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Fence calculators
Place gates and corners before counting posts, pickets, vinyl or aluminum panels, or chain-link parts.

1MeasureMeasure your fence lineIn the wood fence calculator, with a drawing of your numbers.
2Get the list119 pickets with extraand 1 more items in the example, ready to print.
3What it costs$2,300 typical jobWhat U.S. owners paid for fences and walls work, and in 11 big metros.
4Compare quotesFence installation quote comparisonPut two or three quotes side by side, line by line.
What to buy
Wood fence calculator
Lay out each straight fence section and gate, then count posts, rails and pickets without hiding the corners.
Example answer: 119 pickets with extraCalculate your materialsChain-link fence calculator
Place gates, corners and grade changes, then count each post type, fabric, top rail and tension components.
Example answer: 2 fabric rollsCalculate your materialsFence post spacing calculator
Split each clear run into equal bays while keeping gate and corner posts in their own positions.
Example answer: 7 postsCalculate your materialsFence layout planner
Draw connected fence runs from lengths and directions. Keep gate positions, grade changes and shared posts on one measurable plan.
Example answer: 7 posts on the planCalculate your materialsWire fence calculator
Count mesh rolls or individual wire strands, separating line posts, terminals, gates and planned braces.
Example answer: 1 wire rollCalculate your materialsVinyl fence calculator
Count vinyl fence panels, cut-down panels, posts and gates for each run, with post centers worked out from the panel and post sizes.
Example answer: 6 vinyl fence panelsCalculate your materialsAluminum fence calculator
Count ornamental aluminum fence panels, shortened panels, posts and gates for each run, using the post spacing from your fence maker’s instructions.
Example answer: 9 aluminum fence panelsCalculate your materialsFootings: concrete for post holes
Opens the concrete calculator on post holes: four holes 10 in wide and 3 ft deep. Set your own depth by the frost line in your area.
Example answer: 12 bags of 80 lbCalculate the concreteWhat will it cost?
What homeowners reported paying to the Census Bureau (American Housing Survey 2023).
Got quotes? Put the work beside the price
Choose the tool that matches your measurements
| Your material or task | Measurements to bring | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Wood fence calculator | Horizontal section length, Grade rise over this section, Distance to first gate post, Distance between gate post centers | Pickets, posts, rails, fasteners and concrete bags |
| Chain-link fence calculator | Horizontal section length, Grade rise over this section, Distance to first gate post, Distance between gate post centers | Fabric rolls, posts, top rail, tension bars, bands and ties |
| Fence post spacing calculator | Horizontal section length, Grade rise over this section, Distance to first gate post, Distance between gate post centers | End, corner, gate and line posts, evenly spaced |
| Fence layout planner | Horizontal section length, Grade rise, Distance to first gate post, Distance between gate posts, Direction from east, counterclockwise (degrees) | Every post on your fence plan, run by run |
| Wire fence calculator | Horizontal section length, Grade rise, Distance to first gate post, Distance between gate posts | Wire rolls, posts, brace sets and ties |
| Vinyl fence calculator | Horizontal section length, Grade rise over this section, Distance to first gate post, Distance between gate post centers | Vinyl fence panels, shortened panels, posts and gates |
| Aluminum fence calculator | Horizontal section length, Grade rise over this section, Distance to first gate post, Distance between gate post centers | Aluminum fence panels, shortened panels, posts and gates |
Before you measure or order
- How to measure for a fence: posts, gates, corners and slopes
Measure each straight run, place the gates and corners first, then space line posts no more than 8 ft apart between them. Count posts per run, corner and gate, then pickets or panels per section.
- How to install a fence: property line, gates, posts and slopes
Confirm the property line and the permit, call 811 before you dig, set the gate and corner posts first, space the line posts from the panel maker’s instructions, then set the posts in concrete and hang the panels and gates.