DIY Fence Cost Calculator
Build a full shopping list for a wood fence and price it with your local store's prices.
Your result
Enter your numbers and press the button. Your result appears here.
Building a fence yourself saves the labour, which HomeAdvisor puts at about half of a typical installed price. This calculator builds your shopping list; add the prices from your local store.
How the list is built
Posts = sections + 1 on each run. Rails = sections × rails per section. Pickets = run length ÷ (picket width + gap). Concrete = (hole volume − post volume) ÷ bag yield.
Example: a 150 ft, 6 ft tall fence with posts every 8 ft needs 20 posts (10 ft 4×4), 57 rails, 345 pickets and 100 bags of fast-setting concrete.
Rules of thumb
| Item | Typical |
|---|---|
| Depth in the ground | ⅓ of the post length, or below the frost line |
| Hole width | About 3 × the post width |
| Wood post spacing | 6 to 8 ft |
| Chain link line posts | No more than 10 ft |
| T-posts for barbed wire | 8 to 12 ft |
| Field fence | Wood posts 8–10 ft, T-posts 6–8 ft |
Common questions
How many rails does a fence need?
Two rails for fences up to about 4 ft, three for 5 to 6 ft and four for 8 ft fences.
Should posts be 4×4 or 6×6?
4×4 posts are standard for fences up to 6 ft. Use 6×6 for 8 ft fences, gate posts and windy sites.
How long should fence posts be?
Height above ground plus the depth in the ground. For a 6 ft fence that is usually a 9 ft post, so buy 10 ft stock and cut it, or set 8 ft posts deeper only where frost and soil allow.
Sources
- HomeAdvisor, Fence installation cost: https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/fencing/install-a-fence/
- Quikrete, Concrete Mix data sheet (bag yields): https://www.quikrete.com/PDFs/DATA_SHEET-Concrete%20Mix%201101.pdf