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Fence Calculator

Estimate the posts and rails needed for a wood fence run.

Computed in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded. Figures are presented in United States units and terminology, and each formula’s basis is cited under regulatory standards below.

Last verified 2026-08-25 · v1.0.0

Market
Imperial · sales tax
98 ft
Schematic, drawn to the proportions you entered — not to scale on screen.

Estimated fence needed

14 posts

High confidence
Fence length
98 ft
Sections
13 sections
Rails needed
39 rails

With the figures above, the result comes to 14 posts. This is presented for United States. Building in another market? Change the selector above and the units and terminology follow.

Estimated cost — your price

This site holds no price list for this material — local prices vary too much to publish honestly. Enter your supplier's price and the result is costed with it.

Preliminary estimate, not certified engineering. This tool produces an indicative quantity calculation for planning purposes only — it is not a certified structural analysis, a guaranteed material takeoff, or a substitute for building department approval. Always verify measurements on-site and have a licensed contractor or structural engineer review any load-bearing, code-sensitive, or safety-critical work before purchasing materials or starting construction. Spotted an arithmetic or standards error? Report it to contact@craftquantities.com with your inputs — a confirmed fix gets a permanent check of its own, so the same mistake cannot come back.

Presented in US customary units and US trade terminology. Where a formula follows a published standard, that standard and its edition are cited beside it on this page; where none governs, the page says so. Local amendments override model codes — verify against the code in force where you build.

Regulatory standards & verification citations

  • Post count = (fence length / post spacing) + 1; typical post spacing is 6-8 ft for wood fencing
  • Recommended rails: 2 for fences under 5 ft, 3 for 5-7 ft, 4 for 8 ft fences

Your workspace

Most jobs need more than one number. Add the calculators you need next and they open right here, underneath this one — your figures stay on screen and nothing is lost to a page change.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a post at every corner?
Yes — this calculator assumes a straight run. Add one post for each corner or direction change beyond what's calculated here.
How deep should fence posts be set?
A common rule of thumb is at least 1/3 of the post's above-ground height, set in concrete — check local frost-line depth requirements too, which can require deeper footings in cold climates.
Does this include gates?
No — gates need their own dedicated posts (typically sturdier than line posts) and hardware, calculated separately based on gate width.