Fence Post Spacing Calculator

Work out how many posts a fence run needs and the even centre-to-centre spacing between them, given your maximum span.

Use this free fence post spacing calculator to find how many posts a run needs and the even centre-to-centre spacing between them. Enter the length and your maximum span, and it works out the post count and the exact spacing. It answers how far apart fence posts should be for wood, vinyl or chain link. Everything runs in your browser.

Read the guide: Fence Post Spacing: How Far Apart Should Posts Be?

Post spacing

Posts needed

14

13 sections, spaced evenly

Sections
13
Even spacing
7.69 ft

Setting posts 7.69 ft apart keeps every section the same width, no narrow last bay. Stay within the panel or rail length you are buying.

Counts the run end to end. Corners, gates and step-downs may need an extra post each.

How it works

  1. 1

    Enter the length

    Add the run length, in feet or metres.

  2. 2

    Set the max spacing

    Enter the widest spacing you want, 8 ft is typical for wood, up to 10 ft for chain link.

  3. 3

    Read the layout

    See the post count and the exact even spacing it works out to.

Instant & 100% private — nothing is uploaded

Every calculation runs locally in your browser. The income, balances and goals you enter stay on your own device and are never sent to a server — nothing is stored, logged or shared.

Frequently asked questions

How many posts do I need?
Divide the run by your maximum spacing and round up to get the sections, then add one for the closing post. The calculator does this and shows the even spacing it lands on.
What spacing is best?
Closer posts make a stiffer fence. Wood and vinyl usually sit 6 to 8 ft apart; chain link can stretch to 10 ft. Stay within the panel or rail length you are buying.
How accurate is the post spacing?
The count and even spacing are exact for the length and maximum span you enter, on level ground. Corners and gate posts are extra, and a slope slightly increases the real distance, so treat it as a close layout and mark the posts on site before digging.

More tools

Wood Fence CalculatorPosts, rails, pickets and concrete for a wood fence.Vinyl Fence CalculatorPanels, posts and concrete for a vinyl panel fence.Chain Link Fence CalculatorLine posts, terminal posts, rail and mesh for chain link.Aluminum Fence CalculatorPanels, posts and concrete for an aluminum panel fence.Privacy Fence CalculatorPickets, posts, rails and concrete for a solid privacy fence.Fence Material CalculatorOne calculator for any fence: posts, rails, pickets, concrete.

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