How far apart should wood fence posts be?

Wood privacy and picket fences are usually built with posts 6 to 8 ft apart on center. 8 ft is the common maximum because rails are sold in 8 ft lengths; closer spacing makes a stiffer fence in windy areas.

How deep should a fence post be?

A common rule is to bury one-third to one-half of the post's above-ground height, and at least 2 ft. In cold climates, set the bottom of the hole below the local frost line so frost heave doesn't push posts up. A 6 ft fence typically uses posts set at least 2 ft deep.

What if my fence length doesn't divide evenly by 8 ft?

Divide the run into equal sections instead of leaving one short section at the end. For a 150 ft run, 150 ÷ 8 = 18.75, so use 19 sections of about 7 ft 11 in each, which needs 20 posts.

How much concrete per fence post?

For a 4 × 4 post in a 10 in diameter hole with 2 ft of concrete above a gravel layer, you need roughly 0.9 cu ft of concrete, about two 80 lb bags. Larger holes, deeper settings and gate posts need more.

Are gate posts different?

Yes. Gate posts carry the weight and swing of the gate, so they are often a size larger (such as 6 × 6 instead of 4 × 4), set deeper and in more concrete. Space them to the gate width plus the hinge and latch clearance the hardware maker specifies.

Fence Post Spacing: How Far Apart Should Posts Be?

For most wood fences, posts go 6 to 8 feet apart, measured center to center. Other fence types have their own rules: vinyl and metal panels set the spacing for you, chain link line posts can be farther apart, and farm wire fences farther still. This guide covers typical spacing by fence type, how to space posts evenly on a run that doesn't divide neatly, how deep to set them, and how much concrete each post needs.

Last updated 2026-11-12. Check local codes, HOA rules and the manufacturer's instructions for your fence system.

Typical post spacing by fence type

Fence type	Typical spacing (on center)	What sets it
Wood privacy fence	6–8 ft	Rail length; wind load
Wood picket fence	6–8 ft	Rail length
Split rail	Rail length, often around 10–11 ft	Pre-mortised rails and posts
Vinyl (PVC) panels	Panel width, commonly 6 or 8 ft	Manufacturer's panel and post system
Aluminum / steel ornamental	Panel width, often about 6 ft	Manufacturer's panels
Chain link	Line posts up to about 10 ft	Fabric tension, fence height
Welded wire or field fence (T-posts)	Often 8–12 ft	Livestock pressure, terrain

These are common practice ranges. For panel systems, always follow the installation guide: the posts have to land exactly where the panels end, so measure from the actual panels rather than the advertised width.

Why 8 ft is the usual maximum for wood

Wood rails are widely sold in 8 ft lengths, so posts 8 ft apart let each rail span exactly one section with no splicing. Longer spans also sag: a 2 × 4 rail carrying heavy pickets bends more between posts, and in wind a privacy fence acts like a sail, putting a big load on every post. Many builders use 6 ft spacing for tall privacy fences in exposed, windy locations, or where the soil is soft, to keep the fence straight and stiff for longer.

Spacing posts evenly on any run

Real fence lines are rarely a multiple of 8 ft. Instead of seven full sections and one awkward short one, divide the run into equal sections no longer than your maximum spacing.

Measure the run between end or corner posts, center to center.
Divide by your maximum spacing and round up to get the number of sections.
Divide the run by the number of sections to get the actual spacing.
Posts = sections + 1 for a single straight run.

sections = ⌈run ÷ max spacing⌉ | spacing = run ÷ sections | posts = sections + 1

Worked example: a 150 ft run

150 ÷ 8 = 18.75, so 19 sections.
150 ÷ 19 = 7.89 ft, or about 7 ft 10 11/16 in between post centers.
Posts: 19 + 1 = 20 posts.

Each rail is then cut to a little under 8 ft, using nearly all of a standard rail. The fence calculator uses the same rounding to count posts, rails and pickets.

Corners, ends and multiple runs

For an L-shaped or U-shaped fence, treat each straight run separately, but count shared corner posts once. A three-sided backyard fence with runs of 60, 100 and 60 ft at 8 ft max spacing has 8 + 13 + 8 = 29 sections. Each run would need sections + 1 posts if calculated alone (9 + 14 + 9 = 32), but the two corners are shared, so the total is 30 posts.

Planning around gates

Lay out gate openings first and space the rest of the fence around them. A gate needs a post on each side, set at the gate width plus the clearance the hinge and latch hardware specify (often around half an inch to an inch in total; check the hardware instructions). Because gate posts take the gate's weight and the leverage of it swinging, they are usually heavier: 6 × 6 posts instead of 4 × 4 are common for wide or heavy gates, set deeper and in more concrete.

How deep to set fence posts

Fence height above ground	Typical minimum depth	Common post length
3–4 ft (picket)	2 ft	6 ft
5 ft	2–2.5 ft	8 ft
6 ft (privacy)	2–3 ft	8–9 ft
8 ft	3 ft or more	10–12 ft

The rule of thumb is to bury one-third to one-half of the above-ground height. In areas where the ground freezes, the deciding factor is often the frost line: if the bottom of the post sits above it, freezing soil can lift the post a little each winter. Your local building department can tell you the frost depth for your area.

A typical hole is about three times the post's width in diameter: 10 to 12 in for a 4 × 4 post (3.5 in actual) and 12 to 16 in for a 6 × 6. A few inches of gravel at the bottom lets water drain away from the end grain of the post.

Concrete per post: worked example

A 4 × 4 post set in a 10 in diameter hole, 30 in deep, with 6 in of gravel at the bottom and 24 in of concrete above it:

Concrete column volume: π × (5 in ÷ 12)² × 2 ft ≈ 1.09 cu ft.
Minus the post: 3.5 × 3.5 in × 24 in ÷ 1,728 ≈ 0.17 cu ft.
Concrete needed: about 0.92 cu ft per post, or 1.5 bags of 80 lb mix (0.60 cu ft each), so 2 bags per post unless you share part-bags between holes.
Gravel: π × (5 ÷ 12)² × 0.5 ft ≈ 0.27 cu ft per hole.

For the 20-post run above, that is about 18.4 cu ft of concrete, roughly 31 bags of 80 lb mix if you mix bags across holes, plus about 5.5 cu ft of gravel. Use the round column option in the concrete calculator with your hole size and post count; it doesn't subtract the post, which gives you a small safety margin.

Some builders set posts in compacted gravel instead of concrete for easier replacement and better drainage; it works well in firm soil, especially for wood posts. Follow local practice and the fence maker's instructions.

Layout tips

Call 811 before digging (in the US) so buried utilities are marked.
Confirm the property line and any setback or height rules before you set the first post.
Set end and corner posts first, run a tight string line between them, then set line posts to the string.
Check plumb on two faces of every post while the concrete is still workable.
Measure on center, not between faces, so rails land on the middle of each post.

With post spacing decided, enter your run length, spacing, picket size and gates in the fence calculator to get the full material list.