Building a new fence, or hiring someone to build it, and want to know exactly what it takes? Good news: you do not need to be a contractor to figure out your own materials. With your fence length and a few simple formulas, you can walk in knowing your picket count, your posts, your rails, even how much concrete and stain you need. This is the exact method our fence team uses at The BOSS, laid out step by step so you can do it at your kitchen table. Measure once, buy right, and skip the extra trips.
Quick note before we start. The BOSS supplies the material, we do not install, so figuring your quantities up front means you buy exactly what you need, whether you are doing it yourself or handing a clean list to your installer. Bring us your numbers and we will double-check the math and pull everything for you.
Step 1: Answer five questions first
Every formula below depends on these five answers, so nail them down before you do any math.
- How many linear feet? This is the total length of your fence line. Walk every side of the area you want to enclose and add it up. Linear feet drives every other number.
- What height, 6 foot or 8 foot? Height changes how many rails and brackets you need.
- What style, side-by-side or board-on-board? Side-by-side sets the pickets flush with no overlap for a clean, classic look. Board-on-board overlaps the pickets for more privacy and a finished look on both sides. Style changes your picket count.
- Treated pine or cedar? This is your material and your look, and it tells you whether you will want to stain.
- What post spacing, 6 foot or 8 foot? Spacing drives your post, rail, bracket, and concrete counts. For most treated pine and cedar fences we recommend 8 foot spacing, since it is the most common and cost-effective. If you are not sure on any of these, our team will help you choose.
Step 2: Pickets
Use the formula that matches your style.
- Side-by-side: Linear Feet × 2.17 = pickets
- Board-on-board: Linear Feet × 2.7 = pickets
So a 100-foot side-by-side fence needs about 217 pickets, while the same fence in board-on-board needs about 270. Board-on-board uses more pickets because they overlap, which is exactly what gives you the added privacy and the more premium look.
Step 3: Posts
Posts have one rule people forget, so read this twice.
Linear Feet ÷ post spacing = sections. Round UP, then add 1.
Say you have 100 feet at 8-foot spacing: 100 ÷ 8 = 12.5, which rounds up to 13 sections, and 13 + 1 = 14 posts. That final “add 1” is the closing post at the end of the run. Forget it and you come up one post short, which is the most common measuring mistake there is.
Step 4: Rails
Rails are the horizontal boards your pickets attach to.
- 6-foot fence: 3 rails per section
- 8-foot fence: 4 rails per section
Formula: (Linear Feet ÷ post spacing) × rails per section, then round up.
For a 6-foot fence at 100 feet with 8-foot spacing: (100 ÷ 8) × 3 = 37.5, round up to 38 rails.
Step 5: Brackets and lag bolts
Brackets hold your rails to the posts, and lag bolts hold the brackets.
- Brackets: number of posts × 3 for a 6-foot fence, or × 4 for an 8-foot fence. Add 1 more bracket per post if you are running a kick board at the bottom.
- Lag bolts: brackets × 4. There are always four lag bolts per bracket.
Step 6: Concrete
You set each post in concrete, so your bag count follows your post count.
- Fast-Set (recommended): posts × 1.5 bags
- 80 lb standard: posts × 1 bag
- Maximizer: same ratio as Fast-Set, and it sets stronger and faster, which makes it a great choice for metal posts.
Step 7: Stain
If you are going with cedar, stain protects your investment and keeps it from graying and drying out. We use Ready Seal, which covers about 125 square feet per gallon on a 6-foot fence.
- One side: Linear Feet × 6 ÷ 125 = gallons. Quick rule: about 1 gallon per 20 feet.
- Both sides: Linear Feet × 12 ÷ 125 = gallons. Quick rule: about 1 gallon per 10 feet.
Here is the option most people love once they hear it: we can pre-stain your fence in-house before you pick it up. You get more even coverage with no missed spots or lap marks, the materials show up job-ready so the install goes faster, and there is no overspray to damage your landscaping. Pre-stain lead time is usually 1 to 3 days depending on the size of your fence, so just ask when you order.
Do not forget the add-ons
These are the little things that separate a fence that lasts from one that sags, so think through them before you order:
- Gate kit. Walk gate, double gate, or a wheel gate for a wide opening? A proper kit keeps gates from sagging and gives you a cleaner, more professional look.
- Top cap and trim. A 2x4 cap with 1x4 trim dresses up the fence and covers the exposed picket tops so they hold up longer.
- Kick board or rot board. A treated 2x6 along the bottom protects your pickets from moisture, weed eaters, and dirt contact.
- Screws or nails. Screws give you a stronger, more premium hold. Nails go faster and cost less in labor.
A full example, start to finish
Let’s run a real one: 150 linear feet, 6-foot cedar, side-by-side, 8-foot post spacing.
| Material | Formula | You need |
|---|---|---|
| Pickets | 150 × 2.17 | 326 pickets |
| Posts | 150 ÷ 8 = 18.75, round up to 19, + 1 | 20 metal posts |
| Rails | (150 ÷ 8) × 3 | 57 rails |
| Brackets | 20 × 3 | 60 brackets |
| Lag bolts | 60 × 4 | 240 lag bolts |
| Concrete, Fast-Set | 20 × 1.5 | 30 bags |
| Concrete, 80 lb | 20 × 1 | 20 bags |
| Stain, one side | 150 × 6 ÷ 125 | 7.2 gallons |
That is a complete materials list from one measurement and a little arithmetic.
The bottom line
Measuring your own fence is not hard, and doing it before you shop puts you in control of the whole project. You will know what you need, you will not overbuy or come up short, and you will have a clean list whether you build it yourself or hire the labor.
That is where we come in. Bring your linear footage and your five answers to The BOSS and we will run the numbers with you, pull your first-quality cedar or treated pine, and get you loaded up, pre-stained and job-ready if you want it. We do not install, so you get straight guidance on the material, and we are glad to point you to trusted installers who pick up from us every day. Not sure who to hire yet? Start with our guide on questions to ask before you hire a fence contractor.
Fence it like a BOSS!
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pickets do I need for a fence? Multiply your fence length in linear feet by 2.17 for a side-by-side fence, or by 2.7 for a board-on-board fence. For example, 100 linear feet side-by-side needs about 217 pickets, and the same run in board-on-board needs about 270, because the overlapping boards use more material.
How do I calculate how many fence posts I need? Divide your linear feet by your post spacing to get the number of sections, round up to the next whole number, then add one for the end post. For 100 feet at 8-foot spacing: 100 ÷ 8 = 12.5, round up to 13, plus 1 equals 14 posts. Forgetting that final post is the most common mistake, so always add it.
What is the difference between side-by-side and board-on-board fencing? Side-by-side sets the pickets flush next to each other for a clean, classic look and uses fewer pickets. Board-on-board overlaps the pickets, which gives you more privacy and a finished look from both sides, and it uses more pickets (2.7 per foot versus 2.17).
How much stain do I need for my fence? On a 6-foot fence, use linear feet × 6 ÷ 125 for one side, or linear feet × 12 ÷ 125 for both sides, since Ready Seal covers about 125 square feet per gallon. A quick rule is about 1 gallon per 20 feet for one side, or 1 gallon per 10 feet for both. The BOSS can also pre-stain your fence in-house before pickup for more even coverage and a faster install.
Should I use 6-foot or 8-foot post spacing? For most treated pine and cedar fences, 8-foot spacing is the most common and cost-effective choice. Wider spacing means fewer posts, rails, brackets, and concrete bags. If your design or wind exposure calls for extra strength, closer spacing adds rigidity.
Does The BOSS sell fence material and pre-stain it? Yes. The BOSS carries first-quality cedar pickets (including pre-stained), treated pine, posts, rails, brackets, concrete, gates, and stain. We can pre-stain your fence in-house so it arrives job-ready, usually within 1 to 3 days. We supply the material and do not install, and we can recommend trusted local installers.
The BOSS · 10850 Harry Hines Blvd., Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75220