Worked decision · Original example reviewed 2026-10-12 · Worksheet checked 2026-10-29
Why a gate is not another picket span
A 96 in bay and a 72 in bay, with 3.5 in pickets and a maximum 3.5 in equal gap, need 14 and 10 pickets. Their actual gaps are 47/15 = 3.1333 in and 37/11 = 3.3636 in. A separate 36 in factory gate needs one leaf and no pickets. Total: 24 pickets → 4 seven-picket packages (28 supplied). Counting the gate as a span would wrongly add five pickets.
The picket order covers only the two entered fence spans; check the selected factory gate, its hardware and required clearance separately.
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 gate and fence instructions provide product context; TwoCut separated the gate from the span calculation, 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
Two independent bays of 96 and 72 inches; actual face 3.5 in; maximum gap 3.5 in; separate 36-inch factory gate.
| Opening | Picket derivation | Actual gap (in) | Order contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96 in bay | ceil(92.5/7) = 14 | 47/15 = 3.1333 | 14 pickets |
| 72 in bay | ceil(68.5/7) = 10 | 37/11 = 3.3636 | 10 pickets |
| 36 in gate | Factory gate opening | Supplier clearance | 1 gate; 0 pickets |
| Combined pickets | 14+10 = 24 | Separate span gaps | ceil(24/7) = 4 packages |
What changes the order?
Treating the gate as a third span adds five pickets that do not belong in the gate order. Keep the gate leaf in a separate line and combine only the two compatible picket quantities.
Before using this result
Verify hinge clearances and leaf dimensions independently. Seven-picket packages supply 28 boards, leaving four spares; they do not include a gate.
Worksheet: keep the gate on its own line
Measure three openings between finished post faces: a 96-inch left picket bay, a 36-inch factory-gate opening and a 72-inch right picket bay. Select equal end and internal gaps, actual picket face 3.5 inches, maximum gap 3.5 inches, packages of seven and no optional spare pickets. Mark the middle row as a factory gate in the calculator. Its 36 inches identifies the opening; it does not instruct the tool to build a 36-inch picket panel.
| Opening | Intermediate calculation | Purchase contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Left, 96 in span | ceil((96 − 3.5)/7) = 14; (96 − 14×3.5)/15 = 3.1333 in gap | 14 pickets |
| Middle, 36 in factory gate | Gate row bypasses picket spacing | 1 gate leaf, 0 pickets |
| Right, 72 in span | ceil((72 − 3.5)/7) = 10; (72 − 10×3.5)/11 = 3.3636 in gap | 10 pickets |
| Correct combined order | 14 + 10 = 24; ceil(24/7) = 4 | 28 supplied, 4 left over; 1 gate |
| Wrongly treating gate as a span | ceil((36 − 3.5)/7) = 5; 24 + 5 = 29 | ceil(29/7) = 5 packages; gate omitted |
The mistaken middle-row calculation yields five pickets with gaps of (36 − 5×3.5)/6 = 3.0833 inches. Its arithmetic is internally valid for a hypothetical picket panel, but it answers the wrong purchase question. It raises the package order from four to five while failing to list the separate gate. Even the four spare pickets in the correct four packages cannot become a gate leaf. Keep the material lists separate when comparing suppliers.
Before ordering the factory gate, obtain its stated leaf width and the maker's required hinge and latch clearances. A 36-inch measured opening does not prove that a nominal 36-inch leaf will fit. Record post plumb, hardware placement and swing direction separately. The fence model does not choose hardware or verify gate clearance. If instead you are building a picket panel in the middle opening, change its row type to span; then the five-picket calculation becomes relevant, and the gate line should be removed. This decision is about what is installed, not just a number in an input field.
Use the fence calculator to save the three distinct rows. The fence guide explains how to document end gaps and separate factory components from picket quantities.