Fencing calculator

Privacy fence calculator

a 100 ft run of 5½ in boards at 8 ft post spacing with 10% waste returns 240 boards and 13 posts.

Formula. boards = ceil(length ÷ board face × (1 + waste)); posts = floor(length ÷ spacing) + 1

Solid privacy boards and posts from run length, board face and spacing. Picket-gap wood fence is a different count.

By Feroz Sheikh · Formula FEN-PRIV-001 v1.0.0 · Tested formula

FormulaFEN-PRIV-001v1.0.0

Project inputs

Enter your measurements. Switching units converts the same project, including coverage and unit rates. Package yields keep the unit printed beside each field.

Fence lengthft + inTotal privacy-fence run between end postsftinFence heightft + inFinished board heightftinPost spacingft + inOn-center spacing between postsftinBoard faceinActual face of one solid board with no gapRails per baycountHorizontal rails in each bayBoard waste%Allowance for cuts, dog-ears and breakage

Refine measurements and rates at any time. Your current values are included in the material-list PDF.

Calculated result

240boards

Boards to order

FormulaFEN-PRIV-001

boards = ceil(length ÷ board face × (1 + waste)); posts = floor(length ÷ spacing) + 1

13 posts

Posts to set

36 rails

Rails to order

12 bays

Bays

Planning estimate, not engineering advice. Confirm site measurements and product specifications. Calculation limits.

Privacy fence: measurement diagram. Measure fence runs and account for posts, sections and gates using the tool's own field definitions. — Measure fence runs and account for posts, sections and gates using the tool's own field definitions. View image

Solid boards equal run divided by board face, times waste. Posts are floor(run ÷ spacing) + 1. There is no picket gap on this page.

Measure the run. Use actual board face, not the nominal 1×6.
Leave the gap at zero by using this tool instead of the picket calculator.
Gates stay extras. Dog-ear waste lives in the waste field.

Add your project costs

Enter supplier prices and any labour, equipment or delivery costs. Pick a currency — badges, inputs, and totals follow.

Costs use the post, panel, fabric, stain or cap rate you type. Construclytic does not fetch fence-yard prices. Gates and slope racks stay extras. For GCC projects, select QAR, AED, SAR, KWD, OMR or BHD and enter local supplier rates.

View estimate Quote / invoice Add another item

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How this calculator works

A transparent privacy fence takeoff.

Feroz SheikhWritten and reviewed by Feroz Sheikh · founderFormula FEN-PRIV-001 v1.0.0 automated checks Nov 3, 2026.

Solid boards equal run divided by board face, times waste. Posts are floor(run ÷ spacing) + 1. There is no picket gap on this page.

FEN-PRIV-001 counts solid boards with no picket gap: run ÷ actual board face, plus waste. The wood-fence calculator leaves a gap and will under-order a tight privacy screen. Posts are floor(run ÷ spacing) + 1 so both ends are in.

Worked example. Example: a 100 ft run of 5½ in boards at 8 ft post spacing with 10% waste returns 240 boards and 13 posts.

See the example inputs and calculated result

This separate example uses the calculator's starting values in imperial units. It stays unchanged when you edit the tool above. Example rates, yields and dimensions are assumptions, not recommendations for your project.

Privacy fence: example inputs
Input	Example value
Fence length	100 ft
Fence height	6 ft
Post spacing	8 ft
Board face	5.5 in
Rails per bay	3 count
Board waste	10 %

Example result: Boards to order — 240 boards.

boards = ceil(length ÷ board face × (1 + waste)); posts = floor(length ÷ spacing) + 1

Use the labelled units above when reproducing this example. To work in metric, switch the calculator to Metric; applicable measurements are converted, while product-specific units remain labelled.

1. Measure the run. Use actual board face, not the nominal 1×6.
2. Leave the gap at zero by using this tool instead of the picket calculator.
3. Gates stay extras. Dog-ear waste lives in the waste field.

Field notes that change the number

Use actual board face (a 1×6 is often 5½ in), not the nominal size.
Leave the gap at zero by using this tool instead of the picket calculator.
Shadow-box is roughly two faces — raise waste or run the takeoff twice.

Common mistakes

Using the picket-gap wood fence page for a tight privacy screen.
Counting dog-ears as extra boards instead of waste.
Hiding a gate opening inside the board count.

Need the broader workflow? Read the fencing planning guide.

How-to: How to stain a wood fence

Questions

Questions about privacy fence

Why not use the wood fence calculator?

That page counts pickets with a gap. Privacy boards sit tight. Mixing the two formulas under-orders boards.

Shadow-box?

Shadow-box is roughly two faces. Raise waste or run this takeoff twice.

What is the formula ID?

This privacy fence calculator publishes formula FEN-PRIV-001, version 1.0.0. The ID stays on the result and on the estimate line.