US FENCE PROJECT PLANNER

Good fences.
Clear plans.

Measure your space. Plan your materials.
Make your next outdoor project feel simpler.

Free to useNo account neededSee the calculation method ↗

Active: Quick estimate · start here, then refine if needed.

Start with the essentials.

01 / QUICK ESTIMATE

Length input

Fence length (feet)Maximum post spacing (feet)Wood posts: use the spacing specified for your fence system.

6 ft high · Pressure-Treated Wood · 1 gate

Fence heightWood estimate: 3 rails per bay at every height; height does not select an approved structural design. See assumptions. Material typeNumber of gatesClear opening per gate (feet)

Your measurements. A practical starting point.

Explore a sourced picket price · optional

Use a matching public retailer snapshot for pickets only, then edit the unit price. Other materials and complete gates still need quotes; this is not a complete project budget.

Picket unit price ($ each)

Alternative: I already have a per-foot quote

This is an independent alternative to the itemized budget, not an amount to add to it. Enter low and high materials-only quotes for this exact height, material and system. Per-foot amounts apply to gross length and must exclude complete gate kits; gates are added separately. Include posts, concrete and fasteners in the quoted per-foot allowance. Tax, labor and delivery are excluded.

Low materials allowance ($ / gross ft)High materials allowance ($ / gross ft)Low complete gate kit ($ each)High complete gate kit ($ each)

Simple layout & calculation assumptions

Simple layout: one straight fence, with equal-length sections and a centered gate in each section. Use the detailed wood planner for corners and actual gate positions. Slopes require separate design and material checks; neither planner automatically corrects for grade. Height identifies the requested stock; it does not validate structural design. Wood uses 5.5-inch pickets, no gap, your maximum post spacing, 3 rails and 10% extra boards and rails. Posts follow the layout; concrete has its own volume allowance. Gate leaves are separate kits.

Optional ordinary-post purchase length (ft)Blank uses fence height + 3 ft. Enter your actual stock length. A 10 ft post snapshot is available only when you choose 10 ft stock; changing this value does not verify embedment or strength.

Edits are saved automatically in this browser when storage is available.

Custom layouts · exact holes · item prices · CSV & report

VISUAL LAYOUT

See your fence before you shop.

Choose a side, set its measured length, and place your gate. Your list updates when you apply.

Measurement input

Beginner mode shows the layout and six wood settings. Footing, fastener and quote settings remain unchanged. Open Full mode to review them before ordering.

Review settings kept behind Beginner mode

1Choose your layout

Two measurements, clearly separated.

Runs: post center to post center. Clear gate width: between the two inside faces.

How will you measure gates?

Run lengths are always between post centers. Gate start is the distance from the run start to the first gate-post center. Use decimal feet: 4 ft 6 in = 4.5 ft. Enter 0 for no gate.

ⓘ Diagram: post centers and clear opening

The example is schematic. Run lengths and maximum bay spacing use post centers; clear gate width uses the inside post faces. A nominal 8 ft panel may require a different center spacing.

2Boards & rails · option A

ⓘ Diagram: rails per bay

“3 rails per bay” counts three horizontal pieces between supports. This sketch does not specify approved rail elevations or spacing. Purchase quantity also includes the selected lumber allowance.

Wood materialWood arrangement Picket coverage Max post spacing (ft)Rail stock length (ft) Actual picket width (in)Picket stock height (ft)Gap between pickets (in) Board-on-board overlap (in)Rails per bayExtra boards & rails (%)

Choose structural spacing and rail connections from your specified fence system. One whole rail stock piece is budgeted for each bay and row; offcuts are not reused. Board-on-board uses the stated alternating-layer model. Gate leaves are excluded from these board counts.

3Post sizes & concrete · separate gate supports

ⓘ Diagram: concrete fill and gravel

Concrete depth excludes gravel and any unfilled top. In this model the post rests on the gravel. Bags depend on hole size, post displacement, product yield and rounding—not a universal bag count per post.

All starting dimensions below are editable planning examples, not local footing recommendations. Verify gate loads, soil, frost depth and required details before ordering.

Post height above grade (ft)Ordinary post stock length (ft)Gate post stock length (ft)Ordinary post width (in)Gate post width (in)Ordinary hole diameter (in)Gate hole diameter (in)Ordinary concrete fill (in)Gate concrete fill (in) Ordinary unfilled top (in)Gate unfilled top (in)Concrete yield referenceYield per bag (cu ft)Concrete allowance (%)How will bags be counted? Optional gravel base (in)Gravel bag volume (cu ft)

Concrete depth excludes the gravel base and any unfilled top. Bag yields are approximate, product-specific figures from the manufacturer data sheet. Both rounding methods are shown in the result.

4Fasteners & purchase packs

Picket fasteners per board / railRail fasteners per endPicket fasteners per boxRail fasteners per box

Include one cap per post

Fastener counts are editable assembly allowances, not a connection specification. Picket and rail fasteners may need different lengths. Match material and coating to the lumber and connector manufacturer’s instructions. Spares do not add installation fasteners.

5Enter your prices & compare option B

Prices start blank. Optional matching picket snapshots can be applied explicitly; no prices are fetched live. A blank price stays “not priced”; an explicit 0 means you already have the item or entered a zero cost. All references are user-entered, not independently verified.

Optional public picket price reference

Optional materials cost contingency (%)Shown as a materials-only budget scenario, not added to purchase quantities, tax, labor or the planning total.

Compare option B on the same layout

Your plan · option A

Calculating…

Posts, all types

Solid fence bays

Pickets to buy

Top view · option AClick a run to edit

Dimensions follow your inputs. This is an orthogonal schematic, not a property survey or a structural drawing. Larger dots mark gate supports.

Option A purchase quantities and your prices
Purchase list	Qty	Unit $	Subtotal

Ask a supplier for missing prices

Concrete breakdown & rail cuts

Check before buying. Board and rail quantities follow the selected geometric model. Post lengths, structural connections, wind loads, slope adjustments and local requirements need separate verification. Read the assumptions →

Your plan, ready for the next step.

Explore tools, compare local materials, and decide how to build.

Before ordering or digging, review your pre-build checklist →

02 / TOOLS & FINISHING TOUCHES

Fence tools & finishing touches.

Six products to explore on Amazon. Choose what fits your project.

6 Amazon product links

AMES hand-operated post hole digger, product detail

DIG BY HAND

AMES 2701600 Post Hole Digger

Check soil conditions, handling weight and the hole diameter your project needs.

View on Amazon ↗Opens Amazon in a new tab.

CHECK POST ALIGNMENT

Kapro 340 POSTRITE Post Level

Confirm the attachment method and fit for your post material and shape.

View on Amazon ↗Opens Amazon in a new tab.

LOOSEN COMPACTED GROUND

True Temper Post Hole Digging Bar

Check handling weight and ground conditions. Follow safe digging requirements.

View on Amazon ↗Opens Amazon in a new tab.

XtremepowerUS gas earth auger powerhead and drill detail

OPTIONAL POWERED DIGGING

XtremepowerUS 52cc Gas Earth Auger

Match the included bit diameter to your specified post hole. Review handling and operating instructions.

View on Amazon ↗Opens Amazon in a new tab.

Deck Plus brown exterior wood screws in a 5 lb box

CHECK YOUR CONNECTION SPEC

Deck Plus #8 × 1-5/8 in Exterior Screws

Check length and coating against your lumber treatment and connection detail. The listed 5 lb box contains 735 screws; compare this with the pack size in your takeoff.

View on Amazon ↗Opens Amazon in a new tab. Check current variant, price and availability there.

Black solar post cap lights with warm-white illumination, shown as a multipack

ADD A LITTLE EVENING LIGHT

Solar Post Cap Lights · 16-Pack

Check inside dimensions and adapters against each actual post size, including wider gate posts. Confirm sunlight exposure and pack quantity.

View on Amazon ↗Opens Amazon in a new tab. Check current price, selected variant and availability there.

Check the selected variant, fit, current price, shipping and delivery estimate on Amazon. No hands-on product testing is claimed. How product links work ↗

03 / YOUR LOCAL MATERIALS

Take your list to a local supplier.

Compare the exact sizes, treatment and pack quantities before ordering.

YOUR ACTIVE PROJECT

One list. Ready to take with you.

Optional project ZIP code

US ZIP code

Optional. No location-based price adjustment is applied.

Check what your quote includes ↗

Opens the retailer’s catalog. Your list is not added to a cart. Confirm dimensions, treatment, pack sizes and local availability.

04 / CHOOSE YOUR BUILD

Prefer someone else to dig the holes?

Take a clear project brief to a local fence installer. Compare the materials, scope and written price before you choose.

Verify current licensing and insurance before hiring.

What to ask an installer ↗

Practical tools. Checkable numbers.

FOLLOW THE MATH

Two complete worked examples.

Check a straight run and a gate layout, from dimensions to boxes and bags.

See the examples →WHAT IS VERIFIED?

Sources, not borrowed authority.

See manufacturer yields, calculation assumptions and what has not been independently reviewed.

Read the evidence →MEASURE FIRST

Plan the project before the order.

Measurement diagrams, budget checks and the steps before digging.

Browse guides →

Finish the rest of your plan.

Post hole concrete.

Use the actual hole, post and bag yield. Understand pooled versus per-hole rounding.

Open calculator →

Fence stain coverage.

Estimate rectangular face area using the coverage on your own product label.

Open calculator →

A budget that shows its gaps.

Keep supplier prices, tax, labor and site costs separate. Blank prices are never treated as free.

Review your budget →

What you should know.

Are these live prices or contractor quotes?

No. Prices start blank. You may explicitly apply a dated public picket-price snapshot or enter your own quotes. Snapshots are not live, local quotes or national medians; no complete total appears while required lines are unpriced.

What do nominal and actual sizes mean?

Nominal sizes are product labels; the calculation uses the actual board width and post section you enter. Check the selected product specification before buying. A 6 ft high × 8 ft wide fence panel is a complete section, not a single picket. Rails also need a suitable profile and installation detail; this planner does not select or approve that profile.

Which fences are supported?

Vertical side-by-side and spaced wood pickets, plus the specified alternating board-on-board layout. The simple estimator also counts cuttable vinyl panel kits using your system’s post-center spacing. It does not count their internal pickets, rails or reinforcement. Chain link, horizontal boards and shadowbox layouts are not supported.

Do the post and hole sizes meet my local rules?

The starting dimensions are planning examples, not a local specification. Confirm the required design with your local authority, fence system manufacturer or qualified professional. Gate supports can need different structural details from line posts.

Has a professional certified this planner?

No. Software tests and worked examples check the arithmetic and interface. A fence professional has not independently certified the complete planner, and user success or search traffic has not yet been established. See the verification record.

What should I do before digging?

Read the pre-build checklist for boundary, permit and utility checks before starting work.

Your fence shopping list

Keep a copy. Verify specifications before ordering.

Good fences.
Clear plans.

Start with the essentials.

Continue from your quick estimate