How to Measure a Garden for New Fencing: Panels, Posts, Gravel Boards & Gates

Measuring a garden for new fencing sounds straightforward until posts, corners, gates, slopes and existing foundations are added to the calculation.

A boundary might measure 15 metres from one end to the other, but that does not automatically tell you how many fence panels to order. The completed length includes the panels, the posts between them, any gate openings and potentially a shortened panel at the end.

Getting the measurements right before ordering makes installation considerably easier. It also reduces unnecessary cutting, incorrect post spacing, surplus materials and the risk of discovering halfway through the job that the gate no longer fits.

This guide explains how to measure a garden accurately for framed fence panels, timber or concrete posts, gravel boards, trellis and garden gates.

What Do You Need To Measure Before Ordering Fencing?

Record more than the overall boundary length.

A useful fence survey should include:

• The length of every straight section
• The number of corners
• The position of any gate
• The required gate opening
• Changes in ground level
• The proposed fence height
• The position of walls, sheds and other structures
• Existing post positions
• Existing concrete foundations
• Changes in boundary direction
• Any section that will need a shortened panel

Sketch the garden as you measure. The drawing does not need to be perfectly to scale, but each dimension should be clearly labelled.

Which Tools Do You Need To Measure A Fence?

For most domestic gardens, you will need:

• A long tape measure
• A shorter rigid tape measure
• String line
• Marker pegs
• Notebook or phone
• Pencil
• Spirit level where ground levels are unclear
• A straight timber batten for checking level changes

A laser distance measure can be useful for long straight sections, but it should not replace physical measurements around posts, walls and gates.

Measure twice before ordering.

Step 1: Confirm Which Boundary You Are Measuring

Before working out panel quantities, establish where the new fence is intended to stand.

Do not assume the existing fence perfectly follows the legal boundary. Older fencing may have been:

• Placed slightly inside one garden
• Moved during an earlier replacement
• Built around trees or old structures
• Installed without accurate setting out

If the boundary position is uncertain, resolve that before taking final ordering measurements.

Moving the fence line after materials have been ordered can change the required number of panels and post positions.

Step 2: Draw A Simple Plan Of The Garden

Draw the proposed fence as a series of straight lines.

Mark:

• Point A at the beginning
• Every corner as a new point
• Gate openings
• Walls
• Existing concrete posts
• Steps in ground level

A garden with three sides being fenced might be recorded as:

• A to B: 11.4m
• B to C: 7.8m
• C to D: 4.2m

Keep each measurement separate rather than adding everything together immediately.

This matters because each change in direction normally needs its own corner or terminating post arrangement.

Step 3: Measure Each Straight Fence Run

Measure horizontally from the intended face or centre of one end position to the next fixed point.

A fixed point may be:

• A corner
• A wall
• A gate post
• An existing post being retained
• The end of the boundary

Keep the tape reasonably level. Measuring directly along a steep slope can give a longer figure than the horizontal distance the fence layout needs.

On gently sloping ground this difference may be small. On a steep garden it can become significant.

Why Should You Measure Straight Sections Separately?

Consider an L-shaped boundary.

One leg may take five full panels and a shortened panel. The second leg may take four full panels.

If you simply add both lengths together and divide by the panel width, the calculation ignores the corner post and may put the shortened section in the wrong place.

Each straight run should therefore be planned as its own sequence of:

• Starting post
• Panel bays
• Intermediate posts
• Final or corner post

How Wide Are Standard Fence Panels?

Many framed garden fence panels are sold at a nominal width of 6ft, approximately 1.83m.

This includes common styles such as:

• Closeboard fence panels
• Ultra heavy duty closeboard fence panels
• Waney lap fence panels
• Picket fence panels
• Horizontal hit and miss panels
• Double slatted panels
• Omega lattice panels

However, the nominal panel width is not necessarily the complete installed bay width.

The post itself also occupies space in the fence run.

Why You Should Measure The Actual Fence Panels

Do not set every new post position solely from the words 6ft panel.

Before digging, confirm the actual dimensions of the products being installed.

Nominal dimensions are useful for planning, but differences can arise through:

• Manufacturing tolerances
• Timber moisture movement
• Traditional trade sizing
• Panel-frame construction

This is especially important where new panels must fit between existing posts.

How Do Fence Posts Affect The Measurement?

A row of six 1.83m panels does not create a completed fence only 10.98m long if the posts sit between those panels.

The post widths must also be considered.

Common timber post sections include:

• 75 x 75mm
• 100 x 100mm

If the panels are fixed between timber posts, the basic overall calculation is:

Total fence length = combined panel widths + combined post widths + any required clearances

The exact calculation depends on whether the measurement begins and ends at:

• The outside faces of the end posts
• The centres of the posts
• Walls or other fixed structures

How Many Posts Do You Need?

For a single straight run of framed panels, the usual starting calculation is:

Number of posts = number of panels + 1

This changes when the fence includes:

• Gates
• Corners
• Three-way junctions
• Wallplates
• Separate fence sections

How Do You Calculate Fence Panels From A Boundary Length?

For an initial estimate, divide the straight boundary length by approximately 1.83m.

For example, imagine a straight boundary measuring 12m.

Dividing 12 by 1.83 gives approximately 6.56.

That tells you immediately that the boundary cannot be completed with exactly six full standard panels. However, it does not necessarily mean the final answer is seven untouched panels.

You now need to account for:

• Post widths
• The fixing method
• The available end positions
• Whether a shortened panel can be used

The division is therefore an estimating tool, not the final setting-out measurement.

Should You Round The Number Of Panels Up?

For ordering purposes, you will often need to round up because a partial final bay still requires material.

However, do not simply order one additional panel without working out what will happen to the remaining width.

The final section might be:

• A shortened framed panel
• A wider custom-built closeboard section
• A gate
• A short return
• A deliberately adjusted sequence of bays

Plan the leftover dimension before ordering.

Where Should A Shortened Fence Panel Go?

It is usually better to choose the shortened bay deliberately rather than allowing it to appear wherever the measurements run out.

Possible positions include:

• At the end of a long run
• Beside a wall
• Near a gate
• Behind planting
• In a less visible corner

A very narrow final panel can look awkward and may be difficult to strengthen properly.

If the remaining space is small, consider adjusting several bays slightly or changing the gate position rather than creating one extremely narrow panel.

Worked Example: Measuring A Straight Boundary

Imagine a straight garden boundary between two fixed end points.

You know:

• The complete run is approximately 14m
• The intended panels are nominally 1.83m wide
• Timber posts will be positioned between the panels
• A gravel board will sit beneath each panel

First divide the run by the nominal panel width.

14 ÷ 1.83 gives approximately 7.65.

This suggests roughly eight panel bays.

Now stop using the rough calculation and work with the actual products.

Measure the:

• Actual panel width
• Post width
• Gravel-board length
• Panel fixing clearance

Lay out seven full bays from one end and calculate the exact remaining distance for the final bay.

This produces a much more reliable result than setting eight holes at nominal 1.83m centres.

How Do You Measure For Wooden Fence Posts?

Decide first how the panels will be connected to the posts.

Common arrangements include:

• Panels fitted between posts using clips
• Panels fixed to the face of posts
• Closeboard rails fixed between posts

For panels fitted between posts, record the clear gap required between the post faces.

For face-fixed systems, the centre-to-centre or face-to-face spacing may differ.

Use one measurement reference consistently throughout the fence.

How Do You Measure For Concrete Fence Posts?

Slotted concrete posts need particularly accurate bay widths because the panel and gravel board must engage with the slots.

Measure:

• The panel width
• The gravel-board length
• The panel-frame thickness
• The width between the inside faces of the slots
• How deeply the panel should enter each slot

Do not set concrete posts exactly one panel width apart without considering the slot engagement.

If the gap is too narrow, the panel may not fit. If it is too wide, there may be insufficient engagement to hold it securely.

How Do You Measure When Reusing Existing Concrete Posts?

Measure every individual bay.

Do not measure one opening and assume that all the others are identical.

Older concrete posts may have:

• Moved slightly
• Been installed inconsistently
• Leant over time
• Different slot dimensions

For each bay, record:

• Width at the bottom
• Width around the middle
• Width near the top
• Available panel height
• Gravel-board condition

If the measurements differ significantly from top to bottom, the posts may not be parallel.

How Do You Check Existing Posts Are Suitable To Reuse?

Correct spacing is only one requirement.

Before planning new panels around old posts, check that they are:

• Upright
• Secure
• Structurally sound
• Correctly positioned
• Compatible with the new panels

Timber Posts

Check carefully around ground level for:

• Soft timber
• Rot
• Movement
• Deep splitting

Concrete Posts

Check for:

• Movement in the foundation
• Broken slots
• Major cracking
• Exposed reinforcement

Do not design a new fence around a support system that is already failing.

How Do You Measure For Gravel Boards?

For framed panel fencing, one gravel board is normally required for each panel bay.

Therefore:

Number of gravel boards = number of panel bays

However, measure the required length just as carefully as the panels.

Wooden gravel boards are available in lengths including 1.83m, 2.4m and 3.0m, which gives flexibility for different types of fencing.

Concrete gravel boards are commonly designed around standard panel bays.

Where the final panel is shortened, the corresponding gravel board may also need shortening or a suitable alternative arrangement.

Should You Measure The Fence Height From The Ground?

Yes. Record the intended finished height from the relevant ground level to the highest point of the completed fence.

The completed height may include:

• Gravel board
• Fence panel
• Trellis
• Capping

A panel described as 6ft high does not necessarily produce a completed fence only 6ft high when installed above a gravel board.

Measure the complete system before selecting post length.

How Do You Calculate Fence Post Length?

A post must provide enough length for:

• The visible gravel board
• The panel
• Any trellis
• Any desired projection above the fence
• The required below-ground foundation depth

Common pressure-treated wooden post lengths include:

• 1.8m
• 2.4m
• 3.0m

Do not select post length by matching it to the panel height alone.

A full-height panel requires additional post length below ground.

How Do You Measure For A Garden Gate?

Plan the gate before calculating the surrounding fence bays.

The gate opening affects:

• The number of panels
• The number of posts
• The position of shortened bays
• The gate-post dimensions

Measure the clear opening you want, then check the actual gate width and required fitting clearance.

Do not create an opening exactly equal to the gate leaf width.

The installation may need allowance for:

• Hinges
• Latch clearance
• Timber movement
• Gate stops

What Sizes Are Common For Garden Gates?

Common timber pedestrian gate widths are around 0.9m.

Examples include:

• Fully framed feather edge gates around 1.75m high x 0.9m wide
• Contemporary double slatted gates around 1.8m x 0.9m
• Picket gates around 0.9m wide in several lower heights

Always confirm the actual gate dimensions before setting the gate posts.

Why Should The Gate Be Planned Before The Panels?

Suppose a boundary is 10m long and requires a 0.9m pedestrian gate.

Do not first fill the complete 10m with panel bays and then try to insert the gate.

Instead:

1. Choose the gate position.
2. Calculate the complete gate-post arrangement.
3. Subtract that section from the available fence length.
4. Calculate the panel bays on either side.

This gives control over where shortened panels occur.

Do Gates Need Different Posts?

Substantial garden gates should be planned around dedicated gate posts rather than assuming ordinary panel posts are sufficient.

A substantial timber gate post may be approximately:

• 3.0m long
• 150 x 150mm in section

The larger section affects the total fence length and should be included in the measurement plan from the start.

How Do You Measure Around A Corner?

Treat each side of the corner as a separate fence run.

First determine the physical corner point.

Then measure:

• From the first end to the corner
• From the corner to the second end

The corner post is shared structurally by both runs but should not simply disappear from the measurement calculation.

For timber fencing, make sure the post is large enough and positioned so both panels can be fixed securely.

For concrete fencing, use the correct corner-post configuration.

How Do You Measure A Three-Way Fence Junction?

A three-way junction occurs where three fence runs meet at one point.

Examples include:

• A rear boundary meeting two side gardens
• An internal garden division meeting an external boundary
• Several neighbouring fence lines meeting

Measure all three runs independently from the junction.

Concrete fencing requires a suitable three-way post where the panel system and layout call for one.

Timber fencing requires enough fixing face and post strength for all connected runs.

How Do You Measure A Fence Beside A Wall?

Decide whether the fence will:

• Finish against a freestanding end post
• Connect to a suitable wallplate
• Stop short of the wall

If fixing to masonry, assess whether the wall is suitable for the proposed load.

Measure to the actual intended fixing point rather than the nearest visible edge of the wall.

Allow space to install and maintain the final panel.

How Do You Measure A Fence On Sloping Ground?

Record both the horizontal fence length and changes in ground level.

Do not simply run a tape along the surface of a steep slope.

There are two common approaches to fencing sloping ground.

Stepped Fence Panels

Standard framed panels remain level and step up or down between posts.

Measure:

• The horizontal distance of each bay
• The vertical change between post positions
• The potential gap beneath each lower panel corner

Each post may need a different visible height.

Raked Closeboard Fencing

Traditional closeboard fencing can follow the slope more continuously.

Posts remain vertical, while rails and feather edge boards are arranged to suit the gradient.

Measure the horizontal distance between posts and calculate rail lengths carefully.

How Do You Measure The Change In Ground Level?

For a modest slope, use:

• A long straight timber
• A spirit level
• A tape measure

Hold the timber level from the higher point and measure vertically down to the lower ground.

Repeat this at the proposed post positions.

This gives you the vertical change independently from the horizontal fence length.

Why Are Slopes Important When Ordering Posts?

If the fence steps down significantly, posts on the lower side may need additional visible length.

A post selected for level ground may be too short where:

• The gravel board steps
• The panel steps
• Trellis must remain aligned
• Ground drops sharply between bays

Record the ground level at every major step before ordering all posts at one length.

How Do You Measure For Trellis?

Trellis can be used:

• Above solid panels
• Between posts as a complete screen
• For garden divisions
• For climbing plants

Traditional and privacy square trellis is commonly available in nominal widths around 1.83m, with several heights.

Horizontal slatted trellis is also available in a nominal 1.83m width across several height options.

Measure the actual clear opening between posts before ordering trellis for an existing fence.

Does Trellis Change The Post Measurement?

Yes.

If trellis is being installed above the main panel, the post must accommodate:

• The gravel board
• The panel
• The trellis
• The required below-ground support

Adding trellis later can be difficult if the original posts were cut flush with the panel top.

Plan the complete fence height at the beginning.

How Do You Measure For Picket Fencing?

Picket panels are commonly supplied at nominal 6ft width, so the same framed-panel principles apply.

Common panel heights include:

• 2ft
• 3ft
• 4ft

For a continuous picket fence built from individual pales, the calculation changes.

You need to measure:

• Total run length
• Post spacing
• Rail lengths
• Pale width
• Gap between pales

The pale quantity then depends on both pale width and desired spacing.

How Do You Measure For Traditional Closeboard Fencing?

A traditional closeboard fence is usually built from:

• Posts
• Cant rails
• Feather edge boards
• Gravel boards
• Capping where required

Unlike framed panels, the fence does not have to be divided into fixed 1.83m bays.

Measure the complete run and choose suitable post spacing based on the rail lengths and system design.

Cant rails are available in lengths including 2.4m and 3.0m, while feather edge boards come in several lengths to suit different fence heights.

How Do You Calculate Feather Edge Board Quantities?

The exact number depends on:

• The total fence length
• Board width
• Required overlap

Do not calculate the quantity from the nominal board width alone because part of each board is covered by the next one.

Establish the intended exposed face width after overlap, then divide the fence length by that figure.

Allow a sensible quantity for cuts and selection.

Should You Measure Existing Fence Panels?

Yes, especially during a replacement project.

Record:

• Panel width
• Panel height
• Frame thickness
• Post spacing
• Gravel-board height

Older panels may not match modern standard dimensions exactly.

Do not assume that ordering the same nominal height and width will guarantee a direct fit.

How Do You Measure A Fence With Uneven Existing Bays?

Create a bay schedule.

This quickly reveals whether replacement panels can be ordered as standard sizes or whether the supporting structure needs correcting.

How Do You Account For Existing Concrete Foundations?

Old post foundations can affect the new layout even when the old timber post has disappeared.

Before finalising new post positions, identify:

• Old concrete blocks
• Cut-off posts
• Buried repair spurs
• Old wall foundations

Moving every new post slightly to avoid the existing concrete can change the total bay sequence substantially.

Where possible, plan to remove unsuitable old foundations rather than allowing them to dictate an inaccurate fence line.

How Do You Measure Around Trees And Large Roots?

Do not automatically move the fence into neighbouring land or create an irregular boundary around a root.

Record:

• The trunk position
• The visible root spread
• The intended boundary line
• The nearest practical post positions

Possible solutions include adjusting the bay lengths, using a longer rail-based section or seeking professional advice where excavation could damage a significant tree.

How Do You Measure For A Fence Beside A Raised Bed?

Measure the fence independently from the raised soil.

Ordinary fence panels and gravel boards should not be assumed to function as retaining walls.

Where soil levels differ significantly between gardens, record:

• The level on your side
• The level on the neighbouring side
• The height of any retaining structure
• The height of the fence above it

The retaining structure and fence may need to be treated as separate systems.

Should You Allow Extra Fence Panels?

Do not automatically buy several spare panels for every project.

Instead, calculate:

• The exact number of complete bays
• The number of shortened sections
• Whether the cut-off from one panel can be used elsewhere

A spare panel may be useful on a large matching boundary, but unnecessary surplus increases cost and creates a bulky item that needs dry, secure storage.

Should You Allow Extra Timber?

Some additional allowance is more useful when constructing fencing from individual components.

Extra timber may be needed for:

• Cutting waste
• Shortened rails
• Selection around defects
• Gate framing
• Additional bracing

The appropriate allowance depends on the design rather than one universal percentage.

Should You Measure In Feet Or Metres?

Either system can work, but avoid switching between them unnecessarily during the same calculation.

Many traditional fencing descriptions use feet, including:

• 6ft panel width
• 3ft panel height
• 4ft panel height
• 5ft panel height
• 6ft panel height

Product specifications and site measurements are also commonly given in metres and millimetres.

For accurate setting out, millimetres are particularly useful.

Write the original measurement down rather than repeatedly converting and rounding it.

Why Can Converting 6ft To 1.8m Cause Errors?

Six feet is approximately 1.83m, not exactly 1.8m.

The difference between 1.8m and 1.83m is only around 30mm for one panel, but across ten panels it becomes approximately 300mm.

That is enough to create a noticeable error in the final bay.

Use the actual product measurement rather than treating 6ft and 1.8m as exactly interchangeable.

How Do You Check Your Fence Measurements Before Ordering?

Perform three checks.

Check 1: Add The Sections Back Together

Add:

• Full panels
• Short panels
• Posts
• Gate opening

The result should match the measured boundary length.

Check 2: Compare Against The Physical Garden

Mark the proposed post positions temporarily with pegs.

Walk the fence line and check:

• The gate position makes sense
• No post lands directly over an obvious obstruction
• Corners are correctly positioned
• Short panels are in sensible places

Check 3: Verify Product Dimensions

Confirm the panel, post, gravel board, gate and trellis dimensions before placing the final order.

What Information Should You Write Down For Each Fence Run?

How Do You Turn Measurements Into A Shopping List?

For a framed panel fence, the finished list may include:

• Fence panels
• Intermediate posts
• End posts
• Corner posts
• Three-way posts where required
• Gate posts
• Gravel boards
• Garden gate
• Panel clips or security brackets
• Exterior screws
• Gate hinges
• Latch
• Bolt
• Post mix
• Trellis where required
• Capping where required

Do not order panels first and work out the supporting components afterwards. The measurements should produce one compatible system.

Example Shopping List For A Straight Panel Fence

Imagine that your final measured layout requires eight framed panel bays.

A simple timber-post system would typically need:

• Eight panels
• Nine timber posts
• Eight gravel boards if used
• Suitable panel clips or brackets
• Exterior screws
• Post mix for all new posts

If one end attaches to a suitable existing structure, the exact post count may differ.

If a gate replaces one of the sections, the post and panel calculation must be revised around the gate opening.

Example Shopping List With A Gate

Imagine a run containing six panel bays and one garden gate.

The list may include:

• Six fence panels
• Six gravel boards
• Intermediate and end posts as required
• Dedicated gate posts
• One garden gate
• Suitable tee hinges
• A latch
• A bolt where required
• Exterior fixings
• Post mix

The exact number of ordinary posts depends on whether a gate post also serves as the end support for an adjoining panel.

Common Fence Measuring Mistakes

• Measuring the whole garden instead of the actual fence line
• Adding several sides together before planning corners
• Dividing the boundary by 1.8m instead of using actual panel dimensions
• Forgetting that posts occupy space
• Assuming every old bay is the same width
• Ordering panels before choosing the gate position
• Forgetting gate-post width
• Ignoring gravel-board height
• Ignoring trellis when calculating finished height
• Measuring directly along a steep slope
• Failing to record changes in ground level
• Assuming existing concrete posts are upright
• Assuming a nominal 6ft panel is exactly 1.8m wide
• Creating an unnecessarily narrow final panel
• Buying posts based only on panel height
• Forgetting end, corner and three-way post types

Fence Measuring Checklist

Before ordering fencing, confirm:

• The correct boundary has been identified
• Every straight run has been measured separately
• All corners have been recorded
• The gate position has been chosen
• The gate opening has been calculated
• The actual panel width has been confirmed
• The actual panel height has been confirmed
• Post widths have been included
• Gravel-board dimensions have been checked
• The completed fence height has been calculated
• Slopes and level changes have been measured
• Existing posts have been measured individually
• Existing supports have been checked for condition
• The final shortened bay has been planned
• Gate posts and specialist concrete posts have been counted
• The final measurements add back to the complete boundary length

FAQs

How Do I Work Out How Many Fence Panels I Need?

Measure each straight fence run and divide it by the approximate panel width for an initial estimate. Then calculate the final layout using the actual panel width, post dimensions, gate openings and shortened bays.

Are Fence Panels Exactly 6ft Wide?

Fence panels are commonly described as nominally 6ft or approximately 1.83m wide. Measure the actual product before setting posts.

Is A 6ft Fence Panel 1.8m Wide?

No. Six feet is approximately 1.83m. Treating it as exactly 1.8m can create a significant accumulated error across a long fence.

How Many Fence Panels Do I Need For 10 Metres?

Dividing 10m by 1.83m gives approximately 5.46, suggesting roughly six panel bays as an initial estimate. The final calculation must include post widths and the remaining end bay.

How Many Fence Panels Do I Need For 20 Metres?

Dividing 20m by 1.83m gives approximately 10.93, suggesting around eleven bays initially. Confirm the final layout using actual panel and post dimensions.

How Many Posts Do I Need For Six Fence Panels?

A simple straight six-panel run normally requires seven posts.

How Many Posts Do I Need For Ten Panels?

A simple straight ten-panel run normally requires eleven posts.

Does A Corner Need An Extra Post?

The corner needs a correctly positioned post capable of supporting both fence directions. In concrete fencing, use the appropriate corner-post configuration.

How Do I Measure Between Concrete Fence Posts?

Measure the clear bay width at the bottom, middle and top. Also check the slot dimensions and panel-frame thickness.

Why Should I Measure An Existing Bay In Three Places?

Because posts may lean. An opening that is correct at ground level may be too narrow at the top.

Can I Fit New Panels Into Old Concrete Posts?

Yes, provided the posts are secure, sufficiently upright and correctly spaced, and the new panel frames fit the slots.

Should I Measure The Panel Or The Gap Between Posts?

Measure both. The panel dimensions establish what is available, while the clear post opening confirms whether it will fit.

How Many Gravel Boards Do I Need?

A standard framed panel fence normally requires one gravel board for each panel bay.

Are Gravel Boards The Same Length As Fence Panels?

Standard gravel boards are commonly designed around normal panel bays, but always confirm actual dimensions and compatibility before installation.

Does A Gravel Board Add To Fence Height?

Yes. The visible gravel board contributes to the completed height of the fence.

Does Trellis Add To Fence Height?

Yes. Include the panel, gravel board, trellis and any permanent capping when calculating the completed height.

How Do I Measure For A Garden Gate?

Choose the gate first, confirm its actual width and determine the required fitting clearance. Then set the gate-post opening and calculate the remaining panel bays around it.

Should A Gate Opening Be The Same Width As The Gate?

No. Allow suitable clearance for hinges, latch operation and normal timber movement according to the gate and hardware being fitted.

Can A Gate Post Also Support A Fence Panel?

Yes, where the post has suitable dimensions and the layout allows the panel to be securely fixed to it.

How Do I Measure Fencing On A Slope?

Measure the horizontal run and record the vertical change in ground level separately. For framed panels, plan how each bay will step.

Do I Measure Along The Ground On A Slope?

Not for the main fence-layout dimension on a steep slope. Measure the horizontal distance and level changes separately.

Can I Cut A Fence Panel To Fit The Final Gap?

Many framed timber panels can be shortened, but the panel must retain a proper supporting side frame. Some decorative designs are considerably harder to reduce neatly.

Where Should The Short Panel Go?

Usually at a planned end, beside a gate or in another less prominent position. Avoid creating an extremely narrow section where possible.

Can I Spread The Leftover Space Across Several Panels?

Sometimes. This depends on the panel and fixing system. With standard framed panels, it is normally simpler to keep full panels intact and create one properly framed shortened bay.

Should I Order An Extra Panel Just In Case?

Not automatically. A careful survey should identify the required full and shortened panels. An additional matching panel may be useful on a large project, but it is not necessary for every fence.

Do I Need Different Measurements For Wooden And Concrete Posts?

Yes. Timber panels may be fixed between or onto wooden posts, while concrete systems require the panel and gravel board to engage correctly within the post slots.

How Do I Measure For Trellis Above A Fence?

Measure the clear width between the supporting posts and choose a compatible trellis width. Also check the combined gravel-board, panel and trellis height.

Should I Measure Before Or After Removing The Old Fence?

Take preliminary measurements before removal, then confirm the critical dimensions once old panels and obstructions are removed. Do not order solely from assumptions about the old system.

What If My Existing Fence Bays Are Different Widths?

Record each bay separately. If differences are substantial, correcting or replacing the posts may be better than cutting every new panel to a different size.

What If My Garden Is Not Square?

That is common. Measure each boundary independently and record the actual corner positions rather than assuming right angles.

What Is The Most Important Fence Measurement?

There is no single measurement. The critical information is the combination of actual boundary length, panel width, post dimensions, gate openings and changes in level.

Measure The Complete Fence System Before Ordering

Accurate fence measuring is not simply a matter of measuring the garden and dividing the answer by six feet.

Start by separating the boundary into straight runs. Record every corner, gate, wall connection and significant change in ground level.

Then decide which fencing system will be used. Confirm the actual dimensions of the panels, posts, gravel boards, gates and trellis rather than relying solely on nominal sizes.

For a simple straight run, the number of posts will usually be one greater than the number of framed panels. Corners, gates and junctions change that calculation, while existing concrete-post systems should be measured bay by bay before replacement panels are ordered.

Plan shortened panels and gates deliberately rather than leaving them until the end. Check the complete fence height, select posts with sufficient length for the visible fence and the required below-ground support, and make sure all components are compatible.

A careful survey takes longer than one measurement along the boundary, but it makes ordering and installation considerably more predictable. Measure the complete system first, then order the panels, posts, gravel boards, gate and fixings as one coordinated fence.