Wood Fence Estimator
Wood privacy fence looks like simple math — feet × picket spacing — until you start counting the parts. Posts every 8 feet (sometimes 6, sometimes 10), 2 or 3 rails per panel depending on height, pickets at variable spacing depending on board width, gate posts that need to be heavier than line posts, and post caps that go on every post but customers sometimes don't want. Add cedar vs. pressure-treated vs. composite, with different per-foot pricing for each, and the takeoff stops being math you do in your head.
FenceTracer's wood fence estimator computes all of it from the drawing. Sketch the run on the canvas, choose cedar / PT / composite and the picket profile, and the takeoff returns posts, rails, pickets, gates, and labour priced against your catalogue.
1 post / 8 LF
Default post spacing, configurable
30s
Drawing to priced quote
3
Wood species + composite
$180
CAD/month flat
What makes wood fence estimating tricky
A wood privacy fence quote has more variables than chain link, even though the math looks simpler at first glance:
- Picket profile: 5/4 × 6 dog-ear, 1×6 square top, 1×8 board-on-board, French gothic, scalloped top. Each has a different price per LF.
- Picket spacing: tight-board (no gap) vs. ½" gap vs. board-on-board (overlapping). Affects picket count per LF.
- Rail count: 2 rails for 4'–5' fence, 3 rails for 6'–8' fence (more in commercial / windy areas).
- Post type: 4×4 PT for line posts, 4×4 or 6×6 PT for gate posts, sometimes steel posts with wood sleeves.
- Post spacing: 6', 8', or 10' depending on shop standard and wind load.
- Wood species: pressure-treated (cheapest), cedar (premium), composite (premium, longer-lasting).
- Caps and trim: post caps, top cap rail, kickboard at the bottom. Some shops standard, some add-on.
- Gates: walk gates (3'–4') need their own post + frame + hardware; double drive gates need heavier posts and a gate-fork latch.
- Stain or paint: charged per LF separately from fence labour.
A 200 LF cedar privacy fence with a walk gate and a stain finish has 30+ catalogue items. Counting them by hand in a spreadsheet takes 20–30 minutes. FenceTracer's wood fence estimator does it in 30 seconds and stays consistent across every estimator.
How FenceTracer's wood fence estimator works
- Draw the layout. Click corners, snap to grid, drop in gates. The drawing handles slopes and angles automatically.
- Pick wood style per segment. Cedar / PT / composite; picket profile; rail count; post spacing. Override per segment if a section changes (e.g., 6' privacy on the property line, 4' picket out front).
- Add gates. Walk gate or double-drive; FenceTracer attaches the right post + hardware assembly.
- Add finish. Stain or paint (one coat or two) as a separate line; computed per LF.
- Quote regenerates live. Pickets, rails, posts, concrete, gate hardware, labour — all priced from your catalogue.
- Send the PDF. Branded, itemized, tax-correct.
Wood fence assemblies FenceTracer ships with
Pressure-treated
- 4' / 5' / 6' / 8' PT dog-ear (5/4 × 6)
- 6' / 8' PT board-on-board
- 6' PT shadow-box (alternating pickets)
- 4' picket (open spacing, French gothic top)
Cedar
- 4' / 5' / 6' / 8' cedar dog-ear
- 6' / 8' cedar board-on-board
- 6' cedar shadow-box
- 6' / 8' cedar tight-board (no gap)
- 4' cedar picket (open spacing)
Composite
- 6' / 8' composite privacy
- 4' composite picket
Gates
- Walk gate (3', 3.5', 4') matching style and height
- Double drive gate (8', 10', 12') matching style and height
- Arbor / pergola gate optional
Each assembly is editable; add your shop's standard build as a new style and reuse it.
How a wood fence estimator compares to manual takeoffs
| Feature | FenceTracer | Spreadsheet + manual count |
|---|---|---|
| Time per wood fence quote | 30–60 seconds | 20–30 minutes |
| Picket count | Automatic from LF + spacing | Calculated by hand |
| Rail count | Auto by height (2 or 3 rails) | Counted by panel |
| Post count | Auto by LF + spacing rule | Counted manually |
| Gate post upgrade | Auto-attached per gate | Often missed |
| Slope corrections | True length automatic | Often skipped |
| Cedar vs. PT vs. composite swap | Toggle on the segment | Rebuild the quote |
| Stain / paint line item | Per-LF, auto-added | Add manually |
| Multi-style quote (privacy + picket) | Native — mixed segments | Two quotes or manual blend |
Common wood fence estimating mistakes FenceTracer prevents
- Wrong picket count for tight-board vs. ½" gap. FenceTracer adjusts picket count from the picket-spacing setting on the assembly, not from an estimator's mental math.
- Missing third rail on 6'+ fences. Defaults to 3 rails for fence height ≥ 6'.
- Light gate posts. Walk and drive gates automatically pull 4×4 (or 6×6 for double gates) PT posts with concrete, not the standard line post.
- Forgetting the kickboard or top cap. Standard on some shops' builds — include in the assembly once and every quote has it.
- Cedar vs. PT pricing drift. Cedar pricing fluctuates faster than PT. Update cedar pricing in the catalogue; every cedar quote reprices instantly.
- Tax errors on cross-province jobs. Tax is derived from the install address — Toronto installer doing a job in Quebec gets QST + GST, not HST.
Who FenceTracer's wood fence estimator is for
- Privacy fence specialists doing residential cedar / PT / composite work.
- Multi-style shops that combine privacy (back of property) with picket (front) on the same job.
- Shops adding composite to their lineup that want to quote composite alongside wood without rebuilding their estimating workflow.
- Canadian fence contractors dealing with provincial sales tax automation.
Pricing
$180 CAD/month, flat. Unlimited wood fence quotes, unlimited users. 30-day free trial — no credit card.
Estimate wood fence in 30 seconds
Snap a wood privacy or picket layout, get pickets, rails, posts, gates, and stain computed automatically. Cedar, PT, and composite catalogue pre-loaded. 30-day free trial.
Start 30-day free trial →FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is FenceTracer's wood fence takeoff?+
It computes from the drawing using the picket-spacing and post-spacing rules you set on the assembly. The picket count is the run length divided by (picket width + gap). Most shops find FenceTracer's counts match a careful manual takeoff and are more consistent across estimators.
Can I switch between cedar, PT, and composite on the same quote?+
Yes — per segment. A common pattern: 6' cedar privacy on the back, 4' PT picket out front. FenceTracer prices each segment from its own catalogue line and rolls them into one quote.
How does FenceTracer handle picket spacing variations (tight-board vs. ½ gap vs. board-on-board)?+
Each wood style has a picket-spacing parameter. Tight-board is 0" gap; standard is ½"; board-on-board uses overlapping pickets with its own calculation. Override per segment if needed.
Can I add stain or paint to the quote?+
Yes. Stain (one coat or two) and paint are catalogue line items priced per LF. They appear as separate items on the quote PDF.
Does FenceTracer support post caps and top trim?+
Yes — both as catalogue add-ons. Set them as defaults on a wood style if your shop always includes them; they auto-attach to every quote of that style.
What about removal of an old wood fence?+
Add a removal segment on the drawing canvas; FenceTracer applies a per-LF removal labour rate plus a disposal flat fee. Both show as separate line items on the quote.
Can FenceTracer handle a fence with a slope?+
Yes. The geometry engine computes slope-corrected length so the material order matches what the fence will actually consume. Stepped or racked installation styles can be noted on the quote and quoted with a slope-adjustment labour multiplier.
Related reading
- Fence estimating software — overview of the drawing-driven workflow
- Chain link fence estimator — sibling fence-style estimator
- Fence quote software — quote PDF + proposal workflow
- Fence cost calculator (Canada) — ballpark pricing reference
- The Complete Catalog and Pricing Guide
- Fence contractor software — full operations stack