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Fence Post Planning Calculator

Estimate fence posts from run length, post spacing, corners, and gate post assumptions.

Use this as a named-assumption planning count; define gate and corner treatment before ordering the rest of the fence materials.

Your inputs

Use consistent units and a matching period throughout. Enter decimals with a dot or comma, without thousands separators.

Total measured fence run.

Planned spacing for ordinary line posts; must be greater than zero.

Each gate adds two assumed gate posts.

Additional corner posts beyond the straight-run baseline.

Your result

Result for the default inputs

Posts to plan for

17

Calculations run in this browser. Inputs are not sent to a server or added to a share link.

What the result means

The count is ceiling(run length / spacing) + 1, plus two posts per gate and the entered additional corners. It is an ordering worksheet, not a construction design.

The formula

Ceiling(fence length / post spacing) + 1 + (gate count * 2) + corner count

Results are displayed to at most two decimal places. Calculations use the unrounded inputs.

A worked example

Put the formula to work

Fence run length (metres)
30
Post spacing (metres)
2.5
Gate count (gates)
1
Corner count (corners)
2

Posts to plan for: 17

A 30 metre run at 2.5 metre spacing gives 13 baseline posts, plus two gate posts and two corners: the total is 17.

How to use this calculator

  1. Measure the total run and identify corners.
  2. Choose the user-specific line-post spacing.
  3. Count gates and add two posts per gate.
  4. Round the straight run upward and verify the layout before ordering.

Why this number matters

Naming gates, corners, and spacing exposes the assumptions that make fence counts differ between projects.

Input definitions

Fence run length (metres)
Total measured fence run.
Post spacing (metres)
Planned spacing for ordinary line posts; must be greater than zero.
Gate count (gates)
Each gate adds two assumed gate posts.
Corner count (corners)
Additional corner posts beyond the straight-run baseline.

Assumptions and limitations

  • Does not calculate rails, panels, boards, fasteners, footings, slopes, or gate hardware.
  • Actual layout and local requirements may change post count and spacing.
  • Not structural, legal, or building-code advice.

Methodology

The default result and worked example use the same calculation functions as the interactive tool. The formula cannot verify the quality or scope of your source data.

Read our calculation methodology

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