Practical guide

How to Measure Fence Panels for Equal Picket Spacing

Measure clear fence panels, posts, gates, actual picket width, and board-on-board overlap before calculating cosmetic layout geometry.

Equal spacing works panel by panel. A continuous fence-line measurement cannot account for posts, gates, and end conditions accurately, so record each clear run separately.

Measure clear panels

Measure from the inside face of one defined boundary to the inside face of the next. Do not include post width. Separate every gate opening and every panel split by a post. If boundaries are not installed, use the approved project layout—not a spacing suggestion from this calculator.

Measure the picket

Use actual face width at the condition relevant to the project. Nominal product names may not equal measured width. For board-on-board planning, record the intended overlap separately and ensure it is smaller than the board width.

Choose the right geometry mode

• Use maximum-gap mode only with a project value you supply.
• Use fixed-count mode when material count is already chosen and equal visual openings are desired.
• Use fixed-end mode when the edge clearances are intentionally different from interior intervals.
• Use board-on-board only for idealized coverage geometry.

Enter the measurements in the fence picket calculator and verify the printed center marks against the physical panel before fastening.

Pool and guard contexts

Do not reduce a life-safety system to one opening measurement. Pool barriers and guards can involve height, gates/latches, climbability, bottom clearances, loads, materials, and local amendments. The calculator withholds numeric output for these contexts. Obtain the complete current requirements from the authority and manufacturer and use qualified review.