Call 811 before digging. Private lines such as irrigation, low-voltage lighting, or gas grill lines may need separate locating.
Planner
Fence Planner
Use layout details to build a Fence Kit with post counts, concrete, gates, material ranges, labor assumptions, and quote questions.
Before you calculate
Start with fence length, material type, gates, and spacing. The kit helps you plan quantities and compare quote scope.
- Walk the fence lineMeasure total length and note corners, gates, slope, and access.
- Pick the fence typeWood, vinyl, chain link, and split rail need different materials.
- Check before diggingVerify utilities, property lines, permits, HOA rules, and local code.
- Compare scope, not just priceGate hardware, concrete, cleanup, and slope handling can vary by quote.
Live estimate
Estimate at a glance
Project Kit
Project snapshot
Wood Privacy Fence Project Kit
Includes layout quantities, concrete, gates, material ranges, labor assumptions, and quote questions.
DIY difficulty: HardPrivacy fencing requires accurate layout, post depth, concrete setting, panel alignment, and gate hardware.
Time estimatePlan on multiple weekends for DIY work, especially if holes are difficult or concrete needs curing time.
Measurements and purchase rounding
Materials estimate
Fence run180 linear ft
Fence height6 ft
Planning post count32 postsIncludes line spacing, gate posts, and a conservative corner allowance. Verify layout before buying.
Post spacing assumption8 ft
Concrete allowance64 bags2 bags per post planning assumption.
Gates2
Corners4
Low / medium / high planning numbers
Cost range
Fence materials
materialsUses editable per-foot material assumptions plus gate and concrete allowances.
From estimate to action
Your Project Kit
Using the project details above, this kit turns your planning estimate—not a final bid—into what to buy, what to verify, what to ask, and what to do next.
Plan and buy
Use this part of the kit to plan what to buy, what to bring, and which assumptions to verify.
Grouped for the store trip
Shopping list
Fence structure
- Fence posts32 posts
- Wood Privacy panels23 panelsAssumes 8 ft panels; verify product width and layout breaks.
Concrete, gates, and hardware
- Concrete mix64 bags
- Fasteners or brackets1 project set
- Gate and hinge/latch hardware2 gates
Check before project day
Tool list
- Tape measure and marking paintNeeded
- String line and stakesNeeded
- Post-hole digger or augerNeeded
- LevelNeeded
- Wheelbarrow or mixing tubNeeded
- Drill/driver and bitsNeeded
- Socket set or wrench setOptional
- Reciprocating saw or circular sawNeeded
What this kit is based on
Assumptions to check
- Fence materialWood Privacy
- Installation modeDIY
- Post spacing8 ft
- Gate count2
- Material range$18 / $30 / $48 per linear ftLow / medium / high planning assumption.
- Purchase roundingWhole posts, panels, rolls, rails, bags, and gate kitsFence materials are rounded up to real purchase quantities where practical.
Evaluate the estimate
Use these notes to understand how much confidence to place in the numbers and what could change them.
How much to trust this pass
Estimate confidence
Medium
Why
- Linear footage, height, material type, post spacing, gates, corners, and install mode are included.
- The estimate cannot verify slope, soil, property lines, permits, utilities, easements, or exact product dimensions.
What would improve it
- Mark the fence run on a site sketch with gate widths, corners, slope changes, and obstacles.
- Confirm product panel width, post size, post depth, and concrete requirements.
- Verify property lines, utility marking, HOA rules, permit requirements, and local code.
Avoid false precision
Budget buffer guidance
Add 10-25% for extra posts, concrete, hardware, tool rental, and layout corrections.
- Rocky soil, roots, slopes, demolition, and poor access can change labor and material needs.
- Gate posts and corner posts often need more care than line posts.
Planning, shopping, quote-checking
How to use this kit
This kit is meant to help you plan materials, organize a store trip, and compare quotes. It is not a final bid or a substitute for product instructions, local code, or site-specific professional advice.
- Sketch the fence run and mark gates, corners, slopes, and obstacles before buying materials.
- Use the quantities as a first-pass shopping list, then confirm product widths and post requirements.
- Use the quote checklist to compare contractor bids on the same scope, not just the same linear footage.
Avoid expensive surprises
Common mistakes
Old fences, mowing lines, and neighbor assumptions are not surveys.
Slope can change panel layout, post height, gates, and the finished look of the fence.
Gate sag is common when hinges, posts, or framing are too light for the gate size.
Red flags
When to hire a pro
- Unclear property line, easement, shared fence, HOA approval, or permit requirement.
- Steep slope, rocky soil, retaining walls, drainage issues, or difficult machine access.
- Large gates, driveway gates, pool barriers, or code-sensitive fence height.
- A quote that does not break out gates, posts, concrete depth, demo, haul-away, permits, and slope handling.
Check before buying or signing
What could change
This is a planning estimate, not a final bid.
Always verify permits, utility marking, property lines, HOA rules, easements, and local code before digging or signing.
Slope, soil, rocks, roots, access, drainage, demolition, and gate complexity can significantly change price and quantities.
Take action
Use these final sections for next steps, quote questions, and notes you can take with you.
Before buying or booking
Next steps
- Sketch the fence line with gates, corners, slope changes, trees, utilities, and access points.
- Call 811 before digging and identify any private lines that may need separate locating.
- Verify property lines, easements, HOA rules, permits, height limits, and local code.
- Confirm actual panel width, post depth, gate hardware, and concrete requirements before buying.
Compare scope, not just price
Questions for quotes
- Does the quote include permits, utility marking coordination, and HOA or code requirements?Rules vary by city, neighborhood, and fence height.
- How are property lines, corners, and gate locations being verified?Layout mistakes are expensive to fix after posts are set.
- What post depth, concrete amount, and post material are included?Post installation determines long-term fence stability.
- Does the price include demo, haul-away, slope handling, and restoration of disturbed areas?These items often explain quote differences.
- What warranty covers materials, gates, and labor?Gate alignment and post movement are common callbacks.
Ready for shopping or quotes
Copy or print your kit
Copy the full kit, shopping list, contractor questions, or a short message for email or text. Use this section when you are ready to take the kit with you.
The text box below also works well with browser print.
Planning notes
Planning notes for this project
Use this fence planner before buying posts, panels, concrete, or gate hardware. It estimates quantities from linear feet, post spacing, gates, corners, height, and material type while flagging site conditions that often change fence quotes.
What this planner estimates
- Post count, panels or rails, chain-link rolls, concrete bags, gate hardware, material ranges, optional labor ranges, and quote questions.
- A first-pass shopping list and quote checklist for comparing products and contractor quotes.
Measurements you need before starting
- Total linear feet, fence height, material type, post spacing, number of gates, number of corners, and DIY or contractor mode.
- Gate widths, slopes, soil conditions, trees, utilities, access points, property lines, and easements should be checked before digging.
How the estimate works
- The planner rounds post count up from linear feet and post spacing, then adds gate posts and corner allowance.
- Concrete bags, panels, rails, rolls, and hardware are rounded to whole purchase quantities where practical.
- Material and labor ranges use editable per-foot assumptions so regional prices can be adjusted.
Key assumptions
- Panel width, roll length, post depth, concrete needs, gate hardware, and local requirements vary by product and site.
- Slope, rocky soil, roots, demolition, drainage, and limited access can significantly change fence cost.
- Permits, HOA rules, pool codes, property lines, easements, and utility marking should be verified before work starts.
Common mistakes
- Digging before utility marking or relying on old fence lines as property lines.
- Underestimating gate complexity, post depth, concrete, slope handling, and cleanup.
- Comparing fence quotes by linear foot without checking gates, demo, haul-away, permits, and post specifications.
When to hire a pro
- Unclear property lines, steep slope, rocky soil, large gates, pool barriers, retaining walls, or permit-sensitive projects.
- A quote should explain post depth, concrete, material grade, slope handling, gates, cleanup, demo, and exclusions.
Contractor quote questions
- How are property lines, permits, utilities, HOA rules, gate locations, and corners being verified?
- Does the price include demo, haul-away, site prep, concrete, post depth, slope handling, and cleanup?