Time to Dig and Set Posts

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The Time to Dig and Set Posts formula estimates the low-end (optimistic) estimate of time to dig posts for a set length fencing.

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:

(FL) Total Length of Fence
(PD) Distance between Posts
(M) Method of Digging: choose (By Hand or Mechanical Auger)

Time to Dig and Set Posts (t): The calculator returns the time in hours.

The Math / Science

Digging fence posts takes time. In ideas circumstances, when the ground is soft and not rocky, the process is fairly uniform. Using hand tools or a mechanical auger, one can move along fairly quickly. This formula computes the optimistic (minimum) total estimate of time to dig and set fence posts for:

Total Length (p) - The total fencing perimeter or length.
Uniform Spacing (l) - The standard length between the post for rails or runs of other materials (e.g. wire)
Method (m) - By Hand with hand tools or using a Mechanical Auger.

Hand Tools

The most commonly used hand tools for digging fence posts are as follows:

Post Hole Digger
Digging Bar aka Digging Iron
Tile Drain Shovel (a long skinny spade)

Post and Rail (Split Rail) Fence Calculators

Number of Posts and Split Rails: Computes the number of fence posts and rails needed for a length of wood fencing.
Wood Fence Cost Estimate : Computes material costs for post and rail fence based on the number of posts and rails (above) and unit cost pricing.
Labor Cost for to Dig and Set Posts : Computes the approximate cost of labor in digging and setting fence posts based on the length of the fence, uniform distance between posts, method of digging (by hand, power auger) and the hourly labor pay rate (DPH).
Time to Dig and Set Fence Posts: Estimates the best-case time to dig and set fence posts by hand or using a mechanical agure.
Perimeter of a Rectangular Shaped Area computes the length of a fence perimeter in a rectangular shaped area base on the length (l) and width (w) of the area.
Circular Fence Calc computes the diameter, number of posts, rails, perimeter and area of a circular shaped fenced area (paddock).
Fencing Needed for Circular Area computes the number of posts, number of sections, sides or panels, number of rail boards, perimeter and area of a circular shaped area (paddock) based on a diameter and length of sides (e.g., .
Number of Posts needed for a Wood Fence
Number of Rails needed for a Wood Fence