Fence Picket Calculator
Calculate fence boards and pickets with precise spacing and screw fastener counts.
Fence Picket Calculator Interactive Tool
Enter your project dimensions below. Results update instantly.
Results
209
Exact geometric coverage230
Includes +10% cutting & split buffer16.7
6-ft boards (5.5" width)$575.00
At $2.50/picketPicket Quantity & Fastener Formulas
Base Pickets = ⌈(Length (ft) × 12) ÷ (Picket Width + Gap)⌉ | Total Pickets = ⌈Base Pickets × (1 + Waste % ÷ 100)⌉ | Screws = Total Pickets × Rails × 2Formula Variables:
- Picket Width:Actual board width (standard nominal 1×6 is actually 5.5 inches wide).
- Gap:0" for solid privacy, 1/4" to 1/2" for shadowbox or air-vented fences, 2" for traditional picket.
- Screws:2 exterior-coated deck screws per rail attachment point to prevent cupping.
Pressure-treated green wood shrinks as it dries; boards installed tight will open a natural 1/8" to 1/4" gap within a few months.
Step-by-Step Worked Example
Example: 80-foot run with 5.5" dog-ear pickets, 1/4" gap, 3 rails, 10% waste
Installing spaced pickets along an 80-foot boundary line using 3 horizontal 2×4 rails at $2.25 per picket.
- Calculate effective spacing per board: 5.5 + 0.25 = 5.75 inches.
- Convert 80 ft to inches: 80 × 12 = 960 inches.
- Calculate base pickets: 960 ÷ 5.75 = 166.95 → 167 pickets.
- Add 10% waste for cracked or split boards: 167 × 1.10 = 183.7 → 184 pickets.
- Calculate screws needed: 184 pickets × 3 rails × 2 screws/rail = 1,104 exterior wood screws.
- Calculate material cost: 184 pickets × $2.25 = $414.00.
Input Explanations & Measurement Guidelines
Fence Length
Typical: 50 to 150 ftTotal linear footage of picket-covered fence line.
Picket Width
Typical: 3.5" (1×4) or 5.5" (1×6)Actual face width of the wood picket.
Gap Between Pickets
Typical: 0" (privacy) to 2.5" (spaced)Space between adjacent board edges.
Assumptions & Limitations
- Assumes single-sided continuous run. For shadowbox fences with pickets on both sides, multiply total count by ~1.6.
Safety & Professional Notes
- Use hot-dipped galvanized or polymer-coated exterior ceramic deck screws. Plain drywall screws will corrode and snap within months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I leave a gap between privacy fence pickets?
If your pickets are freshly pressure-treated and wet, butt them tight against each other; they will shrink and create natural 1/8" gaps as they dry. If installing kiln-dried cedar, leave a 1/8" gap to allow for rain swelling.
Nails or screws for fence pickets?
Screws are superior because they will not back out as the lumber expands and contracts, preventing loose, rattling boards.