Fence Board Calculator
Enter your fence length, height, and style to get a complete material list — fence boards, posts, rails, and concrete bags — with optional cost estimate. Covers privacy, picket, board-on-board, and split-rail styles.
Know exactly what you need before going to the lumber yard. Enter fence length and style — get boards, posts, rails, and concrete in one calculation.
Total linear footage of fence to install — exclude gate openings
1×6 boards installed tight — solid visual privacy from both sides
8 ft is standard · 6 ft for heavy panels or windy sites · 10 ft with structural rail only
Each gate opening adds 2 posts — enter 0 if no gates
10% standard · 15% for irregular terrain or curved sections
2026 materials only: PT pine $7–$15/LF · Cedar $10–$20/LF
Enter fence length and style
to get your material list
Related Construction Calculators
More lumber and material tools
How fence material quantities are calculated
A fence has three structural components calculated independently: posts (the vertical supports), rails (the horizontal members the boards attach to), and boards (the vertical infill panels). Each scales differently with fence length — posts scale with post spacing, rails scale with post count, and boards scale directly with fence length.
Fence Quantity Formulas
Posts = ⌈run ÷ post_spacing⌉ + 1 + (gates × 2)
Rails = (posts − 1) × rails_per_bay
Boards = ⌈run × 12 ÷ board_coverage_in⌉ × (1 + waste%)
The +1 in the post formula accounts for the end post. Gate openings add 2 posts each — one on each side of the opening. Board coverage depends on style: a solid privacy fence using 1×6 boards has 5.5-inch coverage per board, while a picket fence using 1×4 boards with a matching 3.5-inch gap has 7-inch effective coverage per board (3.5 + 3.5). For the board foot volume and weight of your fence lumber, the board foot calculator handles the volume calculation once you have your board count — see also the board feet guide for a full walkthrough of lumber volume calculations. For pricing your lumber order per linear foot, the lumber cost calculator converts piece counts to total cost.
Boards per linear foot by fence style
Board count per linear foot varies significantly by style and board width. These figures include a 10% waste factor and assume boards are cut to fence height with no horizontal courses.
| Style | Board size | Gap | Boards per LF | Posts per LF (8ft OC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy 6 ft | 1×6 | 0″ | 2.40 | 0.13 |
| Privacy 8 ft | 1×6 | 0″ | 2.40 | 0.13 |
| Board-on-Board 6 ft | 1×6 | 1.5″ overlap | 2.97 | 0.13 |
| Picket 4 ft (1×4) | 1×4 | 3.5″ | 1.88 | 0.13 |
| Picket 3 ft (1×4) | 1×4 | 3.5″ | 1.88 | 0.13 |
| Split Rail (no boards) | — | — | 0 | 0.13 |
Board-on-board fencing requires 24% more boards than a standard solid privacy fence for the same run because boards on alternating sides overlap each other. The overlap is typically 1.5 inches per board side. This style is popular for its clean appearance from both sides and better wind resistance, but the material cost is proportionally higher. When calculating your board order, always buy at least 5% more than the exact calculation — staining inconsistencies and end-cut waste make having extra boards on site worthwhile.
Fence cost per linear foot
Fence costs vary significantly by material, height, and labour rates. The figures below are US national averages for 2026 covering materials and installation. Materials-only figures are approximately 40–50% of the installed cost for most wood fence types.
| Material / Style | Materials only ($/LF) | Installed ($/LF) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PT pine privacy (6 ft) | $7–$15 | $15–$25 | Most affordable option |
| Cedar privacy (6 ft) | $10–$20 | $20–$35 | Naturally rot-resistant |
| Redwood privacy (6 ft) | $20–$35 | $30–$50 | Premium, Pacific Coast |
| Picket fence (4 ft) | $8–$18 | $18–$35 | Lower board count vs privacy |
| Split rail (2 rail) | $5–$12 | $12–$20 | No boards, posts + rails only |
| Board-on-board (6 ft) | $10–$20 | $20–$40 | +25% boards vs privacy |
Regional variation is significant. A 6-foot PT pine privacy fence in the Southeast may install at $15/LF while the same fence in California or New England may run $28–$35/LF driven by labour costs and local lumber pricing. The materials-only cost from this calculator gives you a baseline — apply your local labour rate to get a project total. For the board foot volume of your fence board order (useful when comparing sawmill prices to retail), use the board foot calculator after you have your piece count.
Post depth and concrete
Post depth is the most critical structural decision in fence installation. A post set too shallow will lean over time, especially under wind load. The minimum depth is one-third of the total post length, but in frost-prone climates the hole must extend below the local frost line regardless of that ratio.
| Fence height | Post size | Post length | Hole depth | Concrete (60lb bags) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 ft picket | 4×4 | 6 ft | 24″–30″ | 2 bags |
| 4 ft picket | 4×4 | 7 ft | 30″–36″ | 2 bags |
| 6 ft privacy | 4×4 | 9 ft | 36″ | 2–3 bags |
| 8 ft privacy | 4×4 | 12 ft | 42″–48″ | 3 bags |
| Any height, corner post | 4×4 | See above | +6″ deeper | 3–4 bags |
| Split rail | 4″ round | 7–8 ft | 24″–30″ | 2 bags |
Corner and end posts receive higher lateral loads than field posts and should always be set deeper and use extra concrete. Line posts — the field posts between corners — can use the standard depth and bag count. In areas with frost lines deeper than 36 inches (much of the northern US and Canada), all posts must reach 6 inches below the frost line. A post that freezes into the soil above the frost depth will heave seasonally, loosening the concrete over time and eventually tilting the fence.
Wood species for fencing
Wood fence boards are almost always installed in a naturally wet or intermittently wet environment. Species selection directly affects lifespan, maintenance requirements, and cost.
Pressure-treated pine is the lowest-cost option and the most widely available. ACQ or CA treatment provides 15–25 years of service life in most climates. It must be sealed or painted — bare PT pine will check and grey within 2 years. It is heavy when green (install as dry as possible) and can be difficult to nail without pre-drilling near ends.
Western Red Cedar has natural oils that resist rot and insects without chemical treatment. It is lighter than PT pine and holds paint and stain well. Service life is 15–20 years untreated, 20–30 with periodic sealing. It is the premium standard for residential fencing in markets where it is available at reasonable cost (Pacific Northwest, parts of the Mountain West).
Redwood has similar properties to cedar with even better natural decay resistance. Its limited supply from old-growth forests makes it expensive and difficult to source in most markets. For board foot volume and cost comparison across species, use the lumber calculator for framing components and the board foot calculator for the fence board volume.
Frequently asked questions
How many fence boards do I need per linear foot of fence?
For a solid privacy fence using 1x6 boards (5.5-inch actual width, no gap): approximately 2.18 boards per linear foot before waste. With 10% waste: 2.40 boards per linear foot. For a picket fence using 1x4 boards with a 3.5-inch gap: approximately 1.71 boards per linear foot before waste. Use this calculator with your exact fence run for a precise count.
What is the standard post spacing for a wood fence?
8 feet on centre is the standard post spacing for residential wood fences — it is the maximum span for 2x4 horizontal rails without excessive deflection. 6-foot spacing is used for heavy panels, windy locations, or added rigidity. 10-foot spacing can work with structural rail sizes but requires careful species selection to prevent rail sag over time.
How deep should fence post holes be?
At least one-third of the total post length, with the bottom below the local frost line. For a 6-foot privacy fence, use 9-foot posts set 3 feet deep. In cold climates with frost lines deeper than 36 inches, the hole must reach 6 inches below the frost line regardless of post length. Posts set above the frost line will heave in winter and loosen over multiple seasons.
How much concrete do I need per fence post?
2 bags of 60-pound concrete for a standard 4x4 line post in a 10-inch diameter hole at 30 inches deep. 3 bags for 6-foot tall fences or posts in sandy or loose soil. Corner and gate posts should use 3 to 4 bags regardless of post size because they receive higher lateral loads. This calculator uses 2.5 bags per post as a default average.
What is the difference between a privacy fence and a board-on-board fence?
A privacy fence uses boards installed tight together with no gap. A board-on-board fence alternates boards on opposite sides of the rails with each board overlapping the gap on the other side. Board-on-board uses approximately 25% more boards but looks finished from both sides, handles wind better because air passes through at an angle, and provides privacy from both directions rather than just one.
How many rails does a fence need?
A 4-foot fence uses 2 rails per bay. A 6-foot fence uses 2 rails (top and bottom) at minimum, with a mid rail for high-wind areas or added structural integrity. An 8-foot fence requires 3 rails. Total rails = (post count minus 1) times rails per bay. This calculator outputs the correct rail count for each fence style automatically.
What is the typical cost to install a wood fence per linear foot?
US national averages for 2026: PT pine privacy fence runs $15 to $25 per linear foot installed, with materials alone at $7 to $15. Cedar is $20 to $35 installed. Split rail is the lowest at $12 to $20 installed. Regional labour rates, soil type, removal of existing fencing, and site access all affect the final number. Enter your local material cost per LF in the calculator for a materials-only estimate.
References
HomeAdvisor / Angi. (2026). How Much Does a Wood Fence Cost? angi.com
Lowe's. (2026). How to Build a Wood Fence. lowes.com
Quikrete. (2026). Fence Post Installation Guide. quikrete.com
Forest Products Laboratory. (2021). Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material. USDA Forest Service. fpl.fs.usda.gov