How Many Fence Pickets Do I Need?
The picket count comes down to one number: how many boards fit in a foot of fence. Once you know it, posts, rails and concrete follow. Below is the quick formula, then a real 6-foot privacy fence worked out board by board.
Open the free planner Free · no sign-up · opens with a 35 1/2 ft fence with a gate (change the length once it opens)
What you'll need
Materials
- 4x4 posts, 10 ft long (set about 34″ deep, with the gate posts deeper)
- 2x4 rails, 8 ft long, three per bay on a 6 ft fence
- Fence pickets: 5/8″ × 6″ boards, 6 ft long
- Fast-setting concrete (about 3 bags per post) and gravel for drainage
- Exterior screws: 3″ for the rails and 1 5/8″ for the pickets
- Gate hinges and a latch
Tools
- Post-hole digger or auger
- String line, stakes and a level
- Circular saw or miter saw
- Drill/driver
- Tape measure and a spacer block
The quantities above match the 35 1/2 ft example with one 42″ gate. A different length, height or style (picket, board-on-board, shadowbox or horizontal) changes them, and the planner recounts everything.
Step-by-step overview
- Check the rules. Confirm permits, height limits, setbacks and HOA rules, find your property line, and call 811 a few days before you dig so utilities are marked.
- Lay out the line. Set stakes and a string at each end and corner, then mark every post centre at the spacing in the planner’s post layout table. Eight feet is typical.
- Dig and prepare the holes. Dig each hole about 10″ across and 34″ deep, with the gate posts deeper. Put 4″ of gravel in each and tamp it.
- Set the corner, end and gate posts first. Plumb them on two faces, brace them and fill with concrete. Stretch strings between them, then set the line posts to the strings. Let the concrete cure for at least four hours before adding rails, and a day before hanging gates.
- Fit the rails. Mark the rail heights on the posts and screw the 2x4 rails to the post faces, with joints centred on a post and two 3″ screws at each end.
- Hang the pickets. Keep them about 2″ above the ground. Plumb the first board with a level, then use a spacer block to keep the gap even, with two 1 5/8″ screws into each rail.
- Trim the post tops. Cut the post tops to height along a level line.
- Build and hang the gate. Build each gate leaf flat on the ground with 2x4 rails and a diagonal brace running from the bottom on the hinge side up to the top on the latch side, then add pickets and hang it.
Example cut list and cost
The quick formula is pickets per foot = 12 ÷ (picket width + gap). A 6″ picket is really 5 1/2″ wide, so with no gap you need about 2.2 per foot; with a 1/2″ gap it is exactly 2; and for a spaced picket-style fence with 2 1/2″ gaps it is about 1.5. Multiply by your length in feet and round up. The planner does this run by run, including the ripped board at the end of each run.
Cut list
| Part | Material | Qty | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post (gate posts, set deeper) | 4x4 | 2 | 106″ |
| Post | 4x4 | 4 | 100″ |
| Rail | 2x4 pressure-treated | 12 | 96″ |
| Picket | 5/8×6 picket | 70 | 70″ |
| Picket (ripped to fit) | 5/8×6 picket | 2 | 70″ × 3″ |
| Gate rail | 2x4 pressure-treated | 3 | 40 3/4″ |
| Gate brace | 2x4 pressure-treated | 2 | 47 11/16″ |
| Gate picket | 5/8×6 picket | 7 | 69″ |
| Gate picket (ripped to fit) | 5/8×6 picket | 1 | 69″ × 2 1/4″ |
The gate posts are 6″ longer because they are set 6″ deeper.
Shopping list and cost
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 4x4 × 10 ft (PT) | 6 | $107.10 |
| 2x4 × 8 ft PT | 15 | $94.20 |
| 5/8×6 picket × 6 ft PT | 80 | $262.40 |
| Fast-setting concrete, 50 lb | 20 | $165.60 |
| Drainage gravel (0.5 cu ft bag) | 3 | $16.44 |
| Exterior screws 3″ (box ≈ 72) | 1 | $11.98 |
| Exterior screws 1 5/8″ (box ≈ 170) | 4 | $47.92 |
| Gate hinges (pair) | 2 | $43.96 |
| Gate latch | 1 | $14.98 |
| Estimated total (before tax) | $764.58 | |
Lumber alone is $463.70. The whole fence comes to about $21 per foot. Prices are typical big-box defaults for pressure-treated wood, so edit them in the planner for your area.
Try it on the default design: two 16 ft runs and a 42″ gate. The two runs are 384″ of fence, and 384 ÷ 5 1/2 is about 70 pickets; the gate adds 42 ÷ 5 1/2, about 8. The planner counts 72 pickets across the runs (it adds two ripped boards where the runs end) and 8 in the gate, 80 in all, on 6 posts and 12 rails. Here is its full cut list and shopping list.
Tips and common mistakes
- Order extra pickets. Some boards will be warped or split, and the end of each run needs a ripped board. Ten percent spare is common.
- Count the gate separately. A gate has its own rails, a brace and its own pickets, and it needs stronger posts and deeper holes.
- Keep pickets off the ground. About 2″ of gap stops them wicking up moisture and rotting at the bottom.
- Slope changes the count. On a hillside, the fence can be racked to follow the slope or stepped in level panels. The planner supports both.
- Space the pickets with a block. Cutting a spacer to the exact gap keeps lines straight better than eyeballing it, and it speeds up the work.
- Let treated wood dry. Pressure-treated boards come wet from the yard. Wait 1–3 months for them to dry before you stain or seal.
Frequently asked questions
How many pickets do I need per foot of fence?
Divide 12 by the picket width plus the gap. A 5 1/2″ board with no gap is 2.2 per foot, with a 1/2″ gap it is 2, and a spaced picket fence with 2 1/2″ gaps is about 1.5 per foot.
How far apart should the fence posts be?
Eight feet on centre is the usual spacing, and the planner uses it by default. Closer posts make a stronger fence; very wide spacing makes the rails sag. Gates need heavier posts.
How many bags of concrete per post?
Roughly three 50 lb bags of fast-setting concrete for a 10″ hole 34″ deep. The default example uses 20 bags for 6 posts, including the deeper gate holes.
How much does a wood fence cost per foot?
The example 6 ft privacy fence with a gate comes to about $21 per foot at typical pressure-treated prices, or about $13 per foot for lumber alone. Cedar costs more, and prices vary by region.
How many rails do I need on a 6 ft fence?
Three 2x4 rails per bay is standard for a 6 ft privacy fence: top, middle and bottom. Shorter fences can use two.
What changes for board-on-board or shadowbox fences?
They use two layers of boards, so the board count is higher. Pick the style in the planner and it recounts the pickets for you.