Worked decision · Original example reviewed 2026-10-12 · Worksheet checked 2026-10-29
Fixed ends can change the order quantity
For a 96 in opening, 3.5 in pickets and a 3.5 in maximum gap: equal ends use 14 pickets at 3.1333 in; fixed zero end clearances use 15 pickets at 3.1071 in internally. In a seven-picket package, the order changes from 2 to 3 packages. Decide the end appearance before buying.
The end-clearance choice changes this count; measure the clear opening and actual picket width before selecting a supplier pack.
Load this decision in the calculatorPrimary sources & calculation review
Original example reviewed 2026-10-12 by TwoCut Tools using Codex; worksheet arithmetic checked 2026-10-29. The cited fence instructions provide product context; TwoCut calculated the gap geometry, without a customer installation or manufacturer endorsement.
- Outdoor Essentials / UFP, 6 ft moulded pickets manufacturer instructions (retailer-hosted PDF)
https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/c1/c12159c4-e2e1-42b8-8cd6-6aa2fd784437.pdf
Inputs and alternative plans
Same 96-inch bay; actual face 3.5 in; maximum gap 3.5 in; package 7.
| End plan | Count derivation | Actual internal gap (in) | Packages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal ends | ceil((96−3.5)/7) = 14 | 47/15 = 3.1333 | ceil(14/7) = 2 |
| Fixed zero ends | ceil((96+3.5)/7) = 15 | 43.5/14 = 3.1071 | ceil(15/7) = 3 |
What changes the order?
Both layouts fit full-width pickets. Equal ends add two outside gaps; fixed zero ends spend that space on another picket. Choose the end appearance before rounding the purchase order.
Before using this result
Post faces, not post centers, define the clear opening. This list excludes rails, posts and hinges; a kit’s nominal width is not its measured face width.
Worksheet: the end spaces change the order
Enter one 96-inch clear opening measured between the finished post faces. Use 3.5 inches as the actual picket face, 3.5 inches as the maximum permitted gap in this estimate, seven pickets per package and zero extra pickets. Keep the gate count at zero. The comparison changes only the end layout. These numbers describe a geometry exercise; a nominal 1×4 label does not establish the actual face width of the product you buy.
| Input or intermediate step | Equal end gaps | Fixed zero ends |
|---|---|---|
| Usable opening | 96 in | 96 − 2×0 = 96 in |
| Minimum whole pickets | ceil((96 − 3.5) / (3.5 + 3.5)) = 14 | ceil((96 + 3.5) / (3.5 + 3.5)) = 15 |
| Picket face occupied | 14×3.5 = 49 in | 15×3.5 = 52.5 in |
| Space left for gaps | 96 − 49 = 47 in | 96 − 52.5 = 43.5 in |
| Gap positions and actual width | 15 gaps; 47/15 = 3.1333 in | 14 internal gaps; 43.5/14 = 3.1071 in |
| Order | ceil(14/7) = 2 packages, 14 supplied | ceil(15/7) = 3 packages, 21 supplied |
The equal layout has one space before the first picket, one after the last, and thirteen between pickets. The fixed layout puts the outer pickets against the chosen zero-clearance boundaries, leaving fourteen internal spaces. In both cases the calculated gap stays below the entered 3.5-inch ceiling. The extra picket in the fixed layout crosses the package threshold: it adds a whole seven-picket kit, leaving six unused pickets rather than none. Do not divide the full opening by seven and round once without accounting for how many gap positions exist.
To use this worksheet on an actual fence, first measure the opening at the intended picket line, not from post center to post center. Record the desired end clearances on both sides. If a post cap, bracket or uneven surface requires nonzero ends, enter those values and recalculate; the zero-end result no longer applies. Confirm the selected gap against the applicable product instructions and local requirements. The calculator estimates full-width pickets and kit counts only; rails, posts, fasteners and site-specific clearances need separate planning. Reopen the fence calculator with your measured inputs before buying.