Calculate exact timber posts, 2×4 horizontal stringer rails, vertical pickets, 50-lb fast-setting concrete bags, fasteners, and gate hardware for privacy, picket, and board-on-board fencing.
| Material Item | Dimensions / Type | Quantity |
|---|
Framing formulas calculate structural bays based on on-center post spacing, adding terminal posts, rails per section, and picket counts with scrap allowance.
Dividing total length by 8' only calculates the number of bays, forgetting the terminal end post (+1). Forgetting corners and gate posts leaves builders stalled with incomplete fencing.
Building a 6-foot fence with only two horizontal rails causes pickets to cup, twist, and bow in summer humidity. Our calculator enforces a 3-rail minimum for 6-foot heights.
Using regular 2-bag footings on gate hinge posts leads to drooping, dragging gates within months. We allocate 4 to 6 bags for heavy gate and corner anchor posts.
Switching from side-by-side to board-on-board overlap requires 20% to 25% more boards. Builders who don't adjust face severe material shortfalls.
Measure total linear boundary footage, noting corner turns and proposed gate locations.
Select 6-ft standard privacy with 8-ft post spacing, or 6-ft spacing for high wind areas.
Specify 2 rails for 4-ft fences, 3 rails for 6-ft fences, or 4 rails for 8-ft installations.
Pick 1×6 dog-ear privacy, ornamental gapped spacing, or shadowbox board-on-board overlap.
Review itemized timber posts, rails, pickets, concrete bags, and screws for store pickup.
Differentiates standard 4×4 line posts from heavy-duty 6×6 corner and gate hinge posts, calculating distinct concrete volumes for each.
Supports solid edge-to-edge privacy, custom gapped picket fences, and interlocking board-on-board configurations with exact overlap math.
Calculates fast-setting 50-lb concrete bags based on standard 10-12" diameter post holes dug 1/3 into the ground depth.
Visualizes ground lines, buried concrete bells, timber posts, horizontal 2×4 stringers, and dog-ear vertical pickets.
| Fence Height | Post Dimensions | Hole Depth & Diameter | Concrete Bags (50-lb) | Lumber Board Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Foot Fence | 4×4 Nominal | 24" Deep × 8-10" Diameter | 1.5 – 2 Bags | 6-Foot Post |
| 6-Foot Privacy | 4×4 (Line) / 6×6 (Gate) | 30-36" Deep × 10-12" Diameter | 2.5 – 3 Bags (Line), 4-5 (Gate) | 8-Foot (Line), 10-Foot (Gate) |
| 8-Foot Privacy | 4×4 (Line) / 6×6 (Gate) | 36-48" Deep × 12-16" Diameter | 4 – 5 Bags (Line), 6-7 (Gate) | 12-Foot Post |
Authoritative carpentry standards for fence posts, rails, pickets, and concrete footings.
