How Many Fence Pickets Do I Need?
The number of pickets depends on your fence length, picket width, and the gap between boards. Standard 3.5-inch pickets with 1/4-inch gaps need about 3.2 pickets per linear foot.
Picket Count Formula
The formula for calculating fence pickets is:
Example — 100-foot wood picket fence:
- Length: 100 ft × 12 = 1,200 inches
- Picket width: 3.5 in + gap 0.25 in = 3.75 in per picket
- Raw count: ceil(1,200 ÷ 3.75) = ceil(320) = 320 pickets
- With 10% waste: 320 × 1.10 = 352 pickets
Pickets Per Linear Foot by Style
| Fence Style | Picket Width | Gap | Per Foot | +10% Waste |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Wood Picket | 3.5 in | 0.25 in | 3.2 | 3.5 |
| Privacy Solid Board | 5.5 in | 0 in | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| Privacy Board-on-Board | 5.5 in | 1.5 in overlap | 2.9 | 3.2 |
| Dog-ear Privacy | 5.5 in | 0 in | 2.2 | 2.4 |
Fence Picket Count Table — 3.5-inch Pickets (Standard)
Use this quick-reference table for standard wood picket fences with 1/4-inch gaps:
| Fence Length | No Waste | +10% Waste (Recommended) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 feet | 80 | 88 |
| 50 feet | 160 | 176 |
| 75 feet | 240 | 264 |
| 100 feet | 320 | 352 |
| 150 feet | 480 | 528 |
| 200 feet | 640 | 704 |
| 300 feet | 960 | 1,056 |
Always Buy 10% Extra
Never buy the exact number of pickets your calculation shows. Add at least 10% for:
- End cuts: The last picket in each bay often needs to be trimmed to fit exactly. Cut-off pieces are waste.
- Damaged boards: Lumber yards commonly include warped, cracked, or knotted boards. Inspect at the store and reject bad ones, but plan for a few slipping through.
- Future repairs: Having 5–10 spare pickets means a broken board years later is a 5-minute fix, not a trip back to match the stain.
- Measurement errors: Even careful measurements can be off by a few feet. Extra pickets avoid mid-project hardware store runs.
Privacy Board-on-Board vs Solid Privacy — Picket Difference
Board-on-board fencing uses about 30% more boards than solid privacy fencing, even though both cover the same linear footage. Here's why:
In a solid privacy fence, 5.5-inch boards are butted edge-to-edge with no gap and no overlap. Each board covers exactly 5.5 inches.
In a board-on-board fence, boards are installed on alternating sides of the rail, each overlapping the adjacent board by about 1.5 inches. Because each board only "nets" about 4 inches of coverage (5.5 in − 1.5 in overlap), you need roughly 30% more boards to cover the same length — but you get a fence that looks good from both sides and allows air flow.
For a 100-foot fence: solid privacy ≈ 240 boards; board-on-board ≈ 350 boards (both including 10% waste).
Ready to calculate your exact materials?
Use the Free Fence Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
How many fence pickets do I need for 100 feet?
A 100-foot wood picket fence using standard 3.5-inch pickets with 1/4-inch gaps needs approximately 320 pickets (before waste). With a 10% waste allowance, order 352 pickets.
How many pickets per linear foot?
Standard 3.5-inch pickets with 1/4-inch gaps cover approximately 3.75 inches each, meaning you need about 3.2 pickets per linear foot. With 10% waste, plan for 3.5 pickets per foot.
What is the standard gap between fence pickets?
The standard gap for wood picket fences is 1/4 inch (0.25 inches). This allows for wood expansion in humid weather. Privacy fences have no gap — boards are butted tight or overlapped.
How many fence boards for a 6-foot privacy fence?
A 6-foot solid privacy fence uses 5.5-inch wide boards (actual). For a 100-foot fence, you need approximately 264 boards including 10% waste. Board-on-board style needs about 384 boards due to overlap.
How much does a wood fence picket cost per board?
Standard 1×4 dog-ear pine pickets cost $2–$5 each at hardware stores depending on length and wood type. Cedar pickets are $4–$9 each. Prices vary by region and supplier.