Planning a fence? This free fence calculator lets you draw your fence line directly on satellite imagery of your property and instantly calculates total length, number of posts required, and an estimated cost based on your own pricing. Works in feet or metres, supports multiple fence runs, and requires no account or signup.

How to Use the Fence Calculator

Step 1: Find Your Property

Type your property address or postcode into the search box and click Search, or click My Location to jump to your current position. The map will zoom to street level on satellite imagery so you can see your yard or land clearly.

Step 2: Draw Your Fence Line

Click the line drawing tool in the top-right corner of the map. Then click along the path your fence will follow — each click adds a point, and a double-click finishes that run. You can draw as many separate runs as needed. Each one appears in the Fence Runs list with its own length and a Remove button.

Step 3: Set Your Dimensions and Pricing

Enter your fence height and the number of gates. Set your post spacing (the default of 8 ft is standard for most fence types). Enter the cost per linear foot or metre from your contractor quote or supplier — the total cost and post count update instantly as you type.

Step 4: Review Your Estimate

The calculator shows total fence length, estimated post count, and a total cost figure based on your inputs. Switch between feet and metres at any time using the toggle button — height, post spacing, and cost per unit all convert automatically. Use Share Link to save or send your current map view.

What This Tool Calculates

Most online fence calculators ask you to type in a length and hope you measured correctly. This tool measures directly from satellite imagery, so you trace the actual route your fence will take and get a figure grounded in reality. Here is what each output means:

• Total fence length — the geodesic distance of all drawn fence runs combined, accurate to within a few percent for standard residential plots.
• Post count — estimated number of posts based on your spacing, with one end post added per run. Adjust spacing to match your fence type and design.
• Estimated cost — total length multiplied by your entered rate per unit, plus gate costs. Enter your own rate from a local quote for the most accurate result.
• Fence runs — each drawn segment listed with its individual length. Useful for complex layouts where different sections may have different specifications.

If you need to calculate the total area of your land as well, our acreage calculator uses the same satellite drawing approach to measure property area in acres, hectares, square feet, or square metres.

Fence Height Guide

Height affects how much material you need per linear foot and may be subject to local planning or zoning rules. Common heights and their typical uses:

• 3 ft (0.9 m) — front yard decorative borders, garden edging, low boundary markers. Many areas allow this height without a permit.
• 4 ft (1.2 m) — pool safety fencing minimum in many jurisdictions, low garden enclosures and pet containment.
• 5 ft (1.5 m) — a practical mid-height for yard enclosures where full privacy is not required.
• 6 ft (1.8 m) — the most common residential privacy fence height. Standard for most backyard installations and the baseline for most contractor quotes.
• 8 ft (2.4 m) — commercial security fencing, tall privacy screens, and properties bordering busy roads. Often requires a permit for residential use.

Always check local building codes before construction. Height limits typically differ for front yards, side boundaries, and rear yards. The calculator accepts any height value — there is no preset limit.

Fence Post Spacing Guide

Post spacing determines how many posts you need and affects the structural strength of your fence. The calculator defaults to 8 ft (2.4 m), which suits most residential fence types. Adjust to match your design:

• 6 ft (1.8 m) — recommended for heavier materials, high-wind areas, or tall privacy fences where rigidity matters most.
• 8 ft (2.4 m) — standard spacing for wood privacy, vinyl, and aluminium panels. Most pre-cut fence panels are designed around 8 ft spans.
• 10 ft (3 m) — common for chain link and split rail fencing where longer panel spans are the norm.

The calculator adds one extra post per fence run to account for the terminal post at each end. If two runs meet at a corner and share a post, subtract one post per shared corner from the total.

How to Get an Accurate Cost Estimate

The most accurate estimate comes from a real quote. This calculator lets you enter the exact rate your contractor or supplier has given you — the result reflects your actual project, not a national average that may bear little relation to local labour or material costs.

If you are in early planning and need a rough ballpark, professionally installed fencing in the US typically ranges from $15 to $55 per linear foot depending on material and height. DIY installation of materials alone is roughly 40-50% of the installed price. Use these as a starting point, then replace them with real quotes before committing to a budget.

Gates are costed separately. The default of $350 (professional) or $165 (DIY) covers a standard single swing gate — update the cost per gate field to match your specific quote for double gates, sliding gates, or automated options. Before breaking ground on post holes, it is also worth checking our interactive US pipeline map to confirm there are no buried utilities running under your planned fence line.

For other property measurement needs, the roof area calculator measures your roof by tracing it on the same satellite imagery — useful if you are planning multiple home improvement projects at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is the fence length measurement?

The tool uses geodesic calculations that account for the curvature of the Earth, giving results accurate to within 1-3% for typical residential fence runs. Accuracy depends on how carefully you trace the line on the imagery. Zoom in as far as the satellite detail allows before drawing for the best results.

Does the calculator work outside the United States?

Yes. The satellite imagery covers the entire world and the address search works for any location. Switch to metres using the unit toggle button and enter costs in your local currency. The calculator is unit-agnostic — it multiplies length by whatever rate you enter.

Can I draw more than one fence run?

Yes. Each time you finish drawing a line it appears as a separate run in the Fence Runs list. All runs contribute to the total length, post count, and cost estimate. Remove individual runs using the Remove button next to each one without affecting the others.

How do I account for gates?

Enter the number of gates and the cost per gate in the Gates section. The cost per gate defaults based on your chosen installation type — $350 for professional, $165 for DIY. Adjust this to match your actual quote. Gate costs are added as a flat amount on top of the per-unit fence cost.

Can I save or share my estimate?

Click Share Link to copy a URL that preserves your current map view position and zoom. Drawn fence lines are not saved in the URL, so take a screenshot or note the key figures before sharing.

What post spacing should I use?

The default of 8 ft (2.4 m) suits most residential timber and vinyl fencing. Use 6 ft (1.8 m) for heavier materials or exposed sites, and up to 10 ft (3 m) for chain link. Check your fence panel dimensions — panels are typically designed to span between posts at a set distance, and your spacing should match that.

Does the calculator work on mobile?

Yes. The map and controls are fully responsive and the drawing tool works on touchscreens. Zoom in on the satellite view before drawing for the most accurate trace of your fence line.

Related Property Tools

• Roof Area Calculator — measure your roof by tracing it on satellite imagery. Get square footage, roofing squares, and pitch-adjusted area for contractor quotes.
• Acreage Calculator — draw any shape on the map to calculate land area in acres, hectares, square feet, or square metres.
• Football Field Area Calculator — put any land area in perspective by seeing how many football fields it covers.
• US Pipeline Map — check whether pipelines run near your property before digging post holes.