Choosing what size fence pickets to use on your privacy fence Isn't rocket science. it all falls down to personal preference. Do you prefer the thinner pickets or the larger ones? Either choice would be fine especially for a newly built wood fence. If you are making repairs its best to stick with the size that's currently there.

What is a Fence Picket

A picket is simply one of the evenly-spaced vertical fence boards that go between the posts and attach to the horizontal rails. Since there are many more pickets required than posts or rails, they are typically one of the biggest factors when it comes to variations in fence quotes or estimates.

Common Fence Picket Sizes

For basic dog ear fence pickets you are subject to 4 inch and 6 inch width for pickets ( although there true measurement is 4.5 &5.5 inches wide. Decorative fence pickets vary in sizes .However , the 4 inch and 6 inch or the most common .

Fence Picket Costs

You can expect to pay about $1.78 per picket for the 6 inch at your local Home Depot . For the 4 inch pickets you can expect to pay a few cents less. However, With the smaller pickets you will need to purchase more . This cost is for basic pressure treated lumber. The better the quality of lumber the higher the price will be .

Installing the pickets

Installing the pickets is the easiest part of building or repairing a fence. There are multiple methods to hanging them. Your can nail or screw them . If screwing you want to use short nails like 1 5/8 length exterior screw. Screwing pickets on is a faster alternative than using a hammer to drive nails-- While using a nail gun to attach pickets is the fastest method .

How Many Pickets Will You Need ?

This all boils down to the length of your fence . Lets repairing a section of your fence and the total length is 32 ft . You currently have the 6 inch pickets on existing fence. You know a picket is 6 inches so 2 = 12 (a foot).so 32 ft times 2 pickets at 6 inches = 64 pickets . You do the same calculations for the 4 inch pickets .

Need Help With Fence Repairs ?

I'd be more than happy to help