Fence Picket Calculator
How many pickets do I need? Enter your fence run and style — pickets are computed from real board width and gap spacing, then a waste factor is added for cuts and mistakes.
Estimate
| Pickets needed (incl. waste) | 450 |
|---|---|
| Picket cost | $1,890 |
Picket spacing basics
- Privacy: pickets butted tight (≈¼ in shadow gap) — about 2 pickets per foot with 5.5 in boards.
- Semi-privacy: 1 in gaps between pickets.
- Picket style: 1.5 in gaps for the classic open look.
How the picket math works
Pickets per foot = 12 in ÷ (board width + gap). The calculator multiplies that density by your fence run, adds the waste factor for cut-offs and damaged boards, and rounds up to whole pickets. A 200 ft privacy fence with 5.5 in boards and a ¼ in gap works out to roughly 418 pickets before waste.
Frequently asked questions
What size pickets should I buy?
5.5 in wide × ⅝ in thick dog-ear pickets are the wood standard; cedar and treated pine are the common species. Vinyl pickets run wider (about 6 in) and come pre-routed.
How many pickets do I need for 100 feet of privacy fence?
With 5.5 in boards and a ¼ in shadow gap: about 2 pickets per foot, so roughly 210 pickets including 10% waste. Enter 100 ft above with the Privacy style to see your exact count.
Will pickets shrink and open the gaps?
Yes — treated pine shrinks as it dries (up to ¼ in per board). Install freshly treated pickets butted tight with no gap; they will season to a natural ¼ in gap within weeks. Cedar and kiln-dried boards are more stable and can be spaced intentionally.