Fencing Calculator NZ

This calculator works out the materials you need to build a timber paling fence, so you can order the right amount of posts, rails and palings without guessing or making extra trips to the hardware store. You enter the total fence length in metres, the spacing between posts (commonly 2.4 metres), the number of horizontal rails between the posts (usually two or three), and the width of each paling in millimetres along with any gap you want between them. From these the calculator returns three results: the number of palings to buy, the number of posts required, and the total lineal metres of rail needed. Posts come from dividing the fence length by the post spacing and adding one for the final post. Rail lineal metres is the fence length multiplied by the number of rails, since each rail runs the full length. Palings per metre come from dividing 1,000 millimetres by the paling width plus gap, then multiplying by the fence length and rounding up. Use it before a trip to the timber yard to get a materials list, and adjust the paling gap to see how a tighter or wider spacing changes the quantity needed. As with any materials estimate, add a small allowance for cutting waste and damaged pieces, and check your figures against local council fencing rules before you build.

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