Construction business
Fence posts panels pickets and concrete
Estimate material counts for separate straight fence runs, using supplied bay spacing, optional picket dimensions and measured post-hole concrete sizes.
Your inputs
Complete the fields for your selected method. Zero means intentionally zero, not unknown. Currency selection labels amounts; it does not convert exchange rates.
How this calculation works
bays = sum(ceil(run length / supplied bay span)); posts = sum(bays + 1) - shared posts + extra gate posts; concrete = posts × net hole volume
Quantity and supplied-cost arithmetic only. Verify measurements, product coverage and purchasing units. Prefilled values and allowances are illustrative, not recommended specifications. No structural sizing, code approval, installation design or optimized cutting layout is supplied. Optional zero prices are omitted; unknown costs are not assumed free. Runs end at corners or gate openings; subtract shared endpoint posts only when entered twice and add gate posts only when absent from run endpoints. Span means usable filled module for your system, not automatically post center spacing. Panels may need trimming. Picket estimate ignores interrupted faces at posts; verify actual layout. Square posts and round holes assumed. Post depth/diameter, setbacks, gate hardware, wind loading and fence/footing requirements must be supplied or separately designed. Rails are counts, not structural recommendations; rail stock cuts and fasteners are excluded.
What information do I need?
Use records for the same job, equipment or accounting period. Only the fields for your selected entry method are required. An unknown amount is not zero.
Input definitions and where to find them
- Separate straight filled fence runs — exclude gates: Use a measured quantity, product label, supplier quote or explicit assumption on the stated basis. Zero is intentional exclusion, not an unknown value.
- Run name: Use matching records or an explicitly identified assumption for run name. Unknown is not the same as zero.
- Filled run length excluding gates (ft): Measure this dimension and select feet, inches or meters. Use actual product dimensions rather than a nominal trade size unless this field explicitly asks for nominal module coverage.
- Your maximum filled bay span or panel module (ft): Measure this dimension and select feet, inches or meters. Use actual product dimensions rather than a nominal trade size unless this field explicitly asks for nominal module coverage.
- Shared endpoint posts counted in two runs (posts): Use a measured quantity, product label, supplier quote or explicit assumption on the stated basis. Zero is intentional exclusion, not an unknown value.
- Additional gate posts not counted in run endpoints (posts): Use a measured quantity, product label, supplier quote or explicit assumption on the stated basis. Zero is intentional exclusion, not an unknown value.
- Fence infill: Use a measured quantity, product label, supplier quote or explicit assumption on the stated basis. Zero is intentional exclusion, not an unknown value.
- Actual picket face width (ft): Measure this dimension and select feet, inches or meters. Use actual product dimensions rather than a nominal trade size unless this field explicitly asks for nominal module coverage. Used with: Individual vertical pickets.
- Gap between pickets (ft): Measure this dimension and select feet, inches or meters. Use actual product dimensions rather than a nominal trade size unless this field explicitly asks for nominal module coverage. Used with: Individual vertical pickets.
- Your rails per filled bay (rails/bay): Use a measured quantity, product label, supplier quote or explicit assumption on the stated basis. Zero is intentional exclusion, not an unknown value.
- Your extra material allowance (%): Extra material above the net measured requirement. Supply an allowance appropriate to your cuts, handling and product; the example is not an industry recommendation.
- Measured or specified round concrete-hole diameter (ft): Measure this dimension and select feet, inches or meters. Use actual product dimensions rather than a nominal trade size unless this field explicitly asks for nominal module coverage.
- Concrete fill depth excluding gravel (ft): Measure this dimension and select feet, inches or meters. Use actual product dimensions rather than a nominal trade size unless this field explicitly asks for nominal module coverage.
- Actual square post width inside concrete (ft): Measure this dimension and select feet, inches or meters. Use actual product dimensions rather than a nominal trade size unless this field explicitly asks for nominal module coverage.
- Actual concrete yield per bag (ft³): Use volume in cubic feet, cubic yards or cubic meters. For bags, read the actual mixed/delivered yield per bag; bag weight is not bag volume.
- Optional price per post (selected currency): Use a measured quantity, product label, supplier quote or explicit assumption on the stated basis. Zero is intentional exclusion, not an unknown value.
- Optional price per panel or picket (selected currency): Use a measured quantity, product label, supplier quote or explicit assumption on the stated basis. Zero is intentional exclusion, not an unknown value.
- Optional price per rail (selected currency): Use a measured quantity, product label, supplier quote or explicit assumption on the stated basis. Zero is intentional exclusion, not an unknown value.
- Optional price per concrete bag (selected currency): Use a measured quantity, product label, supplier quote or explicit assumption on the stated basis. Zero is intentional exclusion, not an unknown value.
Use the Where to find this value controls beside the inputs for available work-it-out helpers. Estimates remain your assumptions; a helper does not verify the source figures.
Worked example
Example amounts use US dollars (USD).
Example answer: Filled fence length is 48.00 ft for the illustrative inputs below.
Example inputs
- Separate straight filled fence runs — exclude gates
- Run name: Straight run
- Filled run length excluding gates: 48.00 ft
- Your maximum filled bay span or panel module: 8.00 ft
- Shared endpoint posts counted in two runs: 0 posts
- Additional gate posts not counted in run endpoints: 0 posts
- Fence infill: Prefabricated panels
- Your rails per filled bay: 2 rails/bay
- Your extra material allowance: 10.00 %
- Measured or specified round concrete-hole diameter: 1.00 ft
- Concrete fill depth excluding gravel: 2.00 ft
- Actual square post width inside concrete: 0.291666666667 ft
- Actual concrete yield per bag: 0.60 ft³
- Optional price per post: $0.00
- Optional price per panel or picket: $0.00
- Optional price per rail: $0.00
- Optional price per concrete bag: $0.00
- Filled fence length
- 48.00 ft
- Filled bays
- 6 bays
- Unique posts including additional gate posts
- 7 posts
- Panels including allowance
- 7 pieces
- Rails at supplied count per bay
- 12 rails
- Net post-hole concrete volume
- 0.3631 yd³
- Whole concrete bags
- 17 bags
- Entered fence material subtotal
- No prices supplied
These illustrative values are not recommended rates or industry averages. Replace every example input with your own figures.
Use the result well
Compare net installed quantities with allowances and whole purchased units. Review product instructions and missing materials before ordering.
Keep inputs on the same scope and time basis. Calculations retain precision internally; displayed values generally round to two decimal places, with extra precision for very small values and whole-unit rounding where required. Economic comparisons describe your supplied assumptions and do not guarantee future results.
This tool provides business arithmetic. It does not approve engineering designs, establish legal or tax treatment, select equipment or certify safe operating conditions.