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Estimate fence boards, rails, and posts for wood privacy fences. Enter fence length, height, and board style for complete lumber takeoff with waste factor.
Calculate fence posts needed for any length fence. Enter fence run, post spacing, and corner/end posts to get total post count and concrete for holes.
Calculate paint gallons for walls and ceilings. Enter room dimensions, coats, and coverage rate to get primer and paint gallons with waste allowance.
Convert fence length to inches. Divide by sum of picket face width and desired gap (often 2–3″ for decorative spacing).
Pickets = ceil(Length × 12 ÷ (Picket Width + Gap))8 ft post spacing with 2×4 rails. Shorter sections between posts reduce picket span and sag.
Posts = ceil(Length ÷ 8) + 1Two horizontal rails for 3–4 ft picket height. Use PT 2×4 rails and cedar or pine pickets.
Rail LF = (Posts − 1) × 2 rails × 8 ftUpdated: July 2026
60×12 ÷ 6 = 120 pickets. 9 posts, 16 rail boards (2×4×8), pointed picket tops optional.
80 pickets at tighter 2″ gap for shorter decorative fence. Single top rail plus bottom rail sufficient at 3 ft.
Scalloped pattern uses mixed picket lengths — order by peak and valley heights separately, add 15% waste.
Plan a classic picket fence with precise picket counts and spacing. Enter fence length, picket width, gap between pickets, and height to get posts, rails, pickets, and post cap quantities for front yard installs.