Wood Fence Materials, Picket, Post & Rail Calculator
Calculate exact bills of materials for residential wood privacy fences: posts, 2x4 rails, pickets (dog-ear, shadowbox, board-on-board), post hole concrete bags, and exterior fasteners based on total linear footage.
Fence Layout & Dimensions
Picket Style & Dimensions
Total Pickets Required
Includes 7% Cutting Waste
350 Pickets
6ft Dog-Ear Cedar or Treated Pine (5.5" actual width)
4x4 Wooden Posts Needed
21 Posts (8ft long)
19 line posts + 2 gate terminal posts
2x4 Horizontal Rails
57 Rails (8ft 2x4)
3 rails per section (Top, Middle, Bottom)
Post Concrete (Fast-Setting)
42 Bags (50 lb)
~2 bags per post hole (1/3 post depth buried)
Fasteners & Screws
~2,100 Screws
~7 lbs of 1-5/8" exterior coated deck screws
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does board-on-board fencing require more pickets than standard privacy?
Board-on-board fences place a base layer of pickets with small gaps and cover those gaps with an overlapping top layer. Because of the 1-inch overlap on both sides, effective coverage per picket drops from 5.5 inches down to 4.5 inches, requiring approximately 22% more pickets for complete privacy.
How many rails should a 6-foot wooden privacy fence have?
A 6-foot fence should always have 3 horizontal 2x4 rails. Fences built with only 2 rails will invariably suffer from wavy, bowed, or loose pickets within 12 to 18 months due to weathering and thermal cycling.