NZ Timber Paling Fence Calculator
How to Use
Quickly estimate how many posts, rails, palings and bags of concrete you may need for a standard timber paling fence.
Simply enter your fence length and height below. You can also open Advanced Options if you want to change the paling size, post spacing, rails or post-hole dimensions.
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NZ Fence Materials Calculator
Estimate posts, rails, palings and concrete for a standard vertical timber paling fence.
Advanced Options
Your Materials Estimate
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How to Use
- Enter the total fence length.
- Select the fence height.
- Check or adjust the paling size.
- Your estimated materials will update automatically.
For most standard fences, you can simply use the pre-set options.
About This Calculator
The calculator estimates:
- Fence posts
- Timber palings
- Horizontal rails
- Post spacing
- Concrete bags
The standard settings are based on a typical New Zealand timber paling fence and can be adjusted if required.
Important
This calculator provides a general materials estimate only.
Actual requirements can vary depending on ground conditions, fence design, gates, corners, wind exposure and site conditions.
It is not intended for pool barriers, balustrades, retaining structures or engineered fencing.
Need Help With Your Fence?
Aries Builders provides residential building, repairs and property maintenance throughout Auckland.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides a general materials estimate only. Actual quantities may vary depending on fence design, ground conditions, site layout, gates, corners, wind exposure and installation method. Always confirm measurements, material requirements and any council or consent requirements before purchasing materials or starting work.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many fence posts do I need?
Enter the total length of your fence into the calculator. It will automatically work out the number of fence bays and posts required based on the selected maximum post spacing.
How far apart should timber fence posts be?
The calculator is set to a maximum of 2400 mm centres by default. You can reduce this distance through Advanced Options depending on the fence design and site conditions.
How many rails does a paling fence need?
The calculator defaults to two horizontal rails for fences up to 1200 mm high and three rails for fences over 1200 mm high.
Different fence designs may require additional rails.
How many palings do I need for my fence?
Enter your fence length and paling width and the calculator will work this out automatically.
It can also account for gaps between palings and a timber waste allowance.
What size palings does the calculator use?
The standard setting is:
150 × 19 mm timber paling
with the fence height controlling the required paling length.
The paling width can be changed if you are using another product.
How much concrete do I need for each fence post?
This depends on the size and depth of the post hole.
The calculator works out the approximate concrete volume around the timber post and converts this into the number of concrete bags required.
The default settings for a standard 100 × 100 mm post, 250 mm diameter hole and 600 mm deep hole come out at approximately three 20 kg bags of concrete per post.
Does the calculator include gates?
Not automatically.
You can add additional posts using the Extra Posts option under Advanced Options.
Gates may require larger posts, additional framing or other structural considerations and should be assessed separately.
Does a fence need building consent in New Zealand?
Building and planning requirements depend on the type, height and location of the fence.
The calculator is a materials estimating tool only and should not be used to determine whether building consent, resource consent or another approval is required.
Check the current requirements for your property before commencing work.