Fence Cost Calculator
Plan posts, rails, and pickets for a wood fence so you can price out the materials.
Results
- Posts
- 14
- Rails
- 39
- Pickets
- 219
- Sections
- 13
Estimates only. Round up and buy a little extra to account for waste, spills, and breakage.
This fence cost calculator takes your run length, post spacing, and height and returns the posts, rails, and pickets you need, then prices them at your local rates.
Fencing is quoted per linear foot, but the underlying cost is driven by post count and gate hardware, which is why corners and short runs cost more per foot than long straight stretches.
Also used as a fence price calculator, privacy fence cost estimator, and cost-per-linear-foot fence calculator.
How to use the fence cost calculator
- Enter the fence length in ft.
- Enter the post spacing in ft.
- Enter the rails per section.
- Enter the picket width in in.
- Enter the gap between pickets in in.
- Optionally add a price to estimate the total project cost.
- Read your quantities instantly — no sign-up, and you can print the estimate to take to the supplier.
Worked example
Inputs
- Fence length
- 100 ft
- Post spacing
- 8 ft
- Rails per section
- 3
- Picket width
- 5.5 in
- Gap between pickets
- 0 in
Results
- Posts
- 14
- Rails
- 39
- Pickets
- 219
- Sections
- 13
Using the example values above, the fence cost calculator returns 14 (posts). Change any field to match your own project and the numbers update instantly.
What does fencing cost per foot?
Installed wood privacy fence commonly runs $20 to $45 per linear foot, chain link $10 to $25, and vinyl $25 to $60. Materials alone are usually 40 to 60 percent of that figure.
Gates are the expensive metre. A single walk gate with hardware often costs as much as 10 to 15 ft of fence, and a double drive gate considerably more.
Don't forget the concrete
Each post typically takes one to two 50 lb bags of fast-setting mix for a hole three times the post width and one third the post height deep. On a 100 ft fence at 8 ft spacing that is 14 posts and 20 to 28 bags.
Formula
Sections = length ÷ post spacing. Posts = sections + 1. Pickets = (length × 12) ÷ (picket width + gap).
Frequently asked questions
- How far apart should fence posts be?
- Space posts 6–8 ft on center; closer spacing adds strength in windy areas.
- How many rails per section?
- Use two rails for fences under 5 ft and three rails for taller privacy fences.
- How much does 100 feet of fence cost?
- At typical installed rates of $20 to $45 per linear foot for wood privacy fence, 100 ft runs about $2,000 to $4,500 installed, or roughly half that in materials only.
- How far apart should fence posts be?
- 6 to 8 ft on centre for wood and vinyl. Closer spacing costs more but stiffens the fence in windy or sloped sites.
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