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Wood, Deck & Fence

Fence Material Calculator

Plan a straight panel fence with gates, maximum bay width, post count, rail courses, and full panel quantities.

Free to useUS & metric displayFormula and worked example below

Layout and stock dimensions

US customary measurements. Prices are in USD.

ft
ft
ft

Calculation breakdown

  • Gate position can change individual bay widths. Check a dimensioned layout before ordering panels.

Layout model and usable dimensions

A panel fence purchase starts with the fence run, but gates and end conditions change the counts. This calculator subtracts a gate opening from a straight run, divides the remaining fence into bays no wider than your chosen limit, and counts the posts and rails for those bays. It treats a gate opening as a separate segment between dedicated posts. The result is a material planning estimate for one straight run. Corners, stepped ground, shared end posts, and multiple gates should be broken into separate runs and reconciled on a sketch before ordering.

Fit, direction and offcut constraints

  • A gate away from an end divides the fence into two panel runs. Round each side separately for the final purchase count.
  • Panel products may be sold by exact nominal or actual widths. Use the dimension appropriate to the installation detail.
  • Post depth, foundations, wind resistance, and property restrictions require project-specific decisions beyond this quantity estimate.

Layout arithmetic and example

Fence bays = ceiling((run length − gate opening) ÷ maximum bay width); posts = bays + 1, plus one additional post for a separate gate segment.

A worked example

A 100 ft run with a 4 ft gate leaves 96 ft of panels. At 8 ft per bay, that is 12 panels, 14 posts including gate boundaries, and 24 rails with two courses.

Measure and compare a layout

  1. Measure the complete straight boundary run.
  2. Record the gate opening and select whether it forms a separate segment.
  3. Choose a supported panel width and count rail courses from your fence design.

Frequently asked questions

How many fence posts do I need for 100 feet?

Without a gate, an 8 ft maximum bay gives 13 bays and 14 posts. Gates and separate runs can add posts.

Does the calculator include a gate kit?

No. It accounts for the opening and boundary posts, but hinges, latch, gate frame, and hardware are separate.

Can a corner post be counted twice?

Yes, if you calculate each run separately. Reconcile shared corner posts on the layout drawing before purchasing.

Read the project guides

Calculation method: JICWH methodology. Examples are planning assumptions, not product recommendations.

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