Fencing Estimating and Takeoff Services

We quantify fencing and gates from your site drawings — fabric and rail by linear foot, posts counted by type and condition, gates priced individually with their hardware and operators — delivered as an editable Excel workbook with the marked-up plan set.

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What We Take Off

A linear foot rate hides everything that matters in a fence. Posts at corners, ends, gates and grade changes are heavier and set deeper than line posts. Terminal posts need bracing. Gates are individually priced assemblies, and an operated vehicle gate can cost what fifty feet of fence costs. And on sloped or rocky ground the post foundations become the job.

Fence fabric and infill by linear foot and heightseparating chain link, ornamental steel and aluminium, welded and woven wire, wood, vinyl, composite and screening systems

Line postscounted at the specified spacing rather than assumed, since spacing varies with fence height, wind exposure and system type

Terminal postscorner, end, gate and pull posts counted individually, since they are heavier sections set in larger foundations and they carry the bracing

Post foundationsconcrete volume by post type and depth, with depth driven by frost line, fence height and soil condition rather than a standard figure

Bracinghorizontal and diagonal bracing, truss rods and tension bands at every terminal and gate post, which is a real assembly and not an accessory

Rails and tension wiretop, mid and bottom rail by linear foot, tension wire, and the tension bars and bands at every terminal

Gatescounted individually by type and size, separating single swing, double swing, cantilever slide, rolling and pedestrian gates, each priced as its own assembly

Gate hardwarehinges, latches, drop rods, keepers, closers and panic hardware where required, counted per gate since hardware on a large vehicle gate is substantial

Gate operatorscounted with the operator, safety devices, loop detectors, access control interface, power supply and the conduit and trenching feeding them

Access control interfacecard readers, keypads, intercoms and their connection back to the building system, flagged as a coordination item with the security package

Privacy and screeningslats, mesh, windscreen and privacy panels by area, along with the additional wind load they impose on posts and foundations

Security featuresbarbed wire, razor wire, anti-climb detailing and increased height sections where the site requires them

Terrain and grade followingwhere the fence follows grade or steps, quantified as a condition, since sloped installation is slower and stepped fencing needs more posts and more panels

Rock and difficult excavationwhere post holes encounter rock, which changes post setting from a routine operation to a drilling one

Site clearing along the fence linevegetation removal, grubbing and grading needed before the line can be set

Existing fence removalby linear foot with post and foundation removal and disposal, since pulling old concrete footings is the slow part

Layout and surveyestablishing the line against property boundaries, which matters because a fence on the wrong side of a line is an expensive mistake

Temporary construction fencingwhere it is included in the scope, by linear foot with gates, relocation during the project and removal

How Fencing Quantities Are Measured

Every quantity below is reported in the unit the scope is actually bought and bid in — not converted into a single convenient unit that hides where the cost sits.

FenceLF by type and heightBy system and height. Height changes post size, spacing and foundation depth together, not just the fabric.

Line postsEA at specified spacingCounted at actual spacing, which varies with height, wind exposure and system rather than being standard.

Terminal postsEA by conditionCorner, end, gate and pull posts counted separately — heavier sections, larger foundations, plus bracing.

Post foundationsCY or EA by depthDepth driven by frost line, fence height and soil, not by a default figure.

BracingEA per terminalA real assembly at every terminal and gate post, not an accessory folded into a linear rate.

GatesEA by type and sizePriced individually. A cantilever slide gate can cost what fifty feet of fence costs.

Gate hardwareEA per gateHinges, latches, drop rods and closers counted per gate, since large vehicle gates carry substantial hardware.

Gate operatorsEA with power and controlsWith safety devices, loop detectors, access control interface and the trenched power feed.

ScreeningSF or LF by typeWith the additional wind load it imposes, which feeds back into post size and foundation depth.

Rock excavationEA post or CYWhere post holes hit rock, setting posts becomes drilling, which is a different operation entirely.

Grade followingLF by conditionSloped and stepped runs quantified separately, since both are slower and stepped needs more posts.

RemovalLF with footingsExisting fence removal including pulling old concrete footings, which is the slow part of the work.

Who This Is For

General contractors carrying this trade directly, or checking a subcontractor's number before it goes into the bid.

Subcontractors pricing their own scope in this division.

Developers and owners validating a number they've already been given.

Material suppliers and distributors verifying a customer's order.

What You Receive

An itemized Excel takeoff, organized by division
A marked-up plan set — every quantity traces back to a location on the drawings
Labor, material and equipment split out separately
Waste and overage factors shown as visible line items
An assumptions and exclusions schedule

Marked-up fencing plan crop

What Moves the Number on Fencing

Gates. Gates are the most expensive thing in a fence line by a wide margin. A large cantilever slide gate with an operator, safety devices, loop detectors and an access control interface can cost what a substantial run of fence costs, and it carries a power feed and trenching with it. Counted individually they are predictable; absorbed into a linear foot rate they wreck the estimate.

Post count and terminal conditions. Line post spacing varies with fence height, system type and wind exposure. Terminal posts at every corner, end, gate and pull point are heavier sections in larger foundations with bracing assemblies. A fence with many direction changes has far more terminal conditions than its length suggests.

Foundation depth. Post foundation depth is driven by frost line, fence height and soil bearing, and it is the concrete quantity that turns a fence into a real material item. In a deep frost region a tall fence needs substantially deeper footings, and the volume across a long run adds up quickly.

Terrain and ground conditions. Fencing across flat open ground is fast. Following grade is slower, stepping down a slope needs more posts and more panels for the same horizontal distance, and rock at post depth turns setting into drilling. None of this is visible in a linear measurement off a site plan.

Screening and wind load. Slats, mesh and windscreen turn a fence from something wind passes through into a solid surface, which increases the load on posts and foundations substantially. Adding screening to an existing design is not a fabric change — it can require larger posts, closer spacing and deeper footings.

Access control integration. Gate operators with card readers, keypads, intercoms and a connection back to the building access control system are a coordination item between the fencing, electrical and security packages. Power and communications to a gate at the far side of a site means trenching, conduit and a real distance.

Existing fence removal. On a replacement project, pulling out the old fence is straightforward and pulling out its concrete footings is not. Footing removal, hole backfill and disposal frequently take longer than installing the new fence, and it is routinely priced as a nominal demolition item.

What We Need From You

A complete set is ideal, but rarely what exists. Send what you have — we will tell you at quote stage what can be quantified firm and what has to be an allowance.

Site plan showing the fence line, lengths and property boundaries
Fence details showing type, height, post spacing and foundation detail
Gate schedule or details with type, size, swing or slide direction and hardware
Specification section for Division 32 fences and gates
Grading plan, for slope conditions along the fence line
Geotechnical information, for soil bearing and rock at post depth
Electrical drawings showing power provided to gate operator locations, or confirmation that none is
Security drawings for access control at gates
Local zoning requirements for height, setback and permitted materials
For replacement: existing fence type and footing information

How It Works

1 Send your plans — PDF, DWG, DOC, images or ZIP, up to 100MB per file.
2 Get your quote — a flat price for the scope with a delivery date, confirmed in writing.
3 Approve — nothing starts until you confirm.
4 We take it off — quantities from the drawings and schedules.
5 Delivery — workbook, marked-up set, assumptions schedule.

How Pricing and Turnaround Work

Every project is priced individually from your drawings. Send the plan set and you get a flat quote for the scope before any work starts — no hourly billing, no open-ended engagement.

Turnaround depends on the size of the package and how many trades are in scope — which is why you get a firm delivery date with your quote rather than a generic promise.

Tools and Standards

Takeoffs are produced in Bluebeam, PlanSwift, Trimble, STACK, organized against CSI MasterFormat divisions — this scope is specified under Division 32 — Exterior Improvements (32 31 00 Fences and Gates).

Quantities and assemblies are read against the published standards that govern this trade, because the standard is what decides whether two apparently identical items are actually the same line item:

ASTM F567 — installation of chain link fence
ASTM F1043 — strength and protective coatings on steel industrial fence framework
ASTM F2200 — automated vehicular gate construction, which governs gate safety requirements
UL 325 — door, drapery, gate, louver and window operators and systems
ASTM F2408 — ornamental fences employing galvanized steel tubular pickets
ASCE 7 — wind load provisions, which govern post spacing and foundation depth where screening is applied
Applicable local zoning requirements for fence height, setback and permitted materials

Pricing is built on RSMeans cost data localized to your project's market, then reconciled against current supplier quotes and our own completed project costs. Every estimate states its pricing basis and the date it was priced.

Why Fencing Is Estimated Wrong

Gates absorbed into the linear foot rate. The dominant error. An operated vehicle gate with safety devices, loop detectors, an access control interface and a trenched power feed can cost what a long run of fence costs. Rolled into a per-foot rate it disappears, and the estimate is short by whatever the gates were worth.

Terminal posts and bracing not counted. Corners, ends, gate posts and pull posts are heavier sections in bigger foundations with bracing assemblies attached. A fence line with many direction changes has far more of them than its length suggests, and a line-post-only assumption undercounts both the posts and the concrete.

Foundation depth assumed standard. Post footing depth comes from frost line, fence height and soil bearing. In a deep frost region with a tall fence, the concrete volume across a long run is substantial, and assuming a shallow standard depth understates a real material quantity while producing a fence that heaves.

Terrain ignored. Following grade is slower than flat work, stepping a fence down a slope needs more posts and more panels for the same horizontal distance, and rock at post depth turns a routine operation into drilling. A length measured off a plan carries none of this.

Screening wind load not carried through. Adding slats or windscreen makes the fence a solid surface and substantially increases wind load on posts and footings. It is not a fabric substitution — it can require larger posts, closer spacing and deeper foundations, which is a redesign rather than an upgrade.

Existing footing removal underpriced. Pulling old concrete post footings, backfilling the holes and disposing of the spoil regularly takes longer than installing the new fence. It is priced as a nominal demolition line far more often than it deserves to be.

Related Estimating Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you price gates separately from fence?

Always. Gates are the most expensive thing in a fence line — a cantilever slide gate with an operator, safety devices, loop detectors, an access control interface and a trenched power feed can cost what a long run of fence costs. Counted individually they are predictable; rolled into a per-foot rate they wreck the estimate.

How do you count posts?

Line posts at the actual specified spacing, which varies with fence height, system type and wind exposure, and terminal posts counted separately at every corner, end, gate and pull point. Terminals are heavier sections in larger foundations with bracing assemblies, and a fence with many direction changes has far more of them than its length suggests.

Do you include post foundations?

Yes, as a concrete quantity with depth driven by frost line, fence height and soil bearing rather than a default. Across a long run in a deep frost region that volume is a substantial material item, and assuming a shallow standard depth produces both a low estimate and a fence that heaves.

Do you account for slope and rock?

Yes, both. Following grade is slower than flat work, stepping down a slope needs more posts and panels for the same horizontal distance, and rock at post depth turns setting into drilling. A length measured off a site plan carries none of this, so the conditions are quantified separately.

Do you price gate operators and access control?

Yes, with the operator, safety devices, loop detectors and the access control interface, plus the trenching, conduit and power feed to reach the gate. Where the connection back to the building security system is required, it is flagged as a coordination item between the fencing, electrical and security packages.

Do you include existing fence removal?

Yes, and we price the footings honestly. Pulling old concrete post footings, backfilling and disposing of the spoil frequently takes longer than installing the new fence, and it is underpriced as a nominal demolition line far more often than it should be.

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