Fence Material Estimator
Enter your fence length and we work out the posts, the concrete to set them, the rails, and the pickets — then total it with a rough cost.
Your project
Typical 6–8 ft between posts.
About 3× the post width.
⅓ of fence height, below the frost line.
🪵 Fence Post Concrete Calculator
Hole volume minus the post itself.
Bill of materials
| Material | Quantity | Est. cost | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fence posts | 14.00 posts | $168 | |
| Concrete (80-lb bags) | 41.00 bags | $205 | Also enough 60/50-lb bags by the same volume. |
| Rails | 39.00 rails | $312 | |
| Pickets | 219.00 pickets | $876 | 6″ privacy pickets, ~5.5″ coverage. |
| Estimated material cost | $1561 | Typical retail, plan only | |
Estimates use standard industry volume math and typical retail prices. Confirm quantities with your supplier — prices vary by region and season.
How this estimator works
From your fence length and post spacing we derive the post count, then feed that into the fence post concrete calculator for bag counts. Rails come from the number of bays (posts minus one) times two or three horizontal members depending on height. Pickets are your length in inches divided by the coverage of one board. All four lines land in one bill of materials.
Formula: Posts = ceil(Length ÷ spacing) + 1; Concrete = per-hole volume × posts; Rails = bays × 2–3; Pickets = Length ÷ 5.5″
Good for
- Wood privacy fence runs
- Getting a single shopping list before the store
- Budgeting the full material cost
- Checking post spacing vs total post count
Tips
- Set posts at least ⅓ of the fence height deep — 24″ minimum for a 6-ft fence, always below the frost line.
- Bell the bottom of each hole slightly wider than the top to resist frost heave.
- Add 6″ of gravel below each post for drainage before pouring concrete.
- Order 10% extra pickets for cut ends and defects.
Calculators used
References
Estimates use standard industry volume math. Cross-check your numbers against the pros:
Other project estimators
Fence Material Estimator FAQ
How many posts do I need for a fence?
Take your fence length in feet, divide by the post spacing, and add one for the end post. At 8-ft spacing a 100-ft fence needs about 14 posts.
How much concrete per fence post?
A 4×4 in a 12″ × 24″ hole needs about 1.4 cubic feet — roughly 2–3 of the 80-lb bags per post. Multiply by your post count for the total.
How many pickets for a wood fence?
Divide the fence length in inches by the coverage of one picket (about 5.5″ for a 6″ privacy board). A 100-ft fence takes roughly 218 pickets, plus 10% for cuts.