Fence posts & sections by line length
Typical industry planning values — NOT a structural/geotechnical design. Frost depth, soil, wind load and local code set the real post depth and footing; check your local building department and call 811 to locate utilities before you dig. A licensed engineer sizes load-bearing or high-wind fence posts.
Posts are set on center along the fence line: posts = ceil(line ÷ spacing) + 1 for a straight run, plus one for each gate, end and corner. The counts below are stable geometry — they never drift. Use them with the fence calculator and the fence post calculator.
| Line length | Posts @ 6 ft | Posts @ 7 ft | Posts @ 8 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | 10 posts | 9 posts | 8 posts |
| 100 ft | 18 posts | 16 posts | 14 posts |
| 150 ft | 26 posts | 23 posts | 20 posts |
| 200 ft | 35 posts | 30 posts | 26 posts |
| 300 ft | 51 posts | 44 posts | 39 posts |
Stable geometry: posts = ceil(line ÷ spacing) + 1 for a straight run. Add one post for each gate, end and corner. Spacing 6–8 ft on center is a labeled typical — heavier or taller fences use closer spacing.