Fence Picket Calculator
Calculate exact **fence picket** quantities, board feet, and linear footage. **Fence picket calculator** for material estimation with waste factor.
Formula & Explanation
Picket count = ceil(fence_length_inches ÷ (picket_width + gap_width)) For a 100-foot fence with 5.5-inch pickets and 1.5-inch gaps: - Fence length = 1200 inches - Spacing = 5.5 + 1.5 = 7 inches - Pickets = ceil(1200 ÷ 7) = 172 pickets Total linear feet = picket count × picket height (in feet) Board feet = (picket_width_in × picket_height_in × count) ÷ 144 Waste percentage is applied to account for cutting, breakage, and mistakes.
Assumptions
- •Picket width is actual (not nominal; 1×6 board = 5.5 inches actual)
- •Gap width is measured between picket edges
- •Picket height is uniform across the fence (no angle cuts)
- •Waste percentage typically 5-10% for standard straight cuts
- •Does not include rails or posts
- •Board feet calculation assumes rectangular pickets only
Example Calculation
For a 100-foot fence with 5.5-inch pickets and 1.5-inch gaps at 6-foot height, you need 172 pickets base, or 189 with 10% waste. This equals 1,134 linear feet and approximately 495 board feet of picket material.
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