Methodology
Every calculator on this site reads from one fence model. Here are its formulas, assumptions and limits.
1. One fence model
Each estimate starts from the same project description: total length, height, material and construction, layout (open run or closed loop), corners, optional exact run lengths, maximum post spacing, gates and gate width. All calculators — project, cost, materials, posts, panels, pickets and concrete — show different views of that single result.
2. Geometry and posts
- Net fence = total length − (gates × gate width). Example: 180 ft with two 4 ft gates = 172 ft of fence infill.
- Terminal posts = end posts (2 for an open run, 0 for a closed loop) + one per corner + two per gate.
- Line posts are placed within each segment between terminal posts so no bay exceeds the maximum spacing:
ceil(segment ÷ spacing) − 1. - Panel systems use panel width as the spacing. Stick-built wood is capped at 8 ft bays; chain link at 10 ft.
- If you enter each run length, results are labeled exact run lengths; otherwise runs are assumed equal and labeled estimated run lengths. In both cases gate positions are assumed mid-run.
3. Materials by system
- Stick-built wood: posts, rails (bays × rails per bay), pickets (net length ÷ (picket width + gap)), fasteners (2 per picket per rail + 4 per rail), concrete, gate hardware.
- Prebuilt panels (wood, vinyl, aluminum, composite): posts, one panel per bay, brackets (none for routed vinyl posts), bracket screws for wood, post caps, concrete, gates.
- Chain link: terminal and line posts, fabric in 50 ft rolls, top rail in 21 ft sticks, bottom tension wire, tension bars (1 per end/gate post, 2 per corner), tension and brace bands, caps, ties.
- Required vs. buy: “Required” is the net quantity. “Buy” applies the waste allowance (default 10%) only to cuttable or breakable items — pickets, rails, top rail, fasteners and ties — once, from required counts. Posts, panels, hardware and concrete are bought at the required quantity, rounded to whole bags or stock lengths.
4. Concrete
Hole depth is one-third of fence height (minimum 24") — deeper below the frost line in cold climates. Hole diameter is about three times post width (8"–12" by material; chain-link terminal posts use larger holes than line posts). Concrete = hole volume − post volume, divided by bag yield (0.6 cu ft per 80 lb bag, 0.375 cu ft per 50 lb). A 6" gravel base is listed separately. No waste factor is applied to concrete.
5. Pricing source
Fence Calculator national planning baseline (internally authored). Market: United States. Currency: USD. Dataset version: us-baseline-1.0.0 (active since 2026-10-04). External sources used: none — these figures were compiled by us and are not drawn from an external dataset. Dataset freshness (age only, not external market verification): Current. External validation: not yet reviewed. Confidence: low. Planning-level (low confidence). Not a contractor quote; not ZIP-localized. Local quotes commonly differ by 25% or more. Prices are not live and not ZIP-localized.
How prices are updated
Prices live in a versioned dataset, separate from the calculation code. A server-side refresh process (designed to run quarterly) can read only explicitly configured, permitted structured sources — never arbitrary websites. Every observation is converted to canonical units and checked: values must be positive and finite, high ≥ low, within sane bounds for its category, and not stale (older than about 18 months). A price changes only when at least two independent sources agree; ranges are combined with a median (or trimmed mean with four or more sources) and outliers are excluded. Changes over 15% are marked review_required and can never be auto-activated. They may be activated only after explicit human approval and successful dataset validation, which converts their status to accepted. A record is never replaced with fewer sources than it already has. If a refresh fails or coverage is insufficient, the current dataset stays active.
| Material | Materials / net ft | Pro labor / net ft | 4 ft gate (materials) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood (pine/spruce) | $10–$18 | $10–$18 | $150–$400 |
| Cedar | $15–$28 | $12–$20 | $200–$500 |
| Pressure-treated | $12–$20 | $10–$18 | $150–$400 |
| Vinyl | $20–$35 | $12–$20 | $300–$700 |
| Chain link | $8–$15 | $6–$12 | $100–$300 |
| Aluminum | $25–$40 | $12–$22 | $350–$800 |
| Composite | $30–$50 | $15–$25 | $400–$900 |
- Rates are for a 6 ft fence, scaled by height (4 ft ×0.75, 5 ft ×0.88, 6 ft ×1.00, 8 ft ×1.35).
- Terrain: slight slope materials ×1.03, labor ×1.10–1.15; steep materials ×1.08, labor ×1.25–1.40.
- Gates are priced separately from fence infill and scale with gate width; professional gate labor $100–$250 per 4 ft gate.
- Concrete $5.50–$7.50 per 80 lb bag. Removal $3–$6 per ft (pro) or $0.50–$1.50 per ft disposal (DIY).
6. Units
You can enter and view lengths in feet or meters. Calculations always run internally in feet and inches; metric only changes input and display. Market and currency stay U.S./USD regardless of units.
7. Limitations
Results are planning estimates, not contractor quotes. Actual pricing varies by location, terrain, material quality, permits and project complexity. Estimates exclude permits, surveys, utility locating, staining, delivery and unusual site conditions such as rock or roots. Always get written quotes from licensed, insured installers.