Fence Calculator (2026)
Work out how many fence panels, posts and gates you need, and what the materials will cost.
Calculate Your Fence
Measure the full run of fence in feet, including any corners, but not driveways or open gaps.
The standard panel length for your fence style. Most ready-made panels are 6 or 8 feet long.
Each gate needs its own extra post, on top of the posts for the fence sections.
The price of one complete panel, before tax and delivery.
The price of one fence post, before concrete, caps and fixings.
Model used by this calculator: sections are rounded up to whole panels, posts equal sections plus 1 plus 1 extra post per gate, and total cost equals sections times panel price plus posts times post price. Gates themselves, concrete, caps, rails and labour are not included in the material cost.
How the Math Works
A fence is built from whole panels, so a run that is not an exact multiple of the panel length still needs one more full panel. That is why the section count is always rounded up. Posts sit at each end of every section, which gives one more post than there are sections, and every gate needs an additional post to hang from and close against. The cost is then a simple sum: the panel count times the panel price, plus the post count times the post price.
Posts = sections + 1 + number of gates
Linear feet covered = sections x panel length
Total material cost = (sections x price per panel) + (posts x price per post)
Worked Example: 150 Feet of Fence, 8-Foot Panels, 1 Gate
| Calculation | Result | |
|---|---|---|
| Sections needed | 150 / 8 = 18.75, rounded up | 19 sections |
| Posts needed | 19 + 1 + 1 gate | 21 posts |
| Linear feet covered | 19 x 8 | 152 feet |
| Panel cost | 19 x $85 | $1,615.00 |
| Post cost | 21 x $25 | $525.00 |
| Total material cost | $1,615.00 + $525.00 | $2,140.00 |
The 152 feet covered is slightly more than the 150 feet measured, because the last panel cannot be bought in part. In practice, that final panel is trimmed on site or the posts are spaced slightly closer together. Either way, you should buy the full 19 panels, not 18.75 panels.
Panel Length Guide
Panel length is a trade-off between fewer posts and easier handling. Longer panels mean fewer posts to buy and dig, but they are heavier, harder to carry, and less forgiving on uneven ground. Shorter panels cost more in posts, but they follow slopes better and are easier for one person to fit.
| Panel length | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| 6 feet | Sloped ground, narrow side passages, DIY fitting | More posts, so a higher post bill |
| 8 feet | Flat gardens, standard timber and vinyl fences | Heavier panels; two people make fitting much easier |
| 10 feet | Open, flat runs, farm and ranch fencing | Needs straight runs and strong posts; poor on slopes |
How to Measure Your Fence Line
- Walk the boundary and mark the corners. Put a stake or marker at every corner and at each end of the run, and at each gate opening.
- Measure each straight run separately. Use a long tape or a measuring wheel, and write down each run before you add them together.
- Subtract open gaps. Do not include driveways, wide paths or gaps you plan to leave open, because no fence goes there.
- Count gates separately. A gate opening still needs its posts, but it does not need a panel, so enter the gate count in its own field.
- Add a small allowance for mistakes. Buying one spare panel and one spare post is cheap insurance against a damaged board or a post set in the wrong place.
What This Calculator Does Not Include
The total shown is a materials estimate for panels and posts only. It does not include the gate itself, concrete or gravel for post holes, post caps, screws and fixings, stain or paint, delivery charges, tax, or labour. Concrete for posts can be a meaningful extra cost, so if you are setting posts in concrete, work that out separately with a concrete calculator and add it to this total. For the ground preparation under a fence path, a gravel calculator can help you price the base layer.
