How many fence pickets do I need?
Convert the fence length to inches, then divide by the width each picket covers. For a privacy fence that's just the picket width. For a spaced fence, it's the picket width plus the gap. For board-on-board, it's the picket width minus the overlap. Then add about 5% for split, warped or badly knotted boards.
| Style | Picket | Pickets per foot | Per 100 ft (+5%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy | 1×6 | 2.18 | 230 |
| Privacy | 1×4 | 3.43 | 360 |
| Spaced, 2″ gap | 1×6 | 1.60 | 168 |
| Spaced, 2″ gap | 1×4 | 2.18 | 230 |
| Board-on-board, 1″ overlap | 1×6 | 2.67 | 280 |
| Board-on-board, 1″ overlap | 1×4 | 4.80 | 504 |
Actual picket sizes
Lumber is sold by nominal size, so a "1×6" picket is really about 5½″ wide and a "1×4" about 3½″. The calculator uses the actual widths. If your pickets measure differently, which happens with some cedar, count using the real number. Pickets are usually as long as the fence is tall: 6 ft pickets for a 6 ft fence.
Privacy, spaced or board-on-board?
Privacy fences butt the pickets together. Leave a hair of space if the wood is wet, since it shrinks as it dries. Spaced fences let air and light through and use fewer pickets. Board-on-board puts a row of pickets on the front with gaps, then covers each gap from the back with pickets overlapping about 1″ on each side. It uses the most wood, but it looks good from both sides and stays private even after the boards shrink.
How to space pickets evenly
Cut a spacer block to the gap width and use it between each picket instead of measuring every time. Before you start a section, dry-lay or mark the pickets so the last one doesn't end up as a sliver. If it would, split the difference across a slightly wider or narrower gap.
How many nails or screws?
Use two fasteners per picket at every rail: six per picket on a 3-rail fence. Use exterior-rated, hot-dip galvanized or stainless ring-shank nails or deck screws. Cheaper fasteners rust and leave black streaks, especially on cedar and pressure-treated wood.
Planning the whole fence?
The fence calculator adds posts, rails and concrete with a full material cost.