Fence Picket Calculator
Calculate how many fence pickets you need for an enclosed yard from its perimeter and your picket spacing, or pitch.
How this calculator works
This calculator treats your fenced yard as a rectangle: it computes the perimeter from the two side lengths you enter, then divides by your picket pitch — the Spacing field, held in feet — to get the picket count, rounding down to a whole spacing interval before adding one final picket to close the run.
Formula: Perimeter = 2 x (Length + Width). Pickets = floor(Perimeter ÷ Spacing) + 1, where Spacing is the picket pitch in feet (picket width + gap).
Worked example
A fenced yard 40 ft x 30 ft, with a 5.5 in picket and a 1/2 in gap (6 in = 0.5 ft pitch):
- Perimeter: 2 x (40 + 30) = 140 ft
- Pickets: floor(140 ÷ 0.5) + 1 = floor(280) + 1 = 281 pickets
- At $3.50/picket, that’s $983.50.
Coverage reference
| Perimeter | Pickets needed (0.5 ft pitch) |
|---|---|
| 100 ft | 201 pickets |
| 140 ft | 281 pickets |
| 200 ft | 401 pickets |
How to measure your fence line
This calculator is built for a rectangular, fully enclosed yard — measure the two distinct side lengths. Then measure one picket’s face width and decide your gap, add them together, and divide by 12 to get the pitch in feet for the Spacing field; a tighter gap (privacy fence) or wider gap (shadowbox style) both change the pitch and therefore the picket count.
Frequently asked questions
What do I enter in the Spacing field for pickets?
Enter your picket pitch in feet — the center-to-center (or edge-to-edge) distance one picket takes up including its gap. A standard 5.5 in wide picket with a 1/2 in gap between pickets works out to 6 in total, or 0.5 ft, which is this calculator's default.
How do I figure out my picket pitch if it's not 5.5 in + 1/2 in gap?
Add your picket's width to your desired gap width, then convert to feet by dividing by 12. For example, a 6 in picket with a 1/4 in gap is 6.25 in, or about 0.52 ft — enter that in the Spacing field instead of the 0.5 ft default.
Why does this calculator use the yard's perimeter, not a straight run?
It's built the same way as the Fence Post Calculator: enter the two side lengths of a rectangular, fully enclosed yard, and it computes the perimeter (2 x (length + width)) before dividing by picket pitch. For a single straight fence line rather than an enclosed yard, use perimeter = your one run length instead.
Does this include pickets for a gate?
It gives you the baseline picket count for the full perimeter, which includes the gate opening's span. Gates are usually built as their own framed panel, so you may need a few extra pickets sized to the gate's exact width rather than the standard spacing.
Why isn't there a waste allowance for pickets?
Picket counts are already whole numbers derived from a fixed spacing, so there's little material waste the way there is with cut-to-fit materials like siding or tile. Budget a few spares separately for pickets that split or crack during install.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.