Two lengths have two different jobs
The calculator keeps the entered total length and the remaining length after gate deductions as separate values. The remaining length feeds the straight-run section and infill quantities. The full converted length is the denominator in the per-foot cost expression.
Let L be total length in feet, G gate count, W common gate width in feet, and T the unrounded material total calculated from your own prices.
remaining run = max(0, L − G × W)
displayed per-foot amount = currency_format(T ÷ L)
There is no T ÷ remaining run step in this display. A gate deduction changes the quantity model, not which length is used as the denominator. The total T can also change when gates change because material quantities change.
A denominator checklist without invented prices
These hypothetical dimensions were checked against this site's calculation handler. The cost-divisor expression was inspected directly in its source. No dollar amounts or material prices are supplied here: T means the separately calculated total for that row, not one fixed total shared by all rows.
| Entered length | Gate opening | Remaining run | Per-foot divisor | Expression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 ft | None | 100 ft | 100 ft | T ÷ 100 |
| 100 ft | One 4 ft gate | 96 ft | 100 ft | T ÷ 100 |
| 100 ft | One 10 ft gate | 90 ft | 100 ft | T ÷ 100 |
| 10 yd | One 4 ft gate | 26 ft | 30 ft | T ÷ 30 |
The last row uses the tool's yards-to-feet conversion: 10 × 3 = 30 ft, then 30 − 4 = 26 ft. Gate width stays in feet even when total length uses another unit. Keep those units separate when checking your own calculation.
Do not divide the rounded display again
The total and per-foot result are formatted separately from the internal numeric total. If you take the displayed total and divide it yourself, you are starting with an already formatted amount. The per-foot field instead formats the quotient of the unrounded total and full length. A displayed amount is therefore not a promise of exact equality after another round of display rounding.
For a calculation audit, keep the actual entered unit prices and quantities together rather than relying only on a copied rounded total. After changing length or gates, press Calculate materials again before using the per-foot figure.
The denominator does not make it an installed quote
The material total contains the model's posts, rails, wood pickets, concrete bags and fastener packs multiplied by their corresponding entered prices. It has no separate labor, delivery, tax, demolition, gate-leaf or gate-hardware price fields. Dividing by the full run does not add those missing line items.
For chain link, the fabric-length card is not multiplied by a fabric unit-price field in this implementation. Its per-foot result must not be treated as a complete fabric-fence budget. Check what is included in the total before comparing it with a supplier or installer figure.
If the result is unavailable, read which inputs are needed for a cost result. A missing figure is not a zero-cost estimate.
Check the basis before comparing estimates
- Identify whether each figure uses full run length or only solid infill length.
- Keep the unit, gate deduction and included line items with each result.
- Do not assume two per-foot figures represent the same scope merely because the unit labels match.
- Recheck oversized gate openings separately; a nonnegative remaining run does not validate a layout.
See the zero-run diagnostic if openings equal or exceed the full length. This page explains the existing denominator; it does not change the calculator or supply market rates.
Method and source
This guide documents this site's calculation code, specifically the length conversion, gate deduction, material-total expression and total / lengthFt display. Its examples are original software-input checks and symbolic arithmetic, not real-job measurements, price data or quotations.