How Many Pickets Do I Need?
Short answer: pickets per foot = 12 ÷ (picket width in inches + gap in inches). A 200 ft privacy run with 5.5 in pickets and a ¼ in shadow gap needs about 450 pickets with waste (410 before waste).
The formula
Pickets per foot = 12 ÷ (width + gap). Multiply by the effective run length (after gate openings), then add your waste factor and round up.
| Style | Width + gap | Pickets per foot |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy (tight, ¼ in shadow gap) | 5.5 + 0.25 | 2.09 |
| Semi-privacy (1 in gap) | 5.5 + 1 | 1.85 |
| Open picket (1.5 in gap) | 5.5 + 1.5 | 1.66 |
Worked example — 200 ft privacy
- Effective run: 196 ft (after a 4 ft gate)
- 196 × 2.09 = 410 pickets
- Waste 10% → 410 × 1.1 = 451 → order 451 pickets
Board-on-board and shadowbox
Overlapping styles (board-on-board) cover the gap with a second layer — they need roughly 15–30% more pickets depending on overlap, and both faces count. Run the numbers per layer in the picket calculator by adjusting the gap.
Don't forget shrinkage
Wet pressure-treated pickets shrink up to ¼ in as they dry. Installed tight, a privacy fence opens its own shadow gaps — space wet lumber tight and let drying do the rest.
Calculate your pickets
The Fence Picket Calculator handles any width/gap combo, and the material calculator rolls pickets into the full takeoff with rails and concrete.
FAQ
How many pickets for 100 ft?
≈209 at privacy spacing before waste; ~230 with 10% waste.
Should I add a waste factor?
Yes — 10% is standard for cut materials like pickets and rails.
Do pickets shrink?
Treated wood can shrink ~¼ in drying out; install tight and let the gaps open naturally.