Home Improvement
Picket count
Converts the run to inches and divides by the width plus the gap.
The Formula
pickets = ceil(length x 12 / (picket width + gap)) + 1
Converts the run to inches and divides by the width plus the gap.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| pickets | Picket count | boards | Vertical boards needed, including the closing one. |
| length | Fence length | feet | The run of the fence, in feet. |
| w | Picket width | inches | The face width of one board, in inches. |
| g | Gap | inches | The space between boards, in inches. |
What Each Symbol Means
picketsboards
Picket count
Vertical boards needed, including the closing one.
lengthfeet
Fence length
The run of the fence, in feet.
winches
Picket width
The face width of one board, in inches.
ginches
Gap
The space between boards, in inches.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate fence posts page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Fence Posts, filed under Everyday Life. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.