How many fence posts do I need?

Divide the fence length by the post spacing and add one for the end post. Posts are commonly spaced at 2.4 metres for paling fences. The calculator works out the posts, rails, and palings from the length and spacings you enter.

How many rails does a fence need?

Most paling fences have two or three rails running horizontally between the posts. Taller fences use three. Set the number of rails and the calculator multiplies it by the fence length for the total lineal metres of rail.

How many palings per metre?

Divide 1,000 by the paling width plus the gap in millimetres to get palings per metre. For 100 mm palings butted together that is about 10 per metre, and fewer if you leave a gap. The calculator uses your paling width and gap.

Fencing Calculator

Estimate the timber for a paling fence. Enter the fence length, the spacing between posts, the number of rails, and the paling width and gap. The calculator shows how many posts, palings, and lineal metres of rail you need. Add a little extra for waste and cuts.

Fence length (m)

Post spacing (m)

Rails

Paling width (mm)

Paling gap (mm)

0 palings

palings to buy

Posts0

Rail lineal metres0 m

How it works

The posts are the fence length divided by the post spacing, plus one for the end. The rails run the full length, so the lineal metres of rail is the length times the number of rails. The palings per metre come from the paling width plus the gap, multiplied by the length for the total.

Worked example

A 20 metre fence with posts every 2.4 metres needs about 10 posts. With two rails that is 40 lineal metres of rail. With 100 mm palings butted tight, that is 10 per metre, so about 200 palings.

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