Fence panel calculator — panels & posts
Count how many pre-built fence panels and posts you need for a run, from the panel width.
Calculator
200 ft ÷ 8 ft panels = 25 panels and 26 posts. Pre-built panels are 6 or 8 ft wide (labeled) — the last panel is usually cut to fit.
Pre-assembled fence panels turn a run into a simple division: the number of panels is the fence length divided by the panel width, rounded up. Posts follow the same rule as any run — one more post than the number of spans — so posts = panels + 1, plus one for each gate and corner.
Standard pre-built panels come 6 or 8 ft wide. The last panel almost always has to be cut down to close out the run, which is normal — the rounded-up count already accounts for buying that final panel whole. If your panels are vinyl or ornamental metal, count them the same way with the vinyl panel/post count or metal panel count tools, which use the same math.
Formula
panels = ceil(line_length_ft ÷ panel_width_ft)\nposts = panels + 1 + extra_posts
Worked example
200 ft run with 8 ft panels, no extra posts:
- panels = ceil(200 ÷ 8) = 25 panels
- posts = 25 + 1 = 26 posts
Reference table
Panels and posts by run length (before gates and corners):
| Length | 6 ft panels | 8 ft panels |
|---|---|---|
| 48 ft | 8 panels / 9 posts | 6 panels / 7 posts |
| 96 ft | 16 panels / 17 posts | 12 panels / 13 posts |
| 150 ft | 25 panels / 26 posts | 19 panels / 20 posts |
| 200 ft | 34 panels / 35 posts | 25 panels / 26 posts |
| 300 ft | 50 panels / 51 posts | 38 panels / 39 posts |
The last panel is usually cut to fit. Panel widths 6/8 ft are labeled typicals.