A fence materials checklist should separate posts, rails, pickets, concrete and hardware. Start with each straight run and its section layout, then account for shared corners and gate openings. Add waste to the component it belongs to. This prevents a picket estimate from being mistaken for a complete fence order.
Break your fence into straight runs
Walk the intended line and sketch every corner, gate and endpoint. Measure each straight run separately. The fence calculator treats a run as an open line with an endpoint at each side. When combining adjoining runs, remove a duplicated corner post from your combined shopping list.
Plan post positions before counting rails
Choose the maximum spacing for your intended system and use the resulting number of equal sections as a starting layout. A 60-foot run with an 8-foot maximum needs eight sections rather than seven. Site conditions, rail stock lengths and installation instructions may require a different arrangement. Check before digging.
Count the fence face
Actual picket width plus the chosen clear gap determines coverage. Use the face width of the product you are buying. Our simple face estimate does not subtract post widths and assumes one layer of pickets. Shadowbox, board-on-board and horizontal designs need their own layout calculation.
Make gates a separate mini-project
A gate opening changes more than the picket count. Gate leaves need suitable framing, hinges, latches and posts, and the clear opening must account for hardware spacing. Subtract the opening from the fence run and add the gate materials as a separate list. Do not assume ordinary line posts suit every gate.
Add foundations and finishing
Use your installation plan to determine hole diameter and concrete depth, then estimate concrete bags with the post-hole tool. Check underground utility locations and local requirements before excavation. For finishing, calculate the surfaces actually being coated and read the finish label for coverage and coats.
Check stock sizes at the store
A quantity of rails is not a guarantee that any rail length will fit. Your rail pieces need to span the planned sections with the required fixing detail. Record the dimensions and material treatment beside every item. Use the downloaded calculator list as a starting checklist, then add brackets, screws, caps and gate hardware.
Reconcile the component counts before getting a quote
For the example 60-ft run with an 8-ft maximum spacing, the calculator creates eight sections and nine posts. With three rails per section, that means 24 rail pieces. A 5.5-inch picket face and a 0.5-inch gap give 121 pickets before waste, or 134 after a 10% allowance. These values are a worked quantity scenario, not a universal fence specification.
The waste allowance applies only to pickets in this tool. It does not turn nine posts into ten or add spare rails. If your installation plan calls for a spare post or rail, write it as a separate line so the purchasing total remains traceable. Record the rail stock length beside the piece count; the word “rail” alone is not enough for a store order.
When two straight runs meet, each separate open-run calculation includes an endpoint post at the corner. If the design uses one shared corner post, count it once in the combined list. For a completely closed layout, reconcile every shared junction rather than summing open-run answers without adjustment. Gates should remain a separate assembly with their own supports and hardware.
Your final shopping-list checks
- Run-by-run lengths with gate openings clearly marked.
- Post quantity after reconciling shared corners and endpoints.
- Rails per section, required spans and matching stock lengths.
- Actual picket size, clear gap and explicit picket allowance.
- Concrete yield, fasteners, brackets, caps and gate hardware.
Use the fence material calculator for the main component counts. Estimate bag quantities with the post-hole concrete calculator and check the concrete purchasing guide for yield and batching assumptions.
For the product context behind this planning guide, see Lowe’s guidance on fence posts, rails and pickets. The worked examples are our own calculations; use the instructions for your exact product.
Frequently asked questions
Is a fence picket subtotal the total fence cost?
No. Posts, rails, concrete and hardware need their own prices. Add gate components, delivery, tax and labor separately if you are preparing a full project budget.
Should I count every run as perfectly level?
Only if that reflects the layout. Sloping ground, stepped panels and changes in height can alter rail cuts and picket arrangements. A simple flat-run count does not resolve those details.
Which calculator should I use for the post foundations?
Use the post-hole concrete calculator after the hole and post dimensions have been specified. It estimates the amount of mix, not the appropriate embedment or footing design.