Redwood Fence Calculator
Estimate premium redwood boards, stringers, posts and concrete needed for standard or board-on-board redwood fences.
Fence calculator
Enter your specs. Every result updates live and shows its formula.
Overview
California Redwood is celebrated for its deep red color, tight grain, and natural resistance to decay, termites, and fire. This tool computes accurate lumber requirements for residential redwood perimeter and privacy enclosures.
Selecting the right grade, such as Construction Heart for posts and ground contact versus Construction Common for pickets, balances premium appearance with cost efficiency.
Common mistakes
- Using sapwood grades (such as Merchantable) below grade or in contact with soil where heartwood is required.
- Fastening redwood boards with un-coated steel hardware that causes severe black galvanic staining.
- Forgetting that board-on-board overlaps require roughly 25 to 30 percent more pickets than flat butted styles.
- Skipping end-cut sealant on redwood posts and cut rails before installation.
Related calculators
- Cedar Fence Calculator Calculate cedar pickets, 2x4 rails, 4x4 posts and concrete bags for Western Red Cedar privacy fences with live material estimates.
- Wood fence calculator Calculate posts, rails, pickets and concrete for a pressure-treated pine, cedar or redwood fence. Every formula shown, cost optional.
- Board on board fence calculator Calculate pickets for a board-on-board fence, which overlaps boards for full privacy from both sides, with the overlap built into the formula.
- Shadowbox fence calculator Calculate materials for a shadowbox fence, which alternates pickets on both sides of the rails for a semi-private, two-sided look.
Related reading
In-depth guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the best redwood grade for fence pickets?
Construction Heart (Con Heart) offers the best decay resistance, while Construction Common (Con Common) contains some pale sapwood streaks and costs less for above-ground pickets.
Should redwood posts be placed in concrete?
Yes, but the hole must feature 4 to 6 inches of crushed rock at the bottom to allow water drainage. Trowel the top concrete crown to shed rainwater away from the wood.
How many pickets are needed for a 100-foot redwood fence?
For a solid butted privacy fence with standard 1x6 pickets (5.5 in wide), you need roughly 218 to 220 pickets for 100 linear feet, plus waste margin.
Does redwood turn grey if left untreated?
Yes. Without a UV-protective exterior oil or stain, sunlight oxidizes redwood tannins, turning the rich natural amber-red into a weathered silver-grey within 1 to 2 years.
What fasteners work best with redwood fencing?
Always use 304 or 316 stainless steel screws or hot-dipped galvanized ring-shank nails. Never use standard zinc or drywall screws in redwood.
Can you build a shadowbox fence with redwood boards?
Yes. Shadowbox redwood fences allow wind to pass through while providing privacy and displaying a finished look on both neighboring sides.
How do redwood prices compare to pressure-treated pine?
Redwood lumber typically costs 2 to 3 times more than pressure-treated southern yellow pine, but offers higher dimensional stability and fewer warping issues.
How deep should redwood fence posts be embedded?
A standard 6-foot fence requires 8-foot posts buried 24 to 30 inches deep, or below local frost penetration in colder mountain regions.