post spacing, then add the posts at both ends. Multi-run layouts share corner posts, and every internal gate normally adds two support posts. This calculator performs that interval-by-interval count.
Should a gate reduce the fence material length?
Yes. The clear opening does not need panels, boards, pickets or chain-link fabric. Positioning the gate on a specific run also reveals how many separate fence intervals must be fitted on either side.
How much concrete goes around a fence post?
It depends on hole shape, hole width, depth and the post’s embedded cross-section. The useful volume is the hole volume minus the post displacement, plus a practical overage. Bag count then depends on the manufacturer’s yield.
Why is the cost estimate editable?
Fence material grades, labor, delivery and permit costs vary too much by location and date for one universal price to be dependable. Starter allowances provide an immediate planning result; local quotes make it useful.
Can I use the estimate as a final order?
Use it as a planning and quote-comparison aid. Verify dimensions, boundaries, utility marks, product instructions, code, frost/wind requirements, gate hardware and stock sizes before ordering or digging.
Method references
Transparent sources and limits
Concrete geometry and editable yield follow the same practical inputs used by manufacturer post-setting calculators. Common span defaults are starting points only; the selected fence system and local conditions control the final design.
- QUIKRETE concrete and post-setting calculator
- Omni Calculator fence component model
- Inch Calculator wood fence estimator
- Call 811 safe-dig guidance
Method and interface last reviewed July 27, 2026.