HesapHanem

Fence Calculator

Find the posts and sections for a fence.

How it is calculated

The tool assumes one straight, open run of fence. sections = ⌈length ÷ spacing⌉, rounded up to a whole number because a partial section still needs a full panel. posts = sections + 1, since each section sits between two posts and the last one needs a post at its far end. Length and spacing must be in the same unit (metres, feet, anything) and both must be above zero. The tool does not shorten the last section, does not subtract gates and treats corners like any other post. A closed loop, such as a fully enclosed yard, needs one post fewer than the result, equal to the number of sections.

Worked example

A boundary is 50 m long and the posts are 2.4 m apart. Divide: 50 ÷ 2.4 = 20.83. Round up, because 20 sections would leave 2 m uncovered: 21 sections. Add one post for the far end: 21 + 1 = 22 posts. With a 48 m run, the division is exactly 20, so 20 sections and 21 posts would be enough.

Try this example →

Common mistakes

  • Dividing length by spacing and using the result as the number of posts. A straight run always has one more post than sections.
  • Mixing units, such as a length in metres and a spacing in feet.
  • Using the panel width as the spacing when the posts are thicker than the gap allows. Spacing is measured centre to centre of the posts.
  • Counting a fully enclosed fence with the straight-run rule. A closed loop needs as many posts as sections.
  • Forgetting gates, corner and end posts, which often need a stronger post size and a separate count.

About this calculator

This calculator takes the total fence length and the spacing between posts (commonly 6-8 feet apart for wood fencing) to work out how many posts and fence sections (panels) are needed, adding one extra post at the end of any straight run — a run of 5 sections always needs 6 posts, not 5, a detail that's easy to miscount by hand.

Homeowners and contractors quoting a fencing job use this before ordering materials, since posts and panels are typically bought individually or in bundles and a miscount means either an extra trip to the hardware store or leftover material. Corner and gate posts can be counted separately since they often use a different post size.

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Comments (1)

  • Editorial team

    Because the section count is rounded up, the posts will not land exactly at your chosen spacing. For a 50 m run at 2.4 m, the tool gives 21 sections, so dividing 50 by 21 shows the real spacing you can use, about 2.38 m, and every panel stays the same. Count gate posts and corners separately if they use a heavier post. What fence type and usual spacing do you work with?

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