6 ft privacy fence materials by length
Posts 8 ft apart, three 2×4 rails per section, 5½ in pickets with no gap, 10% extra rails and pickets, 50 lb concrete bags in 10½ × 24 in holes.
| Fence length | Posts | Rails | Pickets | 50 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | 8 | 24 | 122 | 32 |
| 100 ft | 14 | 43 | 241 | 56 |
| 150 ft | 20 | 63 | 361 | 80 |
| 200 ft | 26 | 83 | 481 | 104 |
| 300 ft | 39 | 126 | 721 | 156 |
How the fence calculator works
Sections = length ÷ post spacing, rounded up
Posts = sections + 1 + corners and gate sides
Rails = sections × rails per section (1 per 24 in of height) + extra %
Pickets = length (in) ÷ (picket width + gap), + extra %
Concrete per post = (π × (hole ÷ 2)² − post²) × depth
Example
A 100 ft, 6 ft privacy fence with posts 8 ft apart has 13 sections and 14 posts, 43 rails with 10% extra, and 241 pickets.
Posts, holes and concrete
QUIKRETE and Sakrete both size a post hole at about three times the post's width — 10½ in for a 4×4, whose actual size is 3½ in — with gravel in the bottom for drainage. Sakrete sets the depth at about a third of the above-ground height, so a 6 ft fence needs holes about 2 ft deep and 8 ft posts. The calculator subtracts the post from the hole volume, adds 10% and rounds up to whole bags; it also counts 0.5 cu ft bags of gravel for a 6 in base under each post.
What's not included
Gates and gate hardware, post caps, fasteners, stain and tools are not counted. Check property lines, HOA rules and local fence height limits, and call 811 before you dig. To compare with hiring a pro, see fence cost per linear foot.
Frequently asked questions
How many fence posts do I need?
Divide the fence length by the post spacing, round up to get the number of sections, and add one post. A 100 ft fence with posts 8 ft apart has 13 sections and 14 posts. Add an extra post for every corner and on both sides of each gate.
How many pickets do I need for a 100 ft privacy fence?
With 5½ in wide pickets butted together, 1,200 in ÷ 5.5 = 218.2, so 219 pickets; with 10% extra for splits and bad boards, buy 241. If you leave a gap between pickets, divide by the picket width plus the gap instead.
How many bags of concrete per fence post?
For a 4×4 post in a hole three times its width (10½ in) and 2 ft deep, the concrete around the post is about 1.03 cubic feet — 4 bags of 50 lb mix or 2 bags of 80 lb mix with 10% extra. Sakrete's own guide says about two bags of its Fast Setting Concrete per hole for a standard 6 ft fence; the difference comes down to hole size, so measure yours.
How deep should fence posts be?
Sakrete recommends a hole about one third of the post's above-ground height — about 2 ft for a 6 ft fence — and 4–6 in of gravel in the bottom. QUIKRETE's rule is one third of the total post length plus 6 in for gravel, and at least 6 in below the frost line. Local codes and frost depth can require more.
How many rails does a fence need?
A common rule is one rail for every 24 in of fence height, so a 6 ft privacy fence gets three rails and a 4 ft picket fence gets two. Split rail fences typically use two or three rails set into mortised posts.
Sources
Prices are national shelf prices and cost-guide ranges read on September 17, 2026. The calculator uses the typical price (the median of the shelf prices we saw) and shows the low–high range; type your own local price to update the total.
All sources for this page (23)
Coverage, yield and building specs
- QUIKRETE — Setting posts (project sheet) accessed 2026-09-16
- Sakrete — Setting posts & poles accessed 2026-09-16
- Inch Calculator — Fence calculator accessed 2026-09-16
- QUIKRETE Concrete Mix No. 1101 product data sheet accessed 2026-09-17
- Sakrete High-Strength Concrete Mix product page accessed 2026-09-16
Prices
- The Home Depot — Pressure-treated 4 in. x 4 in. accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Pressure-treated deck boards accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — 6 ft wood fence pickets accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — 4 ft wood fence pickets accessed 2026-09-16
- Split Rail Fence Store — Products & pricing accessed 2026-09-16
- Fence Authority — Pressure-treated split rail 11 ft accessed 2026-09-16
- County Line Fence — Split rail pressure-treated post accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Concrete Mix category listing accessed 2026-09-16
- HomeGuide — Concrete prices accessed 2026-09-17 · page dated 2026-01-06
- Ace Hardware — QUIKRETE Fast-Setting Concrete 50 lb accessed 2026-09-16
- Ace Hardware — Sakrete Fast Setting Concrete 50 lb accessed 2026-09-16
- Schillings — Sakrete Concrete Mix 80 lb accessed 2026-09-16
- Cox Hardware — Sakrete Hi-Strength Concrete Mix 80 lb accessed 2026-09-16
- Ace Hardware — QUIKRETE Concrete Mix 80 lb accessed 2026-09-16
- Denver True Value — QUIKRETE Concrete Mix 80 lb accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Bagged pea pebbles accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Paver base accessed 2026-09-16
- Ace Hardware — QUIKRETE All-Purpose Gravel 50 lb accessed 2026-09-16
Estimates for planning purposes only, not professional construction advice. Check local building codes and your product's instructions before you build. Prices are national averages collected from public retail listings and cost guides and will differ in your area. BuildHowMuch is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by or paid by any retailer or manufacturer mentioned on this page. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.