Calculate how many fence posts you need and the exact spacing between them for any fence run.
Enter the total length of your fence run and the maximum spacing you want between posts (measured centre to centre, called “on-centre” or O.C. in the US). The tool works out how many posts you need and the exact even spacing so no awkward short bay is left at the end.
| Fence type | Spacing |
|---|---|
| Panel fence | 6 ft / 1.83 m (to suit panels) |
| Post-and-rail / feather-edge | 6–8 ft / 1.8–2.4 m |
| Chain-link / wire | 8–10 ft / 2.4–3.0 m |
A 40 ft run with a maximum 8 ft spacing needs 40 ÷ 8 = 5 bays, so 6 posts. The tool then evens the gaps to exactly 8 ft. If the length does not divide neatly it reduces the spacing slightly rather than leaving a stub bay.
Tip: for solid panel fences the spacing is fixed by the panel width, but for wire or rail fences you can space posts wider — just add a straining post at ends, corners and every 50–60 ft.
For panel fencing, posts are spaced to suit the panel width – typically 6 ft (1.83 m) centre to centre. For rail or wire fencing, 8–10 ft (2.4–3 m) is common.
At 6 ft spacing you need 6 posts (5 sections plus the end post). This calculator adds the end post automatically.
Yes – fence post spacing is measured from the centre of one post to the centre of the next.
Divide the total run by your panel or bay width; the calculator gives the exact number of posts and the even spacing between them.
Yes — for accurate panels you measure the clear gap between posts, which the calculator accounts for so panels fit.
