Free · No sign-up · Updated for 2026 prices
Fence material & cost calculator
Plan your fence. Know your cost.
Draw your fence run, choose a style, and get the real shopping list — posts, rails, pickets, fabric, concrete and gate kits — with a cost total for building it yourself or hiring it out.
- Calculated, not guessedPosts, rails, pickets and concrete derived from your exact run.
- 2026 national pricesEvery unit price is editable so you can match your local yard.
- Take it with youDownload a PDF shopping list. No account, no email required.
Build your fence estimate
Everything recalculates as you type. Start with the style, then lay out the run.
Updated October 2026
Choose your fence style
Each style carries its own material list, spacing and pricing model.
Lay out your fence line
Draw the run with corners, or just type the total length.
Gates
Gate openings are deducted from the fence run.
- Total line
- 40 ft
- Corners
- 0
- Gate width
- 0 ft
Height, spacing & options
These choices drive post count, rail count and concrete.
Fence height
Taller fences need deeper posts and cost more per piece.
Panel width
Panel width is set by the manufacturer.
Every quantity is calculated from the run you drew plus this spacing. Changing post spacing is the single biggest lever on post count, rail count and concrete.
Prices & labor
Start with 2026 national averages, then dial in your local prices.
Who installs it
The estimate shows your chosen total and the other option for comparison.
Unit prices
2026 national averages. Overwrite any line with your local lumber yard or home center pricing.
Estimated total
$1,863
Typical range $1,639 – $2,198 · $47 per linear foot
Fence line
40 ft
40 ft of fence
Corners
0
5 sections
Materials
$983
plus labor below
Labor
$880
16 crew hours
Material list
Includes waste allowance
8 ft privacy panel kit (pickets + rails)
6 each × $95.00 · 8 ft panels
5x5 x 8 ft post
7 each × $45.00
80 lb concrete mix
14 bag × $7.00
Cost breakdown
Planning estimate only. Quantities assume flat ground, standard soil and no rock. Confirm current prices before buying.
Estimated total
$1,863
How the calculator works
Four steps, and the estimate updates as you go. Nothing is hidden behind a sign-up wall, and every input is yours to change.
- Step 1
Lay out the line
Draw the run on a grid, add corners and drop in walk or drive gates. Or just type the total length.
- Step 2
Pick the style
Wood, chain link, vinyl, aluminum, composite or ranch rail — each with its own material list and spacing.
- Step 3
Set height and spacing
Height, post spacing, rails and boards decide how much material you actually need.
- Step 4
Get the numbers
An itemized list, a DIY and professional total, cost per foot, and a PDF you can hand to an installer.
Seven fence styles, priced honestly
Each style has different material counts, lifespans and upkeep. These ranges are installed cost per linear foot; the calculator breaks each one down to the board.
Wood Privacy
$30–$60/ftVertical 1x6 dog-ear pickets on three rails, posts every 8 ft. Full privacy you can repair one board at a time.
- Privacy
- Complete
- Life
- 12-20 years
- Upkeep
- Seal every 2-3 years
Wood Picket
$22–$40/ftNarrower boards with deliberate gaps on two rails. Friendly from the street, easy to build, no real privacy.
- Privacy
- Partial
- Life
- 12-20 years
- Upkeep
- Seal every 2-3 years
Ranch Rail
$18–$32/ftThree horizontal rails with no pickets: the cheapest way to mark a boundary or contain livestock on a big lot.
- Privacy
- None
- Life
- 10-20 years
- Upkeep
- Seal every 2-3 years
Chain Link
$16–$30/ftGalvanized steel fabric between posts 10 ft apart. The cheapest permanent fence and the best value for dogs.
- Privacy
- None
- Life
- 20-30 years
- Upkeep
- None
Vinyl
$32–$60/ftPre-assembled privacy panels that slide into routed posts. Nothing to stain, nothing to rot, decades of life.
- Privacy
- Complete
- Life
- 20-30 years
- Upkeep
- Soap and water rinse
Aluminum
$38–$70/ftPowder-coated pickets in rigid panels. Best-looking front-yard fence, never rusts, no privacy.
- Privacy
- None
- Life
- 25-40 years
- Upkeep
- None
Composite
$45–$85/ftWood-plastic panels in horizontal or vertical designs. The modern look and a 20-25 year color warranty.
- Privacy
- Complete
- Life
- 20-30 years
- Upkeep
- None
What is in the estimate — and what is not
A fence estimate is only trustworthy if it tells you where its edges are. This is exactly what FenceCalc counts, and what you should expect to price separately.
Included in every estimate
- Posts, counted per section, including extra posts at every gate
- Rails or panels, based on your spacing and rail count
- Pickets, pickets per foot, calculated from board width and gap
- Chain link fabric, top rail, tension bands and tie wire
- Concrete, at two 80 lb bags per post as a default
- Fasteners and hardware for the style you chose
- Gate kits and the posts that carry them
- A waste allowance you control, defaulting to 10%
- Removal and disposal of an old fence, if you add it
- Professional labor at a per-foot rate you can edit
Price these separately
- Rock, stump or concrete removal found while digging
- Irrigation, lighting or utility repairs
- Permit fees and inspections, unless you enter them
- Landscaping repair or grass reseeding
- Retaining walls and yard drainage work
Site work is the most common reason a quote beats an estimate. Ask any installer what they charge per hour for rock or stump removal before you sign.
Fence guides, written by people who measure first
Material math, real cost ranges, code rules and installation trade-offs — the questions that come up before anyone buys a single post.
How Many Posts, Rails and Pickets Do You Need? (Per 100 Feet)
The quantities a supplier would quote you for 100 feet of fence, and the three details that quietly change every number.
6 min read
Fence Cost Per Linear Foot in 2026: What to Actually Expect
Installed and DIY ranges for every common fence material, plus what separates a $28/ft fence from a $48/ft fence.
8 min read
Wood vs. Vinyl vs. Chain Link: Which Fence Is Worth It?
The three materials most homeowners actually choose between, compared over a 20-year horizon instead of the sticker price.
7 min readHow we calculate, and why you can trust it
FenceCalc is not a lead-generation form that hides a phone number behind six questions. It is a real estimating tool built around the way fences are actually purchased.
Quantities are computed
Posts come from section count, pickets from board width and gap, concrete from bags per hole. Change one input and every number moves with it.
Prices start from national averages
Unit prices reflect 2026 averages at major home centers and lumber yards for common materials. Every line is editable, so you can substitute the quote your local yard gives you.
Ranges, not promises
The estimate shows a range of roughly minus 12 to plus 18 percent, because material markets and labor rates move by region and season.
Last updated October 2026. FenceCalc provides planning estimates, not quotations — always confirm quantities and current pricing with your supplier, and check local codes before you dig. FenceCalc is reader-supported: some outbound links to retailers may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Fence estimating questions
The six questions we get asked most, answered without a sales pitch.
Ready to plan your fence?
Draw the run, choose the style, and walk into the lumber yard or the contractor's office knowing exactly what the job should cost.