Picket Count
Count fence pickets spaced along a fence line.
About Picket Count
Each picket plus its gap forms a repeating unit, so the number of pickets is the fence span divided by that unit, rounded up. Total board feet scales that count by picket size. Picket spacing sets the look and privacy of a fence, and counting by the repeating unit keeps the material order right.
Formula
Picket Count
Pickets = (fence length x 12 + gap) / (picket width + gap)
- picket
- A vertical fence board
Worked example
With the default values below, Picket Count returns Pickets Needed of 101. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Fence length
- 50 ft
- Picket width
- 5.5 in
- Gap
- 0.5 in
- Picket length
- 6 ft
Results
- Picket + Gap
- 6.0 in
- Pickets Needed
- 101
- Total Board Feet
- 278 bd ft
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Picket Count
- 3Pickets Needed= 101
- 4Picket + Gap= 6.0 in
- 5Total Board Feet= 278 bd ft
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 1 decimal place, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Picket Count calculated?
Pickets = (fence length x 12 + gap) / (picket width + gap) Each picket plus its gap forms a repeating unit, so the number of pickets is the fence span divided by that unit, rounded up. Total board feet scales that count by picket size.
Why does Picket Count matter?
Picket spacing sets the look and privacy of a fence, and counting by the repeating unit keeps the material order right.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 4 inputs: Fence length, Picket width, Gap, Picket length. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.