Free tool
Fence Calculator
Enter your run length and get posts, rails, pickets, concrete bags and an installed price — with post depth set for Minnesota frost, not a national average.
Free tool
Fence Calculator
| Sections | 19 |
|---|---|
| PostsIncludes 2 gate posts. Line posts every 8 ft. | 22 |
| Post hole depthTwin Cities frost depth — shallower posts heave. | 42 in minimum |
| ConcreteAbout 4 bags per 10 inch hole. | 88 × 60 lb bags |
| Rails (2×4, 8 ft) | 57 pieces |
| Pickets (5.5 in wide) | 328 pickets |
| Gates | 1 walk, 0 drive |
Installed cost, Twin Cities
$5,700 – $9,285
A ballpark, not a bid. Access, condition, permits and soil move the real number. Send it over and we'll price your actual project for free.
The 42 inch rule is why cheap fences fail here
Frost depth in the Twin Cities is commonly taken as 42 inches or more. A post set 24 inches deep — the depth most national how-to guides recommend — sits inside the frost zone, and every winter the freezing soil grabs the concrete collar and lifts it. Three seasons later the gate won't latch and the top rail is a rollercoaster.
Set posts below frost, bell the bottom of the hole rather than the top, and don't let the concrete collar mushroom out at grade where it can catch heave. Gravel at the base of the hole so water drains instead of pooling.
Before you dig
Call Gopher State One Call at 811 before any post hole goes in the ground — it's free, it's required, and hitting a gas or fiber line is a very expensive Saturday. Allow a couple of business days for locates.
Then check two things with your city: whether a fence permit is required (most metro cities require one), and where your property line actually is. A survey is cheaper than moving a finished fence. Many cities also cap front-yard fence height at 4 feet and require the finished side to face out.
Common questions
- How deep should fence posts be in Minnesota?
- At least 42 inches, matching typical Twin Cities frost depth. Anything shallower is in the heave zone and will move.
- How many bags of concrete per fence post?
- About four 60 lb bags for a 10 inch wide, 42 inch deep hole with a 4x4 post. A 6x6 corner post in a 12 inch hole takes closer to six.
- How far apart should fence posts be?
- Eight feet on center is standard and matches 8 ft rail stock. Six feet costs more in posts but is noticeably stiffer on windy, open lots.
- Do I need a permit for a fence in the Twin Cities?
- Most metro cities require a fence permit and enforce height limits — commonly 6 ft in rear and side yards and 4 ft in front. Rules and fees vary by city, so confirm with your building department before ordering material.