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Fence Picket Spacing Calculator

Calculate fence pickets, post spacing, equal gaps, gate deductions, horizontal slats, and a printable DIY shopping list.

Plan Fence Pickets and Posts
Unit system
Fence board mode
Common presets
Fence Layout Results
Fence bays
6

Actual post spacing: 7.33 ft

Exact equal gap
0.13 in

15 pickets per bay

Net fence length
44 ft
Opening per bay
7.04 ft
Total posts
9
Printable Shopping List
Item
Qty
Planning note
Line/end posts
7
Based on 7.33 ft actual spacing across the net fence run.
Gate posts
2
Adds two posts for each gate opening.
Fence pickets with waste
100
15 pickets per bay, rounded up with 10% waste.
Rail boards
12
12 rail pieces estimated from bay openings, converted to 8 ft stock boards.
Total posts
9
Line/end posts plus gate posts. Corner, terminal, and bracing details may add more.
Fence Bay Visualizer
Mode: Vertical pickets
Gate deducted: 4 ft

Each preview bay represents about 7.04 ft of open span with 0.13 in equal gaps.

DIY Fence Planning Tasks

Use this fence picket spacing calculator before buying boards, setting posts, or laying out a horizontal fence panel.

How many pickets do I need?
Enter the run length, gate openings, post spacing, picket width, and target gap to estimate pickets per bay and total pickets.
Equal gap layout
Start with your preferred gap, then use the exact equal gap result to mark consistent spacing across every fence bay.
Horizontal fence slats
Switch to horizontal mode to calculate slat rows, cut pieces per bay, and stock boards based on fence height and board length.

Fence Spacing Inputs Explained

These planning inputs keep the calculator practical without pretending to replace local code, structural design, or product instructions.

Input
Common value
How to use it
Post spacing
6-8 ft
Many DIY wood fences are planned around this range, but conditions and codes vary.
Privacy picket width
5.5 in
Common nominal 1x6 boards are often about 5.5 inches wide.
Gate deduction
Opening width
Gate openings are subtracted from fence run length, then gate posts are counted separately.
Waste allowance
10%
Use extra allowance for angled cuts, sorting boards, mistakes, and damaged stock.

Fence Picket Spacing FAQ

Answers for DIY users calculating fence pickets, post spacing, equal gaps, and horizontal slat layouts.

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