Vinyl (PVC) fencing is popular because it never needs painting or staining, and it comes in kits of posts, rails and panels. Planning one comes down to counting: how many sections cover the fence line, how many posts hold them up and how much concrete sets those posts. This calculator takes the length of the fence, the width of each panel, the corners and the gates, and returns all of those figures.
How to use the vinyl fence calculator
- Enter the total fence line, including any gates, measured along the fence.
- Enter the panel width from post center to post center for your product (6 ft and 8 ft are common).
- Enter the corner posts and gates. Gate width is the opening between the gate posts.
- Enter the hole and post sizes for the concrete estimate.
Vinyl fence formula
Line posts = sections − 1 − corner posts
Total posts = line posts + corner posts + 2 end posts + 2 per gate
Concrete per post = (π × (hole diameter ÷ 2)² − post width²) × depth
On a straight run, n sections need n + 1 posts. Every corner uses one of the junction posts, and each gate swaps a panel for two gate posts. The concrete is the hole minus the square post inside it.
Worked example: 100 ft with one 4 ft walk gate
- Fence line without the gate: 100 − 4 = 96 ft.
- Sections of 8 ft: 96 ÷ 8 = 12 sections.
- Posts: 11 line + 2 end + 2 gate = 15 posts.
- Concrete per post: (π × 25 − 25) × 30 ÷ 1,728 = 0.93 cu ft, so about 13.9 cu ft in total, or 24 bags of 80 lb concrete.
Straight fences with one gate (8 ft panels)
| Fence line | Sections | Posts | Concrete (cu ft) | 80 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 ft | 5 | 8 | 7.4 | 13 |
| 60 ft | 7 | 10 | 9.3 | 16 |
| 80 ft | 10 | 13 | 12.1 | 21 |
| 100 ft | 12 | 15 | 13.9 | 24 |
| 150 ft | 19 | 22 | 20.4 | 35 |
| 200 ft | 25 | 28 | 26.0 | 44 |
Planning a vinyl fence
- Check boundaries and rules. Property lines, setbacks, height limits, utilities and HOA rules vary. Call your utility-locating service before you dig.
- Slope. Panels can usually be racked to follow a slope up to a limit; steeper ground needs a stepped layout and shorter or custom panels.
- Corners and ends. They are structural and use heavier posts. Gate posts take the most load and usually need deeper footings.
- Caps and accessories. Post caps (one per post), gate hardware, brackets and rail inserts are counted separately.
Keeping spacing equal
Rarely does a fence line divide into exact panels. A tidy approach is to divide the line by the number of sections to get an adjusted spacing, so the posts are evenly spaced and the last panel is not a short stub. Check that the adjusted spacing is within what the panels can accommodate.
For wood and chain-link styles, use the Fence Calculator. The Post Hole Concrete Calculator gives a more detailed concrete estimate, and the Concrete Calculator covers other pours. Wooden fences will need the Fence Stain Calculator and decks the Deck Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many posts do I need for a vinyl fence?
One more post than the number of sections on a straight run, plus a second post for each gate. A 100 ft fence with a 4 ft gate and 8 ft panels has 12 sections and 15 posts in this calculation: 11 line posts, 2 end posts and 2 gate posts.
What size are vinyl fence panels?
Common sections are 6 ft and 8 ft wide and 3 to 6 ft tall, but sizes vary by brand. Use the post-to-post distance from your product literature.
How deep do vinyl fence posts go?
Manufacturers commonly call for holes around 10 to 12 inches wide and about 30 to 36 inches deep, or below the frost line, with gate posts deeper. The installation guide for your fence is the authority.
Do I need to fill vinyl posts with concrete?
Usually the concrete goes around the post in the hole, and in some cases inside gate posts for extra strength. This calculator counts the concrete around the post only.
How do I handle a non-whole last panel?
The last section is trimmed to fit, or the spacing between posts is adjusted so all panels are equal. The calculator rounds sections up so you buy enough material.