Fence material lists fall apart when post spacing is wishful and concrete is guessed by the bag at the register. Set spacing and hole size first. Rails, pickets, gates, and gravel all hang off those decisions — and so does whether the fence still stands after the first real windstorm.
Line post count for a straight run ≈ (run length ÷ bay spacing) + 1, then add extras for corners and gates if they were not included. A 96 ft run at 8 ft O.C. is 12 bays → 13 line posts. A corner post is not “half a line post.”
A widely used field rule is one-third of the post length in the ground, and below frost line where your code requires it. An 8 ft post for a 6 ft fence often sits in a 2–2.5 ft hole. Diameter is commonly about three times the post width (a 4×4 often gets a 10–12 in hole). Put a few inches of gravel under the post for drainage before you set concrete so water is not trapped against the end grain.
In frost-prone areas, a shallow hole is how fences lean in year two. Check local depth requirements before you quote a fixed price on 200 ft of privacy fence.
Volume is π × radius² × concrete height. In practice for planning:
For 13 posts at two 50 lb bags each, that is 26 bags — order a couple extra. Premix is heavy; stage pallets along the run so you are not wheeling every bag from the driveway at 2 p.m.
Three rails per bay is common for privacy; two may suffice for open picket. Pickets: divide clear bay width by picket width (plus gap if the design is spaced). Add 10% waste on pickets; more if you dog-ear, French gothic, or scallop on site. Stainless or exterior-rated coated screws are not optional if you want the face of the fence to look good in year three. A few inches of gravel under each post plus spoil removal should appear on the quote so the client is not surprised by dump fees.
Gates need square openings, hardware rated for the weight, and posts that do not move. Sloped runs may need stepped panels or racked panels — both change picket and rail counts versus a flat run of the same length. Walk the grade before you lock a materials-only number.
Deck & Fence Materials Pro ($19) is built for gates, multi-section runs, saved prices, and sell markup on the shopping list.
Call ahead for post length and treatment level (ground-contact where required). Count gates as their own material kit: hinges, latch, drop rod, and sometimes a diagonal brace. If the property line is unclear, do not set posts until the client confirms boundaries — moving concrete-set posts is not a change order anyone enjoys. For long runs, string lines and a transit or laser beat “eyeball square” when the neighbor’s fence is already out of line.
Include haul-away of spoils in the quote when holes produce more dirt than the beds can hide. A clean job site is part of what clients pay for, and it is real labor time.
Most wood privacy fences use 6–8 ft on center. 8 ft is common with three rails; 6 ft is sturdier in windy areas or with heavier panels.
A common rule is one-third of the post length in the ground, below frost line where required. A 8 ft post often sits in a 2–2.5 ft hole.
A 10–12 in diameter hole about 2 ft deep usually takes two 50 lb bags, or one 80 lb bag. Wider or deeper holes need more.
Yes — a few inches of gravel under the post helps drainage and slows rot on wood posts.