Privacy Fence Material Calculator
Enter your fence length and height, choose individual pickets or pre-built 8-ft panels, and this privacy fence material calculator produces the complete shopping list — pickets or panels, posts, rails, and concrete bags, with 5% waste included.
Pickets include 5% waste. Each post gets one 50-lb bag of concrete. 8 ft fences need 3 rails per section; 6 ft need 2.
Estimates only — not financial advice. This calculator gives approximate figures for planning. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice; check with a qualified professional before making decisions.
How the privacy fence material calculator works
Two build styles, one math: pickets cover the fence line picket-width by picket-width (5.5-inch pickets, 5% waste for splits and culls), while panels cover it 8 feet at a time — rounded up in both cases. Posts anchor every section at 8 ft spacing plus one for the final end, and rails brace each section horizontally.
Rail count follows height: two rails per section for a 6 ft fence, three for 8 ft to stop the pickets bowing. Each post hole takes one 50-lb bag of concrete for a standard 10-inch hole.
pickets = ⌈(L × 12)/5.5⌉ × 1.05 · panels = ⌈L/8⌉ · posts = ⌈L/8⌉ + 1 · concrete = 1 bag/post
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Privacy fence material calculator FAQ
Pickets or pre-built fence panels?
Panels go up much faster and give a uniform look, but cost more per foot and rack poorly on slopes. Individual pickets are cheaper and follow terrain better, at the cost of nailing each one.
How many posts do I need for a 100 ft privacy fence?
14 posts: 100 ÷ 8 rounds up to 13 sections, plus one for the final end. Posts go 2 ft deep (deeper in frost zones) with one 50-lb bag of concrete each.
How many rails per fence section?
Two rails per 8 ft section on 6 ft fences, three on 8 ft fences — the extra rail keeps tall pickets from bowing outward over time.
How much concrete per privacy fence post?
One 50-lb bag per post for a typical 10-inch-diameter, 2 ft deep hole. Corner and gate posts take more — consider two bags or larger holes for those.
Do I need a gate?
Plan at least one walk gate (about 4 ft wide) for mower and wheelbarrow access. Add 2 extra posts per gate for the frame; the count above covers straight runs only.