Vinyl fences ship as pre-built sections, which changes the takeoff: panels instead of pickets, and four kinds of posts instead of one. This calculator counts the right post for every position — plus concrete, stiffeners, and gate hardware.
Free tools
All fence types in one calculator — quick quantity checks.
Open calculatorEvery material category with its counting rule and cost.
Open calculatorPickets, rails, and posts for board and picket fences.
Open calculatorBoard-on-board and shadowbox overlap math.
Open calculatorFabric rolls, terminal posts, and tension hardware.
Open calculatorWhat faster vinyl estimating is worth each month.
Open calculatorLearn the math behind the numbers
FAQ
Divide the run by your panel width and round up: a 100 ft run of 8 ft vinyl panels is 13 panels. Line posts sit between panels, so a straight 100 ft run also takes 12 line posts plus 2 end posts. The calculator applies that automatically.
Yes — vinyl posts are hollow and get their strength from the concrete core. Two 50 lb bags per line or end post, three per gate post, poured a few inches above grade inside the post where it matters most.
The insert is a channel that bolts through the post to stiffen it against gate sag. Without one, the post flexes under the gate's weight and the latch stops lining up. The calculator adds one insert per gate post.
Materials: no. A 6 ft vinyl panel bay costs roughly double a built wood bay at starter prices. Installed, vinyl pulls closer because it needs no staining and lasts decades — the savings show up in maintenance, not the ticket.
Yes, and they are physically different parts: end posts accept one panel, corner posts accept two at 90°, and line posts accept two in a straight line. Ordering line posts for corners is a classic vinyl mistake — the calculator counts end and corner posts separately.
FenceTracer