Choose post length from the complete fence arrangement, including the panel height, any gravel board or trellis and the section of post required below ground. Do not select it from panel height alone.
Fence post length should be chosen from the complete height of the fencing system, not from the fence panel height alone.
Add together the visible components that the post needs to accommodate. This can include the fence panel, a gravel board beneath it and any trellis above it. The post must then also provide the required section below ground for the intended installation.
For example, fitting a gravel board beneath a 6ft panel creates a visible fence that is taller than the panel itself. Adding trellis increases that height again. Choosing a post simply because its nominal length sounds similar to the panel height can therefore leave insufficient overall length.
Post section and post type are separate choices. A 75mm or 100mm wooden post, or an intermediate, end, corner or 3-way concrete post, still needs an overall length that suits the complete fence arrangement.
Browse our fence posts for the available options. If the required length is not obvious, the fence post length calculator provides a planning estimate using panel height, gravel board height, trellis height and the below-ground allowance.