A little planning goes a long way
Wood fence
calculator. A solid start.
Your backyard project, figured out. Estimate the materials and cost of a 6 ft wood privacy fence, with your measurements and your prices.
- No sign-up needed
- Free to use
- Calculates in your browser
Buy with a clearer list
Boards, posts, and rails. All accounted for.
Your prices. Your project.
Build a budget from costs you actually know.
See the thinking behind it
Clear formulas. No hidden assumptions.
Build your estimate
Start with your measurements. We’ll take care of the math.
Fence layout
Measure in feet
Enter one continuous line. Adjacent runs share a corner post; calculate separate lines separately.
Materials & spacing
6 ft privacy fence
Your prices
Optional · USD
Enter your own prices. A blank means unknown; enter 0 only when an item is free.
Additional costs
Unspecified costs are not included in the estimate.
The right tool for your next step
One project. A few ways to plan.
Start with a full estimate or focus on the part of your project you need to figure out.
Wood fence cost calculator
Bring material prices, installation labor, and extra costs together in one project budget.
Estimate project cost 02 / THE SHOPPING LISTWood fence material calculator
Work out how many boards, posts, and rails to buy, with an allowance for waste.
Calculate materials 03 / THE HELP YOU NEEDFence labor cost calculator
Apply your contractor's rate to your fence length and compare installation estimates.
Estimate laborMeasure your fence line
Add the length of each connected straight run, including any gate openings. Separate, unconnected lines need separate calculations.
Make it your own
Set the actual board width, post spacing, rail dimensions, and waste allowance to match your planned fence.
Put numbers to your plan
Get material quantities right away. Add store prices or a labor rate when you have them; unknown costs stay clearly marked.
A worked example
What does 100 ft look like?
One run, 5.5 in boards, no gaps, 8 ft maximum spacing, three rails, and 10% waste. An illustration of the model, not a construction recommendation.
- Boards to buy
- 241
- Posts
- 14
- Rails to buy
- 43
How the quantities are calculated
Each solid segment is divided into ceil(segment length ÷ maximum post spacing) sections. Base boards per segment equal ceil((length in ft × 12 + gap in inches) ÷ (board width + gap)). Add the base board counts, apply your waste allowance and round up. Corner and gate posts are counted as unique physical points.
Model version 1.0. Reference content reviewed October 29, 2026; installation sign-off remains pending. Read the formulas and model limits and source review and applicability.
Good questions
Before you break ground.
What kind of fence can I calculate?
This calculator covers a 6 ft vertical wood privacy fence along an open sequence of straight runs. Boards can meet edge to edge or have a specified gap. Horizontal, overlapping, shadowbox, and vinyl fences are outside the model.
Are local material and labor prices included?
You enter your own prices from a store or contractor. No local prices are assumed. A blank price means unknown, so the calculator will not present an incomplete budget as a complete total.
How does the calculator account for waste?
Your waste allowance applies to boards and rails, with purchase quantities rounded up. It does not increase the post count or optimize offcuts. See the rounding formulas and limitations.
Can I use the result as my final order?
Use it as a starting estimate. Confirm your layout, product dimensions, gates, hardware, footings, and local requirements before buying. The tool does not design foundations or check permits. Review the source register and verify construction details with a qualified installer.