Fence Panel Count Calculator

How it is calculated

All three lengths are in metres. The engine treats each bay as one panel plus the post beside it: bay = panel width + post width. The number of panels is panels = ceil(run ÷ bay), rounded up to a whole panel, and posts = panels + 1 because a straight run needs one extra post at the far end. Gravel boards equal the panel count, one under each panel. The post width is counted in the bay, so a thicker post can add a panel compared with ignoring it. Enter 0 as the post width to ignore posts. The calculation assumes one straight run: corners, gates, end panels cut to size and different post spacing are not modelled.

Common mistakes

• Entering the run in feet or the panel width in millimetres. All three fields must use metres, so a 6 ft panel is 1.83, not 6 or 1830.
• Entering the post width as 0 and then using a thick post. The post is counted inside each bay, so the panel count can be one lower than a calculation that ignores it.
• Using the result for a fence with corners or gates. The tool counts one straight run, so each corner needs an extra post and a gate replaces a panel; add those by hand.
• Treating the result as exact for the last bay. The count is rounded up, so the final panel will usually be cut or the gap adjusted.
• Adding the posts to the panels as if they were a single total. Panels, posts and gravel boards are three separate items to order.