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Fence Calculator
A 100 ft wood privacy fence with posts every 8 ft needs about 14 posts, 39 rails and 219 pickets. Enter your fence to get the exact material list and a cost range.
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ESTIMATED COST RANGE
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National estimate from published 2026 cost guides, not a quote. Real prices depend on your region, site and contractor. See how we estimate below.
How we estimate fence materials and cost
Quantities use common building rules, not a manufacturer table. Sections are the fenced length divided by post spacing, rounded up. Posts are sections plus one for an open run, plus one per gate. Fences taller than 4 ft get 3 rails per section and shorter fences get 2. Pickets are fenced length in inches divided by picket width plus gap. Panels are one per section.
Concrete: the hole is a cylinder of your diameter, minus the 3.5 in square 4x4 post, with a depth of half the fence height (never under 2 ft). That volume is divided by 0.375 cu ft, the yield of a 50 lb premix bag, and rounded up per post. Gate posts are not sized up, so add bags for heavy gates.
Cost per linear foot comes from InchCalculator's "Cost to Install a Fence" guide (2026 average prices, checked October 2026): chain link $5–$15; wood $10–$36 (4 ft picket) and $13–$45 (6 ft privacy); vinyl $15–$35 (4 ft) and $30–$55 (6 ft); aluminum $20–$55. We use the 4 ft figure for fences 4 ft and under and the 6 ft figure above that. Gates are priced at the guide's $400–$2,000 for a basic gate and subtracted from the fenced length.
The typical figure is the midpoint of the low and high, not a statistical average. Figures are national estimates for planning, not quotes, and we re-check the data yearly.
Source
- InchCalculator: Cost to Install a Fence (2026) – installed price per linear foot by material, gate cost. Checked October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many fence posts do I need?
Divide the fence length by the post spacing, round up, and add one for an open run (a closed loop does not need the extra post). 100 ft at 8 ft spacing is 13 sections and 14 posts. Each gate adds one more post. Corners and line posts count the same, but extra corners can shift the spacing, so add a spare.
How many pickets do I need?
Convert the fence length to inches and divide by the picket width plus gap. A 1x6 board is 5.5 in wide, so a gap-free privacy fence needs about 2.18 pickets per foot. 100 ft needs about 219 pickets. Add a few extra for cuts and bad boards.
How much concrete do I need for fence posts?
It depends on the hole. A 4x4 post in a 10 in wide, 3 ft deep hole takes about 4 bags of 50 lb premix. The calculator uses a hole depth of half the fence height (at least 2 ft), so a third of the post is buried, and the 0.375 cu ft yield of a 50 lb bag.
How much does a fence cost per linear foot?
InchCalculator's 2026 guide lists installed prices of $5 to $15 for chain link, $10 to $36 for a 4 ft wood picket fence, $13 to $45 for a 6 ft wood privacy fence, $15 to $35 for 4 ft vinyl, $30 to $55 for 6 ft vinyl and $20 to $55 for aluminum. Basic gates add $400 to $2,000 each.
How far apart should fence posts be?
6 to 8 ft is standard for wood. Use 8 ft for most privacy fences, 6 ft in windy areas or with heavy boards, and the panel width for prefab vinyl or wood panels.
Is the cost a quote?
No. These are national published ranges for planning. Terrain, soil, permits, tear-out of an old fence and local labor change the real price. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere unless you use the quote request form below.