Serious question, just read that a standard 6 foot privacy fence can have over 200 pickets. Is that right?

I was looking up some material estimates for a job in Vancouver. Client wants a full cedar fence, about 150 feet long. Did the math on a lumber site. They said for a 6 foot tall fence with 5/8 inch pickets spaced for privacy, you're looking at 220 to 230 pickets for that run. I've been doing this for years and never actually counted them out like that. Always just ordered by the bundle and went by feel. That number seems crazy high when you think about it. Means I'm hauling, cutting, and nailing over two hundred boards for what feels like a normal sized backyard job. Makes my arm hurt just thinking about it. Has anyone else ever tallied up the actual count on a longer privacy fence? Does that sound about right to you guys?

3 comments

3 Comments

james_ramirez3mo ago

Honestly, that line about it making your arm hurt is the real truth. Tbh the mental count of all that cutting and nailing is worse than the actual labor sometimes. Ngl I start dreading the job just doing the math.

hugo_nelson3mo agoMost Upvoted

@james_ramirez so how many pickets do you actually order for a 150ft run?

adam6751mo ago

James Ramirez nails it with that dread math, you start calculating and before you know it you're questioning all your life choices. For 150 feet with standard 5 inch spacing you're looking at around 360 pickets if you account for a couple of mistakes and warped boards. Just tell yourself it's a good arm workout that saves you a gym membership.