Wood Fence Material Takeoff
Pickets, 2x4 rails, 4x4 posts, and concrete bags for privacy, shadowbox, board-on-board, and picket fences, with gate allowances and post spacing you can build to.
A 1x6 face board is 5.5 in wide. Privacy runs tight with a caulk gap, shadowbox and board-on-board use both faces of the rail, and a 6 ft fence runs three 2x4 rails.
How the math works
- Boards: a 1x6 face board covers 5.5 in of run. Rows per side = fence height × 12 ÷ (5.5 + gap); shadowbox and board-on-board use both faces, so board count doubles. Pickets stand vertically: count = run × 12 ÷ (5.5 + 2.5 gap), each 6 ft long.
- Rails: 2 rails at 4 to 5 ft, 3 at 6 ft, 4 at 8 ft. Rail footage = run × rows; rails run 8 ft sticks between posts.
- Posts: run ÷ spacing + 1, plus two posts per gate (gates hang on their own 4x4s). 10 ft spacing is the practical ceiling for 2x4 rails in snow and wind zones.
- Concrete: 1.5 bags of 60 lb per post is the working number for a 24 to 30 in deep hole in summer; frost heave jurisdictions dig below frost line and use 2 to 3 bags.
- Cost: 2026 DIY wood privacy runs $18 to $28 per ft in materials with gates; picket runs $12 to $18. Contractor installed pricing is 2 to 2.5x the material line.
How many pickets for a 100 foot privacy fence?
A 100 ft run at 6 ft height with 1x6 pickets on one side: 100 x 12 / 8 (5.5 in board + 2.5 in gap) = 150 pickets, about 163 with waste. Board-on-board with both faces runs 300 boards.
How far apart should fence posts be?
6 to 8 ft is the working standard, 8 ft for a 6 ft privacy fence with 2x4 rails. Over 8 ft the rails bow in wind and snow, and gates need a post on each side regardless of spacing.
How many bags of concrete per fence post?
One and a half 60 lb bags per post for a 24 to 30 in hole in most soil, two where frost heave is a factor (hole below the frost line), none where the post is driven with a breaker. Set posts plumb in the hole and dry-pack, then concrete the top third.