How fence materials are calculated
Example: 150 ft of 6 ft privacy fence with one 4 ft gate leaves 146 ft of fencing. At 8 ft spacing that's 19 sections, so 21 posts (19 + 1 + 1 for the gate) and 57 rails. With 5.5" boards and no gaps, you need 335 boards with 5% extra. Each 10" hole, 30" deep around a 4×4, takes about 1.15 cu ft of concrete, or 65 bags of the 50 lb size for all 21 posts.
Fence building tips
- Post depth: bury about a third of the post, and at least below the frost line where the ground freezes. Check with your local building department.
- Call 811 a few days before you dig, to have underground utility lines marked for free.
- Check property lines and HOA rules for height limits and which side the "good" side must face.
- Gate posts carry more load: use 6×6 posts or set them deeper.
Need a concrete pad too? Use the concrete calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How far apart should fence posts be?
Usually 6 to 8 feet for wood fences. Eight feet is standard and matches common rail lengths. Closer spacing makes the fence stronger in windy areas.
How many bags of concrete per fence post?
For a 4×4 post in a 10" hole 2 to 2.5 feet deep, about 2 to 3 bags of 50 lb concrete, or 1½ to 2 bags of 80 lb.
How many pickets do I need per 8 ft section?
With 5.5" boards and no gaps, about 18 per 8 ft section. With 3.5" pickets and 2.5" gaps, about 16.
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