Privacy Fence Calculator

Calculate the pickets, posts, rails and concrete for a solid privacy fence from its length and height, with the boards butted tight for full coverage.

Read the guide: How to Calculate Privacy Fence Materials

Privacy fence

Pickets needed

214

14 posts · 39 rails · 42 bags of concrete

Posts
14
Rails
39
Pickets
214
Concrete (80 lb bags)
42

13 sections of 8 ft with boards butted tight for full privacy. Buy 9 ft posts.

Draw this fence

A planning estimate, not a contractor takeoff. Boards shrink as they dry, so a tiny gap keeps the fence solid.

How it works

  1. 1

    Enter length and height

    Add the total run length and the fence height. Six feet is the usual privacy height.

  2. 2

    Tune the boards

    Set the post spacing and picket width, and add any gates.

  3. 3

    Read the materials

    See pickets, posts, rails and concrete bags, ready for the yard.

Instant & 100% private — nothing is uploaded

Every calculation runs locally in your browser. The income, balances and goals you enter stay on your own device and are never sent to a server — nothing is stored, logged or shared.

Frequently asked questions

How many pickets does a privacy fence need?
A privacy fence butts the boards nearly tight, so it uses the most pickets of any style. The calculator divides the fenced length by the picket width plus a hairline gap and rounds up.
Why leave any gap at all?
Wet or treated boards shrink as they dry. A small gap, about an eighth of an inch, keeps the fence from buckling later while still blocking the view.
How many rails for a 6 ft privacy fence?
Three rails are standard at 6 ft to keep tall boards from cupping. The calculator picks two, three or four rails from your height.
Are these numbers exact?
They are close planning estimates, not a substitute for a contractor takeoff. Real quantities depend on your terrain, post spacing, waste and local building code, so buy a little extra and confirm against your supplier.
Is my fence design sent anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser. The layout, lengths and prices you enter stay on your device, nothing is uploaded, logged or stored, and it all clears when you close the tab.

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