Fence pickets needed by fence length
| Fence length | 5.5 in picket + 1/8 in gap | 5.5 in picket + 1/4 in gap | 3.5 in picket + 1/8 in gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 ft | 59 pickets | 58 pickets | 92 pickets |
| 50 ft | 118 pickets | 115 pickets | 183 pickets |
| 75 ft | 176 pickets | 173 pickets | 274 pickets |
| 100 ft | 235 pickets | 230 pickets | 365 pickets |
| 125 ft | 294 pickets | 287 pickets | 456 pickets |
| 150 ft | 352 pickets | 345 pickets | 547 pickets |
| 200 ft | 470 pickets | 460 pickets | 729 pickets |
| 250 ft | 587 pickets | 574 pickets | 911 pickets |
| 300 ft | 704 pickets | 689 pickets | 1,093 pickets |
Table includes 10% extra material and assumes the listed dimensions are actual installed picket width and clear gap. Gates and other openings should be removed from the picketed fence run.
How to calculate fence pickets
Convert the fence run to inches, then divide by the picket width plus the desired gap. Round up to a whole picket. Finally multiply by your extra-material factor and round up again.
Formula: pickets = fence length in inches ÷ (picket width + gap), then add your chosen extra allowance.
Example: 100-foot fence with 5.5-inch pickets
With a 1/8-inch gap, each picket occupies 5.625 inches of fence run. A 100-foot run is 1,200 inches, which requires about 214 pickets before extra material. Adding 10% and rounding up gives 235 pickets to buy.
Calculate your exact picket quantity
Use your actual fence length, picket width, gap, rails and waste allowance instead of relying on a preset chart.
Open Fence Picket Calculator →Should gates count in the fence length?
Not when the gate opening is not being covered with the same continuous picket layout. Subtract gate openings from the picketed run before calculating pickets. The complete BuildGauge Fence Calculator does this automatically when you enter the number and width of gates.
Why actual picket width matters
Lumber names and actual dimensions can differ. Measure the face width of the picket you plan to install or use the manufacturer’s listed actual dimensions. A small difference repeated across a long fence can change the final quantity substantially.
For posts, rails, gates, concrete and fasteners as well as pickets, use the complete Fence Calculator. You can also browse the Fence Planning Hub for spacing and concrete reference charts.