Free Fence Builder & Cost Estimator
Draw your fence line, set the height and style, and drop in gates — the posts, rails, pickets, and bags of concrete generate automatically into a materials list and cost estimate you can take to the store. Free, no sign-up. This is a planning & estimating aid, not a permit set.
How to plan a fence that goes up straight
A good fence starts with the layout: where the line runs, where it turns a corner, and where the gates go. Draw your fence line to scale (a straight run or a multi-corner path), set the height and style, and mark your gates — the tool spaces the posts, counts the rails and pickets, and even estimates the bags of concrete for each hole.
The two numbers people get wrong are post spacing and post depth. Space wood posts no more than 8 feet on-center so standard 8-foot rails land on their centers, and set each post at least a third of its above-ground height deep — and below your local frost line, which the tool cannot know for you. Corner and gate posts work harder, so they go bigger (6×6) and deeper.
Standard fence dimensions to design around
Fences are built from a handful of standard, big-box parts. The builder uses these so your list matches what is on the shelf:
| Element | Standard size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wood post | 4×4 (line) / 6×6 (corner & gate) | Set ≥ ⅓ of height deep, below frost line |
| Post spacing | 6–8 ft on-center | 8 ft lets standard 2×4×8 rails center on posts |
| Rails | 2×4 — 2 rails (≤4 ft) / 3 rails (6 ft) | One per section, run rail to rail |
| Pickets | 1×6 dog-ear (5½" face) | Butted for privacy, or a small gap |
| Height | 3–4 ft front / 6 ft back yard | Check local zoning/HOA limits |
| Concrete | 1–2 bags per line post / ~3 per gate | 50 lb fast-set; gate posts set deeper |
Frequently asked questions
Is the fence builder really free?
Yes — completely free with no account and no email. Drawing your fence, the materials list, the cost estimate, and every export (PNG and CSV) are all free.
How far apart should fence posts be?
Space wood-fence posts no more than 8 feet on-center so standard 8-foot rails land on their centers; 6 feet gives a stiffer fence. Chain-link line posts go up to 10 feet apart. The builder spaces them for you and adds a post at every corner and gate.
How deep should a fence post go, and how much concrete?
Set each post at least one-third of its above-ground height deep, and always below your local frost line (which varies by region — confirm with your building department). A typical 6-foot wood fence uses about 1–2 bags of 50 lb fast-setting concrete per line post and about 3 per gate post; the builder totals the bags for you.
Can I take the list to Home Depot or Lowe's?
Yes — that is the point. The materials list uses standard big-box parts (4×4 posts, 2×4 rails, 1×6 pickets, bags of concrete, gate kits) and you can download it as a CSV spreadsheet to price and buy.
Do I need a permit or to call before digging?
Many areas require a permit for a fence over a certain height and have property-line setback and corner sight-line rules — check with your local building department and HOA. Always call 811 before you dig to have utilities marked. This tool is a planning aid, not a permit or engineered design.
Keep planning
All the free CAD room planners
Every room runs on the same 2D CAD engine — draw to scale, drop in fixtures that snap into place, watch a live cost estimate build, and export a DXF for your contractor.