Fence Ledger

Fence Ledger

How much fence do I need for a 60 x 120 lot?

A 60 by 120 foot lot is a fifth of an acre and a very common shape in mid-century subdivisions. Its boundary is 360 feet, and it happens to be one of the tidiest lots there is to fence.

Fence needed
360 ft

46 posts, including one at each corner — a corner forces a post whether or not the spacing wanted one there.

What the usual answer misses

Both dimensions divide evenly by the standard 8 ft post spacing, which almost never happens. That means no run ends in a stub bay, every rail spans a full section, and nothing has to be cut to length at the corners. It is worth checking whether your own lot has this property before settling on a spacing, because nudging the spacing slightly can buy you the same tidiness.

Work out your own

Every assumption above is editable. Change the length, the spacing, the hole size — the numbers and the working update as you go.

Units
Shape
Advanced options

These are typical values, not requirements. Post depth in particular is governed by your local frost line and building code — check before you dig.

Posts
46
Sections
45
Pickets
820
Concrete
77 bags

Estimated cost

Materials only (DIY)
$3,080 – $7,800
Professionally installed
$9,200 – $20,400

National planning ranges compiled from published US construction cost guides, last checked September 2026 (confidence: medium-low). Prices vary sharply by region, season and contractor. These are estimates for planning, not quotes.

Sources: homeguide.com, calcsummit.com, angi.com, ergeon.com, homewyse.com

Shopping list

Bill of materials for this fence
MaterialSizeQuantity
Posts4x446
Rails incl. waste2x4149
Pickets incl. waste1x6820
Concrete mix77bags
Gravel17bags
Exterior screws≈5,300
Walk gate kit1

Why these numbers

How we got the section count
  1. Run 1: 56 ft ÷ 8 ft = 7, rounded up to 7 sections
  2. Run 2: 120 ft ÷ 8 ft = 15, rounded up to 15 sections
  3. Run 3: 60 ft ÷ 8 ft = 7.5, rounded up to 8 sections
  4. Run 4: 120 ft ÷ 8 ft = 15, rounded up to 15 sections
How we got the post count
  1. 5 posts are fixed by the shape itself
  2. 4 at corners
  3. 1 carrying a gate
  4. 41 line posts spaced between them
  5. 46 posts in total
How we got the picket count
  1. Each picket covers 5.5 in plus a 0.25 in gap, so they repeat every 5.75 in
  2. 356 ft of fence needs 745 pickets
  3. Plus 10% for offcuts, rounded up to 820
How we got the concrete
  1. Each 10 in hole is 30 in deep, less 4 in of gravel base, leaving 26 in of concrete
  2. The 4x4 post itself takes up part of that, so each hole needs the remainder
  3. Across 46 posts
  4. Divided by the 0.6 cu ft a bag yields: 76.47, so buy 77 bags

Common questions

Should I change the spacing to make the runs come out even?
It is a legitimate reason to shift spacing slightly, as long as you shorten rather than lengthen. Going from 8 ft to 7.5 ft to make a run divide evenly is fine; stretching to 9 ft to save a post puts more load on each one and leaves the rail unsupported at its span limit.
How much does a shared boundary save?
A whole side. If a neighbour has already fenced the 120 ft boundary you share, you are building three sides rather than four, which on this lot is a third off the material bill. Confirm the existing fence is actually on the line before you rely on it.
Does the fifth of an acre figure help me?
Not for ordering materials. Area tells you nothing about perimeter without the shape, which is why this page works from the two measured dimensions rather than from the acreage. Use the acreage pages only when you do not yet know your dimensions.