Treated pine privacy
14 posts13 bays · 39 rails; 219 pickets; 58 concrete bags
Full takeoff from the fence planner; no gate, straight run.ONE RUN · FIVE MATERIALS
Compare fence materials on the same line
For 100 ft of six-foot fence with no gate, the five example layouts need 11–18 posts. Change the run to compare your own line.
Sources checked
Your estimate
11–18 posts
Across the same 100 ft run. This is a layout comparison, not a price ranking.
Cedar privacy
14 posts13 bays · 39 rails; 219 pickets; 67 concrete bags
Full takeoff from the fence planner; no gate, straight run.Vinyl privacy panels
14 posts13 panels · 13 vinyl panels; 44 concrete bags
Full takeoff from the fence planner; no gate, straight run.Galvanized chain link
11 posts10 bays · 100 ft of line before fabric, gates and end fittings
Layout only: line posts no more than 10 ft apart. The last bay may be shorter.Section 32 31 13 Galvanized Chain Link Fence and Gates (spec)Ornamental aluminum
18 posts17 panels · Panel layout only; confirm cut panel and gate details.
Jerith Liberty six-foot section: 72.5 in post centers. The last panel may be cut.Aluminum Ornamental Fence Installation InstructionsWhat the comparison counts
Every row starts with the same straight, six-foot-high run and no gate. Pine, cedar and vinyl use the full fence planner, so their rails, pickets or panels and concrete bags are included. The chain-link and aluminum rows are post layouts from specific manufacturers. They do not claim a complete shopping list.
The number of bays is the run divided by the allowed post spacing, rounded up; a straight open run then has one more post than bays. Product spacing, terminal posts, gates, wind exposure and ground conditions can change what you build. Check the selected product before buying or digging.
How the materials differ
Wood and privacy vinyl block the view in these examples. Chain link and ornamental aluminum leave the view open. A material name alone does not determine price, durability or code compliance: grade, coating, style, installation and local rules matter. This tool compares layout quantities rather than assigning unsupported prices or a winner.
Fence material comparison questions
Which fence material needs the fewest posts?
For the 100 ft example, the chain-link layout uses the fewest posts because its cited specification allows line posts up to 10 ft apart. That is a layout count, not a claim that it costs less or fits every site.
Does the comparison include gates and concrete?
The example has no gate. The wood and vinyl rows include concrete bags calculated by the fence planner. Chain link and aluminum include only posts and bays or panels because a universal fitting and footing list would be misleading.
Can I compare a different fence height?
This page holds height at six feet so the materials share one example. The full fence planner lets you change height for pine, cedar and vinyl. Check a specific chain-link or aluminum product for its available heights and post requirements.
A planning aid, not an engineering calculation: your local code and building inspector have the final word. Terms