Fence and deck planning
The fence calculator counts corner, end, gate and line posts, rails, pickets, gate hardware and concrete per hole, run by run, including sloped runs (racked or stepped). It handles side-by-side, spaced and board-on-board styles. For exact concrete per hole, follow up with the post hole calculator, which subtracts the post and leaves room for a gravel layer.
The deck board calculator counts boards, joists and screws for a rectangular deck. It doesn't size joists, beams or footings, which come from code tables such as the American Wood Council's DCA 6 or an engineer. For piers, see the column/Sonotube calculator.
Before you dig or build
- Confirm property lines and check height limits, HOA rules and permit requirements.
- Call 811 in the US a few days before digging.
- For decks, check joist spacing limits for your decking. The IRC allows 16 in on center for 5/4 boards run perpendicular, and 12 in for diagonal.