Fence Picket Calculator — Picket Count Per Run
Count fence pickets for any length of wood privacy or picket fence. Supports butted, spaced, and shadowbox layouts for 3.5 and 5.5-inch picket widths.
Enter Dimensions
Standard dog-ear picket: 3.5 in
Privacy fence: 0 in · Standard: 0.5 in
Results
Fence Posts
14posts
Rails
26rails
Pickets
330pickets
Sections
13sections
Each section = 8 ft wide
Editorial Standards
Each calculator is reviewed for formula accuracy, unit consistency, and alignment with current U.S. building practices before publication. We verify outputs against published engineering references and real-world project data. Learn more about our methodology.
Picket count is the single biggest line item by volume on a wood fence build. Get it wrong by 5% and you're either making mid-project trips to the lumberyard or wasting 30+ boards. The math depends on three variables: picket width, gap (spacing), and layout (butted vs shadowbox).
This calculator returns total picket count for any fence length and layout style. For full fence material estimates including posts and rails, see the parent Fence Calculator.
How to Count Fence Pickets
Pickets = (Length × 12) ÷ (Picket Width + Gap) × (1 + waste %). Shadowbox doubles this count (pickets on both sides of rails).
Picket-per-Foot Quick Reference
- 5-1/2″ butted (no gap): 2.18 pickets/LF
- 5-1/2″ with 1/4″ gap: 2.09 pickets/LF
- 5-1/2″ with 1/2″ gap: 2.00 pickets/LF
- 5-1/2″ with 3/4″ gap: 1.92 pickets/LF
- 7-1/4″ butted: 1.66 pickets/LF
- 5-1/2″ shadowbox: 4.36 pickets/LF (pickets on both sides)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many fence pickets per linear foot?
Butted 5-1/2 inch cedar pickets: 2.18 pickets per LF. With 1/4 inch spacing: 2.09 per LF. With 1/2 inch spacing: 2.00 per LF. Shadowbox layouts (alternating sides) need 4.36 pickets per LF.
What sizes do fence pickets come in?
Standard cedar/redwood pickets: 5-1/2 inch wide × 5/8 inch thick × 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 ft tall. Profile options: dog-ear, French Gothic, square-top. Wider 7-1/4 inch pickets reduce piece count by 25%.
How much waste should I add for pickets?
10% for straight runs with butted pickets. 15% for shadowbox (more cuts). 20% if you're hand-selecting for grain matching or planning to discard splits and warped pieces during install.
Should pickets be butted or spaced?
Butted: full privacy now, gaps later as wood shrinks. Spaced (1/4-3/4 inch gap): partial privacy but stays consistent as wood shrinks. Shadowbox (alternating sides): full privacy from any angle with airflow.
How many pickets in a 100 ft fence?
100 ft × 2.18 pickets/LF = 218 pickets butted. Plus 10% waste = 240 pickets ordered. For shadowbox: 100 × 4.36 = 436 pickets + 15% = 502 pickets.
Looking for the general calculator?
Calculate fence posts, rails, and pickets for any wood, vinyl, or chain-link fence. Enter total run length and spacing for an instant material takeoff.
Open the Fence Calculator: Posts, Rails & Pickets →