Fence Material Calculator
Plan each straight fence run and get a practical material list with evenly spaced posts, gate openings, and optional post-hole concrete.
Fence Material Calculator
Fence material estimate
Enter your fence runs and material details to build the shopping list.
Run-by-run layout
| Run | Length | Bays | Actual spacing | Line posts | Infill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 7 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 8 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
How the fence material estimate works
Measure every straight run between terminal points, excluding gate openings. Choose wood, prefabricated panels, or chain link, then enter the dimensions from the product you intend to buy.
Plan posts by straight fence run
The calculator rounds bays separately for every straight run, then divides that run evenly. This avoids a short final bay and avoids undercounting posts at corners or gates.
Enter end and corner posts explicitly. Every gate opening adds two gate posts, while its width stays outside the fence run lengths.
Turn the layout into an order quantity
Wood results separate exact pickets from the quantity including your entered waste allowance. Panel counts are rounded up per run; chain-link fabric and top rail can be converted to full rolls or stock lengths.
The optional concrete branch subtracts the embedded post section from each cylindrical hole. Use the cured yield printed on the bag instead of estimating bags from weight alone.
Check products and site requirements
Use the selected manufacturer’s rules for panel brackets, chain-link fittings, gate hardware and terminal-post sizes. These parts vary by system and are not guessed here.
Confirm boundaries, utilities, permits, frost depth, wind loading and pool-barrier requirements before digging or ordering.
Related project calculators
Check post-hole material with the concrete calculator, or convert timber quantities with the board foot calculator.
FAQ
How far apart should fence posts be?
Enter the maximum spacing permitted by your fence system. The calculator rounds each straight run into whole bays and reports the resulting even spacing; confirm that spacing with the product instructions and local conditions.
Do fence run lengths include gates?
No. Enter only the infill length of each straight fence run. Add gate openings separately so the calculator can count two gate posts per opening without subtracting the width twice.
How does the board-on-board calculation work?
Enter the board width and minimum overlap. Each run is calculated separately, and the result shows the actual evenly distributed overlap plus the exact and allowance-adjusted board counts.
How many bags of concrete do I need per fence post?
Enter the hole diameter, depth and cured yield printed on one bag. The calculator subtracts the embedded post volume and rounds the total requirement up to whole bags.
Planning scope
This calculator estimates common core materials. Confirm property boundaries, utility locations, permits, frost depth, wind loads, pool-barrier rules, manufacturer fittings, gate hardware and supplier ordering increments before construction.
Search wording reviewed 30 August 2026 against live Google autocomplete for fence material calculator, post spacing, board-on-board, gates and post concrete.