How many fence panels and posts do I need?

Divide your run length by the panel width (1.83 m for a standard UK panel) to get the number of panels, then add one post per panel plus one to finish the run. The calculator above works this out and includes gravel boards, postcrete and fixings.

How far apart should fence posts be?

Set posts at the panel width, 1.83 m centres for standard 6 ft panels. Keep spacing consistent so panels drop straight into the post slots or clip neatly to the posts without gaps.

How much postcrete per fence post?

Allow one to two 20 kg bags of postcrete per post, depending on post size and hole depth. The calculator estimates bags from your post count so you can order in one go.

How deep should fence posts be set?

As a rule of thumb, set posts to a depth of about a quarter to a third of the above-ground height, typically 600 mm for a 1.8 m fence. Dig deeper for taller fences or exposed, windy sites.

Do I need planning permission for a fence?

In most of the UK you can build a fence up to 2 m high without planning permission, or up to 1 m if it adjoins a highway used by vehicles. Always check local rules and any conservation-area restrictions before you start.

Fence Calculator

Work out fence panels, posts, gravel boards, postcrete and fixings for any UK run length.

Inputs

Fence type

Project location

Total run length(m)

Fence height (overall, incl. gravel board)(mm)

Runs, gates & materials

Runs & gates

Measure each run from its start end (the first post, wall or existing post). Lengths include any gate openings.

Run 1 (main run above)

Start end

Finish end

Run 1 materials

Boards

Rail stock length

Gravel board

Posts

Capping

Feather-edge 125 × 22 mm, 25 mm overlap · Checked 2026-10-05: material, size, lengths, fitting only
Arris rail 75 × 75 mm · Checked 2026-10-05: material, size, lengths, fitting only
Concrete gravel board 150 mm × 1.83 m · Checked 2026-10-05: material, size, lengths only
Concrete slotted post 100 × 100 mm · Checked 2026-10-05: material, size, lengths, post types only
Capping rail 3.0 m (generic) · Generic — not manufacturer-verified
Assumption: 125 mm is nominal; check the delivered width
Assumption: Nails: 2 per board per rail (generic)
Assumption: Not cut on site: a short bay is listed for a special size
Assumption: Not confirmed for hanging gates; use a dedicated gate post
Boards/panels fill 1650 mm above the gravel board.

Foundations

Worked out for each new post. Shared posts count once; existing posts and walls need no hole or concrete.

Setting method

Hole width (mm)

Post in ground (mm)

Drainage gravel under post (mm)

Soil over concrete (mm)

Gap under gates (mm)

Extra whole bags

Sources and rounding

Manufacturer: Blue Circle Postcrete (20 kg), technical sheet dated December 2023, checked 2026-10-06: data sheet.

For fixing domestic posts (wood, metal and concrete).
Gateposts only for small/medium gates less than 1.0 m wide.
Not for general concreting, or where a specified compressive strength is required.
Hole guidance: three times wider than the post, as deep as 1/3 of the fence height above ground.
Quantities only for the post sizes and hole sizes in the published table — never extrapolated.

Table columns: hole size (width × depth), for a hole filled with Postcrete. Looked up by the width and depth of the hole dug. A drainage layer or soil on top isn't covered by the sheet — those posts need your reviewed bags-per-post figure, labelled "Your spec".

Gate heights: if you enter a gate's height, that's the leaf height; it hangs on top of the gap under the gate, so its top (and the post) is height + gap. If you leave it blank, the gate inherits the fence height: its top stays level with the fence and the leaf is the fence height minus the gap.

Generic estimate: concrete by volume uses a round hole 3 × the post width and at least 600 mm or 1/3 of the height in the ground. Concrete = hole volume − post volume over the filled depth. There's no built-in bag yield: enter yours, or buy by m³.

Rounding: part-bags from every post are added up, then rounded up once to whole bags. Volumes round up to the next 0.01 m³. Nothing extra is added unless you enter extra bags.

Soil and exposure only flag a review. They don't change footing sizes.

Post	Above / in ground	Hole	Needs
Run 1, start post end · 100 × 100 mm · 2.44 m post	1800 / 600 mm Manufacturer	300 wide × 600 deep	2 bag Postcrete
Run 1, post 1 intermediate · 100 × 100 mm · 2.44 m post	1800 / 600 mm Manufacturer	300 wide × 600 deep	2 bag Postcrete
Run 1, post 2 intermediate · 100 × 100 mm · 2.44 m post	1800 / 600 mm Manufacturer	300 wide × 600 deep	2 bag Postcrete
Run 1, post 3 intermediate · 100 × 100 mm · 2.44 m post	1800 / 600 mm Manufacturer	300 wide × 600 deep	2 bag Postcrete
Run 1, post 4 intermediate · 100 × 100 mm · 2.44 m post	1800 / 600 mm Manufacturer	300 wide × 600 deep	2 bag Postcrete
Run 1, post 5 intermediate · 100 × 100 mm · 2.44 m post	1800 / 600 mm Manufacturer	300 wide × 600 deep	2 bag Postcrete
Run 1, post 6 intermediate · 100 × 100 mm · 2.44 m post	1800 / 600 mm Manufacturer	300 wide × 600 deep	2 bag Postcrete
Run 1, end post end · 100 × 100 mm · 2.44 m post	1800 / 600 mm Manufacturer	300 wide × 600 deep	2 bag Postcrete

Labour (worker-hours)

Calculated

One worker-hour is one person working for one hour.

Fence fitting (h per metre)

Estimate – enter your own rate

Per pedestrian gate (h)

Estimate

Per double gate (h)

Estimate

Fence fitting · 12 m × 1 h/m	12 h
Pedestrian gates · 0 × 2 h	0 h
Double gates · 0 × 4 h	0 h
Calculated total	12 h

Override total worker-hours

Hourly rate (£ per worker-hour)

Crew size (time only)

Doesn't change the labour charge

Total 12 hLabour £540.00 at £45.00/h

What each allowance includes

Estimate: the calculator's existing 1.0 worker-hour per metre fence rate (two-person crew, UK 2026). Covers setting out, post setting (incl. gate posts), rails, boards/panels, gravel boards and capping.
Estimate: about 2 worker-hours to hang a single leaf on set posts, fit hinges and latch, and adjust. Gate posts are already in the fence rate.
Estimate: about 4 worker-hours per double opening (both leaves), incl. hinges, latch, drop bolt and keep, and aligning the leaves. Counted once per opening, not per leaf.
No built-in estimate: hours per new post that isn't beside any fenced section (e.g. gate-only openings, a gate at a separate run's start). Posts already in the fence rate, shared posts (counted once), existing posts and walls are excluded.
Concrete and foundation quantities are calculated separately and aren't labour here.

9 advanced inputs hidden. Switch to Advanced to fine-tune.

Confidencehigh· 88Complexitylow· 28

Order what you need for this job

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Run length: 12m
Fenced length (excl. gate openings): 12m
Feather-edge 125 × 22 mm, 25 mm overlap, 1650 mm long: 120
Arris rail 75 × 75 mm, 3 m: 18
Concrete gravel board 150 mm × 1.83 m: 6
Special-size concrete gravel board 1020 × 150 mm: 1
Capping rail 3.0 m (generic): 6
Concrete slotted post 100 × 100 mm — end, 2.44 m: 2
Concrete slotted post 100 × 100 mm — intermediate, 2.44 m: 6
Blue Circle Postcrete (20 kg) (bag): 16
Ring-shank nails (generic) (pack of 1000): 1
Posts supplied (all types, shared posts once): 8
Deepest post hole (see Foundations): 600mm

Heads-up: Closeboard (feather-edge) fencing is built on site from posts, rails, gravel boards and individual feather-edge boards — not panels. Expect 3 rails per bay over 1.8 m high. Why it matters: Boundary fences over 2 m need planning permission — even in your own garden.

Your fence, drawn

Drawn from the same layout as the quantities: run lengths, gate openings, posts, heights and gravel boards.

Run 1 · Closeboard12 m overall · 12 m fenced · 1800 mm · 7 bays

Feather-edge 125 × 22 mm, 25 mm overlap · infill 1650 mm on a 150 mm concrete gravel board (overall 1800 mm) · 3 rails per bay · concrete posts 100 × 100 mm

150 mm concrete gravel board. New posts: 600 mm in ground. Dashed bay: cut down to 1020 mm.

Drawn with the run start on the left; which side is outside hasn't been set, so gate handing can't be checked. Gate positions are measured from the run start to the near edge of the clear opening. Heights are drawn larger than lengths. Gravel-board height 150 mm from the selected spec. Footings and post depths come from the Foundations section. Gate labels read leaf height + gap under the gate. A gate with its height entered hangs that leaf above the gap; a gate marked * inherits the fence height, so its top stays level with the fence and the leaf is shortened by the gap.

Run 1: a 1020 mm bay needs a special-size concrete gravel board (not cut on site).

Footing detail (8 new posts on this run)

Run 1, start post: 1800 mm above, 600 mm in ground; hole 300 × 600 mm; 2 bag Postcrete
Run 1, post 1: 1800 mm above, 600 mm in ground; hole 300 × 600 mm; 2 bag Postcrete
Run 1, post 2: 1800 mm above, 600 mm in ground; hole 300 × 600 mm; 2 bag Postcrete
Run 1, post 3: 1800 mm above, 600 mm in ground; hole 300 × 600 mm; 2 bag Postcrete
Run 1, post 4: 1800 mm above, 600 mm in ground; hole 300 × 600 mm; 2 bag Postcrete
Run 1, post 5: 1800 mm above, 600 mm in ground; hole 300 × 600 mm; 2 bag Postcrete
Run 1, post 6: 1800 mm above, 600 mm in ground; hole 300 × 600 mm; 2 bag Postcrete
Run 1, end post: 1800 mm above, 600 mm in ground; hole 300 × 600 mm; 2 bag Postcrete

Before you order — check these

Underground services check recommended before excavation. Use a CAT scanner or contact utility providers.

Why it matters: Gas, electric, water and telecoms cables are often shallower than expected — HSE guidance HSG47 mandates a safe-digging process.

If ignored: Striking a live service can cause serious injury, supply outages affecting the whole street, and personal liability for repair costs.

Matched to your spec. Partner links — we may earn a small commission if you buy, at no cost to you.

Essentials for this job

Closeboard / featheredge fence panels
Jacksons Fencing
25-year guaranteed pressure-treated panels and posts.
Guide price: £35–£70 / linear m
Indicative · reviewed May 2026
Check price at Jacksons Fencing

Fence quantities include 0% extra feather-edge boards only. Rails, capping and gravel boards come from a cut list, fixings round up to whole packs, and posts, panels, gates and hardware get no extra. Guide prices are indicative UK ranges (materials only, inc. VAT) — always confirm with the supplier before ordering.

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Compare quotes from vetted local trades using this exact spec.

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This app provides general UK guidance and material estimates only. It is not legal, planning, engineering or building-control advice. Always confirm requirements with your local planning authority, building control, utility providers, manufacturers or qualified professionals.

Worked example

A 20 m closeboard boundary at 1.8 m high with a 900 mm pedestrian gate 5 m from the start.

Inputs

Fence type: Closeboard (feather-edge)
Run length (incl. gate): 20 m
Height: 1800 mm
Bay width: 1830 mm
Gate: 1 pedestrian, 900 mm clear opening, 5,000 mm from run start to opening

Step by step calculation for this example
Step	Working	Result
Fenced length	20 m overall − 0.9 m gate opening	19.1 m
Posts	5 m section = 3 bays (last cut to 1.34 m), 14.1 m section = 8 bays: 13 posts in all (2 run ends, 2 gate posts, 9 intermediates). A concrete gravel board means concrete slotted posts, 1.8 m above ground + 600 mm in the ground = 2.4 m	13
Feather-edge boards	125 mm boards at 25 mm overlap, counted per section: 1 + (5,000 − 125) ÷ 100 → 50, and 1 + (14,100 − 125) ÷ 100 → 141	191
Arris rails	3 rails per bay, each bay cut from a 3.0 m rail inside its own section (offcuts never cross the gate): 3 + 8 bars per rail line × 3	33
Gravel boards	one 1.83 m concrete board per full bay; the 1,340 and 1,290 mm bays are listed as special sizes	9
Postcrete	Blue Circle Postcrete table (Dec 2023): 100 mm post, hole 300 mm wide (3 × the post) × 600 mm deep (1/3 of 1.8 m) = 2 bags per post; 13 posts × 2 = 26 bags. The 900 mm gate is under the 1.0 m gateposts limit	26

What to order for this example
What to order	Quantity
Fenced length (excl. gate openings)	19.1 m
Posts supplied (all types, shared posts once)	13
Concrete slotted post 100 × 100 mm — intermediate, 2.44 m	9
Concrete slotted post 100 × 100 mm — end, 2.44 m	2
Concrete slotted post 100 × 100 mm — gate, 2.44 m	2
Feather-edge 125 × 22 mm, 25 mm overlap, 1650 mm long	191
Arris rail 75 × 75 mm, 3 m	33
Concrete gravel board 150 mm × 1.83 m	9
Capping rail 3.0 m (generic)	11
Blue Circle Postcrete (20 kg) (bag)	26
Gate hinge sets (generic allowance – review)	1
Gate latches (generic allowance – review)	1

In short: Order 13 concrete posts (2.4 m), 33 arris rails (3.0 m), 191 feather-edge boards (1.65 m), 9 standard gravel boards plus two special sizes, and 26 bags of Postcrete, plus 1 hinge set and 1 latch for the gate.

How to work out fencing materials

Start with the total run length of your fence. Divide it by the panel width , 1.83 m for a standard UK panel, to get the number of panels, then add one post per panel plus a final post to close the run. The calculator above also sizes gravel boards, postcrete and fixings so nothing is missed when you order.

Fencing spec guide (UK)

Item	Guide
Standard panel width	1.83 m (6 ft)
Post spacing	1.83 m centres
Post depth (1.8 m fence)	~600 mm
Postcrete per post	1–2 × 20 kg bags

Fences over 2 m (or over 1 m next to a vehicle highway) usually need planning permission. Check local rules and any boundary agreements before starting.

Pricing a full boundary job?

Set out the line and levels, take off every material and build a quote.

Open Setting Out & Levels

Frequently asked questions

How many fence panels and posts do I need?: Divide your run length by the panel width (1.83 m for a standard UK panel) to get the number of panels, then add one post per panel plus one to finish the run. The calculator above works this out and includes gravel boards, postcrete and fixings.
How far apart should fence posts be?: Set posts at the panel width, 1.83 m centres for standard 6 ft panels. Keep spacing consistent so panels drop straight into the post slots or clip neatly to the posts without gaps.
How much postcrete per fence post?: Allow one to two 20 kg bags of postcrete per post, depending on post size and hole depth. The calculator estimates bags from your post count so you can order in one go.
How deep should fence posts be set?: As a rule of thumb, set posts to a depth of about a quarter to a third of the above-ground height, typically 600 mm for a 1.8 m fence. Dig deeper for taller fences or exposed, windy sites.
Do I need planning permission for a fence?: In most of the UK you can build a fence up to 2 m high without planning permission, or up to 1 m if it adjoins a highway used by vehicles. Always check local rules and any conservation-area restrictions before you start.

Link to this tool

Found this useful on your site, blog or forum post? Copy the snippet below.

<a href="https://gardensurveyor.com/fence-calculator">Fence calculator: posts, panels and concrete quantities</a>

Foundations

Labour (worker-hours)

Order what you need for this job

Prefer to hire a pro?

Worked example

Inputs

How to work out fencing materials

Fencing spec guide (UK)

Pricing a full boundary job?

Frequently asked questions

Link to this tool

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