How to Easily Lay Out and Dig a Post Hole

Drive a batter board into the ground to mark where the fence will start. Tie mason’s string to the batter board to mark the line where the edges of the posts will be set.

• If you plan to install your panels between the posts, set the strings to the outside post edge.
• If you plan to install pickets or panels to the outside of the posts, set the strings to the inside post edge.
• Be sure to keep in mind that if you’re attaching to the face of the post, you need to account for the rails and pickets when lining up the fence with the edge of the house.

Measure for each run of your fence. Use batter boards and stretch mason’s string between them to mark the layout. Use two batter boards at corners.

Review the fence layout and adjust as needed to use full panels or to have no fence sections less than 2 feet wide. Partial sections should be located at corners or near gates.

Verify that the fence layout is square.

1. From an outside corner, measure 3 feet along one line, and make a mark on the string.
2. Measure 4 feet along the other line, and make a mark on the string.
3. Measure the diagonal distance between the two marks and adjust the stakes as needed so the distance is 5 feet.
4. Repeat the squaring process at all fence corners.

Drive stakes at the locations where fence posts will be installed. Make sure the stakes are positioned against the string. The distance between posts is dictated by the size of prebuilt panels, horizontal rails or local building regulations. Typically, spacing is between 5 feet and 8 feet.

• For prebuilt panel kits, the manufacturer will recommend post spacing, depending on whether the panels fit on the face or between the posts. If they attach between the posts, typically it’s the width of the panels, plus the thickness of the brackets, plus the half the width of the posts. For best results with prebuilt panels, only mark three to four holes at a time.
• If you’re attaching prebuilt panels to the face of the posts, the post spacing will be the width of the panels.
• If you’re installing a component-built fence, typically the spacing will be determined by the length of the rails to which you’ll attach the pickets, unless otherwise noted by local building regulations. For instance, if you’re using 16-foot rails, they can span three posts, so your spacing will be 8 feet. You can dig all the holes at the same time for a component-built fence

If the yard isn’t level, start post measurements at the highest points and work downhill.

• For a panel-built fence, measure horizontally rather than along the slope. Use a line level if necessary.
• For a component-built fence — pickets that will be attached individually — measure along the slope, since the rails will follow the contour of the land.

Insert stakes at the planned location for gates, including hardware in the width.

Dig the first post hole. Local building codes will dictate post hole depth and diameter. Typically, the diameter is triple the width of the post (12 inches for a 4-inch-by-4-inch post). The hole depth should be below the frost line, generally 1/2 to 1/3 of the above-ground post height. For a post with an above-ground height of 6 feet, this would usually mean a depth of about 30 inches.

Watch Our DIY Basics video: How Do I Set a Post in Concrete?

Dig the second and third post holes.

• For panel fences, don't dig additional post holes until the first three posts and panels are installed. This allows you to make adjustments as needed for spacing posts and panels.
• For component fences, you may continue digging post holes as long as you're sure that the distance between the posts will be at or less than the length of the horizontal rails.