Calculator · Outdoor builds
Deck, Fence and Shelving Project Planner
Plan free deck surface-board, pre-cut fence-picket, and shelving material estimates with printable and exportable lists.
Deck, fence and shelving project planner
Free V1 planning workflow for quick lumber/timber material estimates. Choose a project type, enter the key dimensions, then print or export the browser-generated material list.
Result
Choose a project type, enter dimensions and optional prices, then calculate.
How it works
This free V1 project planner combines deck surface-board, fence, and shelving material estimates into one browser-based workflow. Deck mode estimates surface deck-board quantities only, not framing or structural materials.
Fence mode assumes uniform, non-overlapping vertical boards or pickets purchased as complete pre-cut pieces at the entered finished height. Height is project/product metadata and visual scale; it does not change piece count.
Choose a project type, enter the relevant dimensions and optional prices, then print, copy, or download the material list. Fence-board/picket price means the price per complete finished-height piece. Currency symbols are displayed as entered and no exchange-rate conversion is performed.
- Deck: deck area = deck_length x deck_width; board rows = ceiling((deck_width + gap) / (board_width + gap)) because gaps occur only between adjacent rows. When a full row fits one stock board, repeated row parts are allocated with saw kerf between retained pieces. If a row is longer than stock, only a theoretical length minimum is shown and seam/layout planning is required.
- Deck framing materials, including joists, beams, posts, footings and perimeter framing, are not included.
- Fence: pre-cut boards/pickets = ceiling((fence_length + gap) / (board_width + gap)); finished height identifies the complete pre-cut product but is not a quantity multiplier. Cutting pickets from longer stock is not included. Posts = ceiling(fence_length / post_spacing) + 1. Rails are treated as individual equal post-bay sections and allocated whole to stock with saw kerf between retained sections.
- Shelving board mode: each shelf is treated as an individual part and allocated to stock boards with saw kerf between retained parts on the same board.
- Shelving sheet mode: identical rectangular shelves use a conservative grid. Along each sheet dimension, n parts must satisfy n x part_dimension + (n - 1) x kerf <= sheet_dimension. Optional 90-degree rotation evaluates the rotated pure-grid orientation too.
- Waste is applied by multiplying the relevant piece count by 1 + waste_percent / 100 and rounding up.
Worked example
Deck example: a 4.8 m by 3.6 m deck using 140 mm boards and 5 mm gaps gives 25 board rows. With 4.8 m stock boards, that is 25 boards before waste.
Fence example: a 12 m run at 3 m post spacing gives 5 posts and 4 bays. Two rail rows require eight 3 m sections, so 4 m rail stock requires 8 pieces before waste.
Shelving example: four 0.8 m shelves fit two per 2.4 m stock board with a 3 mm kerf between them, so the feasible result is 2 boards before waste.
Common mistakes
- Treating a simple planning estimate as a final building plan.
- Forgetting that gates, stairs, railings, brackets, anchors, fasteners, edging, finishing, and cut layouts may need separate planning.
- Using a per-length or raw-stock price where fence mode expects the price of one complete finished-height board or picket.
- Using nominal material sizes instead of actual board, timber, sheet, or panel dimensions.
- Entering prices in different currencies and expecting conversion. The planner only displays the symbol you enter.
Common questions
Is this project planner free?
Yes. This V1 project planner is free to use and does not include payments, subscriptions, accounts, or premium gating.
Does this replace the individual calculators?
No. It is a quick planning workflow. Use the individual calculators when you want a more focused deck, fence, sheet goods, cut-list, cost, or weight estimate.
Can I use this for metric and imperial projects?
Yes. The planner supports metric and imperial inputs where relevant and converts internally before calculating.
Does this include local building code requirements?
No. It is not a structural or code-compliance calculator. Verify structural requirements, safety requirements, and local building rules before building.
Does this optimise cut layouts?
No. Repeated board parts use a deterministic straight-cut allocation, while sheet parts use a conservative single-orientation grid. The sheet estimate does not perform mixed-orientation or optimal nesting, and the deck planner does not design seams when a full row is longer than stock.
Can I print or export the material list?
Yes. After calculating, you can print the material list, copy it, download CSV, or download a plain text list in your browser.