About Fence Picket Spacing Calculator
A free, high-precision construction calculator built to eliminate the tedious trial-and-error math of fence picket installation.
Our Mission
FencePicketSpacingCalculator.com was created to solve a surprisingly common pain point on fence installation jobs: the math. Whether you are a professional fence contractor installing hundreds of feet of cedar privacy fence, a weekend DIY builder putting up a garden screen, or a carpenter checking building code compliance for a pool barrier — getting the picket math right before you start nailing saves lumber, time, and frustration.
Without precise calculations, the final gap near the end post often comes out too wide or too narrow, creating an unsightly, unlevel result. Our calculator automatically accounts for your clear fence opening, actual picket width, desired gap, edge layout preference, and waste allowance — giving you equal, professional gaps every single time.
Why We Built This
Most online fence calculators are either too simplistic (ignoring edge conventions), riddled with ads, or require sign-ups. We built FencePicketSpacingCalculator.com to be completely free, private (no data leaves your browser), and precise enough for both DIYers and trade professionals.
The tool supports both imperial (feet & inches, decimal inches) and metric (meters, centimeters, millimeters) measurement systems, making it useful across North America, Australia, the UK, and Europe.
Key Features
Three Calculation Modes
Solve for required pickets from a target gap, distribute pickets evenly within a max gap limit, or calculate exact gap from a fixed picket count.
Dual Edge Layout Conventions
Full support for Equal End Gaps (same gap at posts & between pickets) and Flush Ends (pickets start and end at post faces).
Calibrated Physical Screen Ruler
Turn your monitor or phone screen into a true 1:1 measuring ruler using our credit-card alignment calibration — no external ruler needed.
Carpenter Fraction Display
Automatically converts decimal measurements into standard 1/16" jobsite fractions so you can transfer measurements directly to your tape measure.
Imperial & Metric Support
Works in feet & inches, decimal inches, meters, centimeters, and millimeters — ideal for international contractors and global DIYers.
Print Summary Sheet
Generate a clean, printable summary of your calculation results to take to the jobsite — no screen required on the work floor.
Who Uses This Calculator
- Fence Contractors — verifying picket counts and spacing before cutting or ordering materials.
- Carpenters & Builders — ensuring equal gaps on residential privacy fences and deck railings.
- DIY Homeowners — planning garden screens, pet enclosures, and backyard privacy fences.
- Landscapers & Architects — estimating materials and presenting professional layout drawings.
- Pool Safety Inspectors — verifying gap compliance with 4" pool barrier codes.
Contact & Feedback
Have suggestions, feature requests, or mathematical inquiries? We love hearing from carpenters and builders. Reach out to our team via our Contact page or email us directly at hello@fencepicketspacingcalculator.com.