Fencing guide
How Many Pickets Do I Need for 100 Feet of Fence?
Estimate pickets for a 100 foot fence run from picket width, intentional gap, and gate openings.
Short answer
For 100 feet of boarded fence, convert each picket plus gap to feet, divide the boarded length by that spacing, and round up. With 5.5 inch pickets and 0.5 inch gaps, 100 feet takes 200 pickets before waste or gate/opening adjustments.
Use the Fence CalculatorThe formula
- Boarded fence length = total fence length - gate openings
- Picket module in feet = (picket width in inches + gap in inches) / 12
- Pickets = boarded fence length / picket module, rounded up
- Optional order count = pickets x (1 + waste percentage), rounded up
Worked example
A 100 ft straight fence with one 4 ft gate
- Boarded length: 100 - 4 = 96 linear ft.
- Picket module: (5.5 in + 0.5 in) / 12 = 0.5 ft.
- Pickets before waste: 96 / 0.5 = 192 pickets.
- With 5% extra for sorting and damage: 192 x 1.05 = 201.6 pickets.
Start around 202 pickets for the boarded run, then calculate posts, rails, gate framing, fasteners, and concrete separately.
Fence length is not always boarded length
Gate openings, returns, corners, and non-boarded sections change the number of pickets. Measure the total run, then subtract any opening where pickets will not be installed.
If the fence steps up a slope or changes style between runs, estimate each run separately so one average spacing does not hide a shortfall.
Picket width and gap work together
A nominal picket size may not be the exact installed face width, so use the measured or product-listed face width. Add the intended gap to that width before dividing into the boarded length.
Privacy fences often use no intentional gap or overlapping boards, while spaced picket fences use a visible gap. The calculator lets you change that gap and immediately see the count move.
- Confirm picket face width, not only nominal lumber size.
- Subtract gates and openings before calculating pickets.
- Add a small allowance for damaged boards, sorting, and future repair stock when useful.
Do the safety checks before laying out posts
811 identifies fence installation as a digging project that requires contacting the state 811 center before digging and waiting for utility responses. Post locations, gate loads, soil, wind exposure, frost depth, and local rules still control the actual build.
References and verification
Use these references together with the instructions and coverage or yield information on the product you select.