The number of pickets for a single-layer fence is:
Pickets = (fence length in feet × 12) ÷ (picket width + gap), rounded up
For board-on-board, each picket covers its width minus the overlap, so:
Pickets = (fence length in feet × 12) ÷ (picket width − overlap), rounded up
Not sure which layout to build? Compare a board on board fence with a shadow box fence.
Add 5 to 10 percent for split, warped or badly knotted boards. Cedar and lower grades usually need the higher end of that range.
Picket count chart for 1x6 pickets
Quick reference for 5.5-inch (1x6) pickets, before waste:
| Fence length | Tight (no gap) | ½" gap | Board on board (1.5" overlap) |
|---|
| 50 ft | 110 | 100 | 150 |
| 100 ft | 219 | 200 | 300 |
| 150 ft | 328 | 300 | 450 |
| 200 ft | 437 | 400 | 600 |
Pickets for gates and partial sections
Include gate widths in the length if the gates use the same pickets as the fence. Most do on wood fences. For partial sections at the end of a run, the formula still works because it counts inches, not sections. You'll just rip the last picket to width.
Beyond pickets: posts, rails and concrete
Pickets are usually the biggest line item on a wood fence, but not the only one. Use the fullfence calculator for posts, rails, concrete and gate hardware. If you price fences for a living,Fencefox fence estimating software calculates all of it from a drawn fence line and keeps your picket prices up to date.
Frequently asked questions
How many pickets do I need for a fence?
Convert the fence length to inches (feet × 12) and divide by the picket width plus the gap between pickets. Round up and add about 5 percent for waste. For example, 100 feet of 5.5-inch pickets with a half-inch gap needs 1,200 inches ÷ 6 inches = 200 pickets, or about 210 with waste.
How many pickets are in an 8-foot fence section?
With standard 1x6 pickets (5.5 inches actual) installed tight with no gap, an 8-foot section takes 18 pickets. With a half-inch gap it takes 16. Board-on-board with a 1.5-inch overlap takes about 24 pickets per 8-foot section.
How much gap should be between fence pickets?
Privacy fences are usually installed tight or with a gap of 1/8 to 1/4 inch to allow for wood movement. Spaced picket fences commonly use gaps of 1/2 inch up to the width of a picket. Check local codes for pool fences, which often limit openings.
What is a board-on-board fence?
Board-on-board uses two staggered layers of pickets on the same side of the rails, with each picket in the outer layer overlapping the two behind it. It gives full privacy even after the wood shrinks. With a 1 to 1.5 inch overlap it takes roughly 20 to 35 percent more pickets than a tight single layer.
What size are fence pickets actually?
Fence pickets are sold by nominal size. A 1x4 picket is about 3.5 inches wide, a 1x6 about 5.5 inches, and a 1x8 about 7.25 inches. Dog-ear and flat-top cedar pickets can vary slightly by mill, so measure a sample board before ordering a large quantity.