Count fence posts and rails around corners and gates

A continuous straight fence is straightforward to divide into bays. Corners, gates and changes in height add decisions that a total boundary length cannot describe. Draw the runs and identify every endpoint before counting materials.

Work through one uninterrupted run

For an illustrative 18 m run with a maximum bay length of 2.4 m, round 18 ÷ 2.4 up to eight bays. A simple run with both ends included then has nine post positions. If the eight bays are equal, each is 2.25 m long. This example does not select a permissible fence span or post size.

Count shared corners once

Two adjoining runs may share a corner post. Adding each run's independent post total would count that post twice. A gate can instead require distinct support arrangements; identify its posts explicitly from the design.

Count rails by the arrangement

With eight bays and three rails per bay, the schedule contains 24 rail pieces. Their lengths and stock purchase depend on connection details and available material. Total linear metres do not guarantee that enough complete pieces can be cut.

Keep foundations as a separate takeoff

Post holes depend on the specified diameter, depth and site conditions. Do not infer them from bay count alone. Use the concrete post-hole calculator after those dimensions are confirmed, and record whether embedded-post displacement is included in the quantity.

Found a measurement or calculation issue? Send the example and your correction.