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A repeatable 8-ft cedar fence section — two posts, top and bottom rails, and gapped pickets. Build one section, then repeat for the length of your run.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Posts Trim on site to your actual hole depth plus desired above-grade height. | 2 | 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 96" | Cedar 4x4 | ☐ |
| Top rail Fit between posts; length depends on your actual post spacing. | 1 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 93" | Cedar 2x4 | ☐ |
| Bottom rail | 1 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 93" | Cedar 2x4 | ☐ |
| Pickets | 16 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 72" | Cedar | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar 4x4 fence post, 8 ft (for ground contact) (Cedar) Trim to fit your post-hole depth and desired fence height above grade. | 2 each | ☐ |
| Cedar 2x4, 8 ft (Cedar) Top and bottom rails for this section. | 2 each | ☐ |
| Cedar fence picket, 72" x 5-1/2" (Cedar) Enough to cover an 8-ft run with a small gap between pickets. | 16 each | ☐ |
| Pocket-hole screws, 2-1/2" | 8 each | ☐ |
| Galvanized nails, 2" | 64 each | ☐ |
| Fast-setting concrete mix One bag per post, more in loose or sandy soil. | 2 bag | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Level, Post Hole Digger. Materials: Cedar 4x4 fence post, 8 ft (for ground contact), Fast-setting concrete mix
Dig post holes roughly a third of the post's total length deep (a 4-ft-deep hole for an 8-ft post is typical, less on a sloped or rocky lot). Set posts in concrete, brace them plumb with scrap lumber while it cures, and don't touch them again until the concrete has set.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Level. Materials: Cedar 2x4, 8 ft
Once the posts are set, attach the top rail first and work your way down from there. On a sloped lot, measure down a consistent distance from the lowest post at each post along the run, and use a level to keep the rail level end to end even as the ground underneath it isn't.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: Cedar 2x4, 8 ft, Pocket-hole screws, 2-1/2"
Add the bottom rail, inset from the front face by about 1/2" for a cleaner shadow line. Attaching it with pocket screws driven from behind keeps every visible screw hole out of sight — they'll be covered by pickets anyway, but it also means no exposed fasteners for water to collect around.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 72" x 5-1/2", Galvanized nails, 2"
Nail the pickets to the top and bottom rails with a consistent gap between each one — a scrap of wood cut to your target gap width makes a fast, repeatable spacer. Check every third or fourth picket with a level as you go; small drift compounds over a long run.