How to Estimate Fence Materials

Fence estimating starts with total linear footage of fence line, then works backward to a post count: posts are placed at a fixed spacing (commonly 6 or 8 feet on center), so post count is roughly (linear feet ÷ post spacing) + 1 for the extra end post.

Panel or picket count depends on your fence style and the actual spacing between posts, and each post typically needs a concrete footing — usually one or two bags of ready-mix per post depending on hole size and post diameter.

The Fence Calculator ties all three together — posts, panels, and footing concrete — from a single linear footage input, and links to the Concrete Calculator for footing-specific math.