If you want to calculate how much material you may need to build a fence, this fence calculator can help you with that. It’s an online tool that quickly helps you calculate the number of posts, sections, rails, and pickets you’ll need to build a fence. All this process happens with just a few clicks. You just need to enter the basic inputs into the tool, and the results show on your screen right away.
To use this calculator, you first need to decide what type of design you are going to build. To help you decide, we have provided a step-by-step guide below so follow this:
1. Measure the Fence Length:
First of all, you need to determine the total length of the area where you want to build the fence. This measurement is very necessary as it’s the foundation for all other calculations.
2. Set the Post Spacing:
After that, you need to decide how much space you want between each fence post. The distance you choose will affect how many posts you’ll need for the entire fence. For example, if you place the posts farther apart, you’ll need fewer posts. But If you place them closer together, you’ll need more.
3. Determine the Fence Height:
Then, you have to decide how tall you want your fence to be. The height of the fence will depend on your needs, whether it's for privacy, security, or decoration purposes. Once you select the fence height, the post length will be automatically adjusted in real-time.
4. Choose the Rails per Section:
Your next step is to plan how many rails you want between each pair of posts. Rails are the horizontal pieces that go across the fence. If you add more rails, it means the fence will be stronger, and give it a different look. But if you want a simple design, you can add fewer rails.
5. Decide on Picket Size and Spacing:
Next, choose the width of each picket (vertical pieces of the fence) and how much space you want between each one. These choices will help you figure out how many pickets you'll need for the entire fence. Because if the pickets are wider, the gaps between them would be smaller and will require fewer pickets. But if the pickets are narrower, the gaps are bigger and will need more pickets.
Once you have all these measurements, your next step is very easy. Just enter these details into the calculator and press the calculate button. The tool will quickly show you the right amount of material you need to buy for your fence installation.
Calculating with the fence calculator is very easy and quick. But if you want to calculate the material needed for your fence manually, then use the below-discussed formulas:
You are going to install a fence for your backyard and you measure all the values that we mentioned above. Let’s say you have the following measurements:
To calculate the number of posts, use this formula:
Now, add the values into the equation:
So, you will need 21 posts for your fence construction.
Use this formula to calculate the number of sections:
Adding the values:
You will need 20 number of sections for your fence.
So, the total length of the post must be 15 feet.
The total number of rails required to cover the entire fence is 40.
To make the calculation simpler, we need to convert picket measurements from inches to feet:
Picket width: 3in
Since 1 foot is equal to 12 inches, so we have to divide 3 by 12.
Similarly, we need to convert the Picket Spacing:
Picket spacing: 2in
We have to divide 2 by 12 to convert this measurement into feet.
Now, add the values into the formula:
So, you would need approximately 480 pickets to cover the 200-foot fence.