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Fencing

Fence Picket Calculator

Count wood pickets from actual board width and gap — then plan end bays with either an exact gap or even spacing across posts. Goes beyond a single whole-run shopping formula.

Spacing mode

Preserve your desired gap. End remainder stays in each bay for a ripped board or field tweak.

ft

Separate runs are calculated one at a time, then totaled — not as one continuous length.

in
in

Width starts at 5.5 in (NIST PS 20-25 dressed-dry minimum for nominal 6 in softwood). Measure the boards you will buy — 5.5 in is not every fence product. There is no universal picket gap; enter the reveal you intend to build.

Bays = posts − 1. Default 8 posts suits ~8 ft spacing on a 50 ft run. Posts are not pickets — they are counted separately below.

%

Starts at 10% — labeled trade convention for culls and end cuts, not a code table.

Buy

121

pickets

110 net · +10% waste · module 5.50 in

Posts (entered): 8 — not included in picket count

End space is narrower than one picket. Keep the exact gap and rip an end board, or switch to even-spacing mode to redistribute the gap.

The working

Exact gap versus even spacing

Keep exact gap preserves the reveal you typed. The working shows module width (picket + gap), a net coverage count for each run, and remaining end space after as many full pickets as fit in the bay. That leftover is where crews rip an end board or nudge the layout in the field.

Even spacing in bays starts from your desired gap to choose how many full pickets belong in each bay, then solves for a uniform gap so those pickets fill the bay: adjusted gap = (bay span − n × width) ÷ (n − 1). Example: a 48 ft run with 7 posts (6 bays of 8 ft) and a 0.5 in target yields about 16 pickets per bay and an adjusted gap near 0.533 in when the layout is possible. If a bay is narrower than one picket, the tool warns that a consistent full-picket layout is impossible.

Nominal versus actual picket width

The field starts at 5.5 inches because NIST Voluntary Product Standard PS 20-25 Table 3 lists that as the minimum dressed-dry width for nominal 6-inch softwood. It is a starting point, not a promise that every dog-ear cedar or specialty picket measures 5.5 in. Measure three boards from the stack you will buy. A small face error repeats hundreds of times along a run.

Multiple runs and end bays

Enter how many separate runs you have. Each run is converted from feet to inches, planned with its own posts and bays, then the picket nets are summed. Do not paste total fence length into one run if the fence is broken by gates or corners — that incorrectly treats separate end bays as one continuous module string. Posts per run set bay count (bays = posts − 1); picket count and post count stay separate on the result blade.

For posts, vinyl, chain-link, and concrete bags on the same project, use the Fence Materials Calculator. Layout context lives on the fence hub.

Waste explanation

Purchase count = ceil(net × (100 + waste%) / 100). The 10% default is a labeled trade convention for culls, splits, and end cuts — not a published standard. Lower it for clean stock and careful dry layout; raise it when end bays need many rips or delivery damage is likely. See the picket spacing guide for worked privacy versus spaced examples.

Exclusions

Sources

Grouped by manufacturer or publisher. Expand a group for the cited value, document, and verified-on date — every citation stays in the HTML either way.

NIST(1)
Trade conventions(2)

Frequently asked questions

How many fence pickets do I need?

Convert the run to inches, divide by (actual picket width + gap), and round up for a coverage net count. A 50 ft privacy-tight run of 5.5 in pickets is 110 net; with 10% waste that is 121 to buy. Enter your measured width and gap above.

What is the difference between exact-gap and even-spacing mode?

Exact-gap keeps the gap you typed and reports leftover end space in each bay. Even-spacing keeps full pickets and solves for a uniform gap that fills the bay — the recommended gap may differ from your target. Use even-spacing when you want the last board to land without a sliver rip.

What gap should I leave between pickets?

There is no universal picket gap. Privacy fences often run tight or nearly tight; spaced looks set a deliberate reveal. Material movement, finish, and any product note matter more than a website default. This tool does not prescribe one gap.

Why does the width start at 5½ inches?

NIST PS 20-25 Table 3 lists 5.5 in as the minimum dressed-dry width for nominal 6-inch softwood. Rough cedar, green stock, and specialty profiles can differ. Measure the stack you will buy — 5.5 in does not apply to every fence product.

Are posts included in the picket count?

No. Posts per run set how many bays you plan (bays = posts − 1). Picket count and post count are separate totals on purpose. Structural post design is out of scope.

How do multiple fence runs affect the count?

Each run is calculated on its own, then the nets are added. Two 50 ft runs are not the same as one 100 ft continuous run after rounding — that is intentional so end bays are not smeared across a joint that does not exist.