How many pickets for 100 ft of fence?

220 with standard 5.5-inch pickets and half-inch gaps — 200 exact plus 10% waste.

How far apart should fence pickets be?

Half an inch is typical for semi-privacy; zero gap for full privacy; wider for ranch-style.

How many posts do I need for 100 ft of fence?

With 8-ft post spacing: 100 ÷ 8 = 12.5 → 13 sections, so 14 posts including both ends (plus gate posts).

Do fence posts need concrete?

Concrete footings keep posts plumb and extend their life — use the NOVORY Concrete Calculator to size each hole.

Should I use screws or nails for pickets?

Exterior screws hold better and make single-picket replacement easy; ring-shank nails are faster for long runs.

Guide

How Many Fence Pickets Do I Need for 100 Feet?

With standard 5.5-inch pickets and a half-inch gap, each picket covers 6 inches of fence. One hundred feet is 1,200 inches — 1,200 ÷ 6 = 200 pickets exact, or 220 with a 10% allowance for cuts and defects. The chart below covers other fence lengths.

Key Takeaways

Each picket + gap covers 6 inches (5.5 in picket + 0.5 in gap).
100 ft = 1,200 inches ÷ 6 = 200 pickets exact.
Add 10% → order 220 pickets.
No-gap privacy fences need more pickets per foot.
Count posts and rails separately — this is pickets only.

Calculate Your Fence

How to Calculate Fence Pickets for 100 Ft

Pickets are counted by spacing, not area — convert the fence length to inches and divide by the picket-plus-gap width.

1Convert fence length: 100 × 12 = 1,200 inches.
2Find spacing per picket: 5.5 + 0.5 = 6 inches.
3Divide: 1,200 ÷ 6 = 200 pickets exact.
4Add 10% waste: 200 × 1.10 = 220 pickets.
5Round up and add a few extra for gates and corners.

The Fence Picket Formula

Gap size is a design choice — wider gaps need fewer pickets but less privacy. For board-on-board styles the overlap changes the math.

Pickets = (Length in inches ÷ 6) × 1.10

Worked Example: 100 ft Fence

Full math for 100 feet of fence with 5.5-inch pickets and half-inch gaps, plus a chart for other lengths.

Step 1

Fence length: 100 ft.

Step 2

In inches: 100 × 12 = 1,200 in.

Step 3

Per picket: 5.5 + 0.5 = 6 in.

Step 4

Exact pickets: 1,200 ÷ 6 = 200.

Step 5

With 10% waste: 200 × 1.10 = 220 pickets.

Fence length	Pickets (exact)	With 10% waste
50 ft	100	110
100 ft	200	220
150 ft	300	330

Common Mistakes

Forgetting gates — each gate opening needs its own framing and fewer pickets.
Using nominal vs. actual picket width inconsistently.
Not adding extra for corners and ends where cuts happen.
Counting pickets but forgetting posts, rails, and concrete.
Ordering exact with no spares for warped or split pickets.

Practical Tips

Set posts first, then measure actual spans — they rarely match the plan exactly.
Use a spacer block for perfectly even gaps.
Pre-stain pickets before installation for full coverage.
Keep the bottom of pickets 2 inches off the ground to slow rot.
Plan the whole fence with the NOVORY Fence Calculator.