Overview
Line post spacing controls how Dirt Face places line posts along each fence section on the canvas. The same setting also changes how panel quantities are calculated when you run takeoff.
Panel count means the number of full-size panels you need to purchase for the job, not the number of gaps between posts.
Where in the app: Designer → Settings tab → Fence settings → Spacing method
Open: Estimates
Fixed vs proportional on the drawing
Both methods use the post spacing from your fence template (for example, 10 ft between line posts). They differ in how each section is divided.
| Method | How posts are placed | Typical look |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed | Posts at the maximum spacing from one end; the last bay is shorter if the section does not divide evenly | Most bays are full width; one short bay at the end (or start if inverted). Best when you buy standard-length panels and want most bays at full width. |
| Proportional | The section is split into equal bays, none longer than the template spacing | All bays in that section are the same width. Avoids a narrow, awkward-looking last bay, but every bay in that section may need to be cut. |
Example: a 32 ft section with 10 ft spacing.
- Fixed: posts at 10, 20, and 30 ft with a 2 ft remainder bay. Only the last panel in that section needs cutting (unless you invert spacing to move the short bay to the start).
- Proportional: four bays of 8 ft each. All four panels are cut to 8 ft.
The number of line posts is the same for both methods. Only their positions along the section change.
How panel counts are calculated
Takeoff uses the spacing method when it totals panels for components that reference totalPanels in the fence template.
Fixed spacing (fewer panels when offcuts can be reused)
For each fixed-spacing section, Dirt Face counts:
- One full panel for each full-width bay (
floor(section length ÷ post spacing)). - One leftover bay per section when the length does not divide evenly (the short remainder at the end or start).
Leftover bays from all fixed sections are then combined. Dirt Face cuts those bays from shared panels and reuses the offcut when it is long enough for another leftover bay on the same job. Each cut also reserves a small allowance for kerf and trim (2 in on imperial jobs, 5 cm on metric jobs).
This matches how many installers order material: use full panels wherever possible, cut the short bays from extra panels, and use remnants on other short bays when they fit.
Example with 10 ft post spacing and two sections:
| Section length | Full bays | Leftover bay |
|---|---|---|
| 42 ft | 4 × 10 ft | 2 ft |
| 53 ft | 5 × 10 ft | 3 ft |
Fixed panel count: 10 panels (9 full bays + 1 panel for the 2 ft and 3 ft leftovers, which share one 10 ft panel).
Proportional spacing (more panels, no offcut reuse)
Proportional spacing is calculated per section. Every bay in that section may be a non-standard length, so offcuts from one cut are treated as waste and are not applied to other sections.
For each proportional section:
panels = round up (section length ÷ post spacing)
Example with the same two sections and 10 ft spacing:
| Section length | Calculation | Panels |
|---|---|---|
| 42 ft | ceil(42 ÷ 10) = 5 | 5 |
| 53 ft | ceil(53 ÷ 10) = 6 | 6 |
Proportional panel count: 11 panels.
Side-by-side example
Same job: 42 ft section + 53 ft section, 10 ft post spacing, panels sold in 10 ft lengths.
| Fixed | Proportional | |
|---|---|---|
| Panel count | 10 | 11 |
| Full-width bays | 9 | 0 (all bays are cut to equal width within each section) |
| Offcut reuse | Yes, across fixed sections | No |
| Cuts per section | Usually one short bay | Often every bay in the section |
When leftover bays are large or do not fit together on one panel, fixed spacing can still require more than the simple total-length formula would suggest. Dirt Face checks each leftover bay against available offcut length rather than assuming all remnants combine perfectly.
Impact on materials and cost
| Fixed | Proportional |
|---|---|
| Usually one partial panel per section (the short remainder bay) | Every panel in the section may be cut to a non-standard width |
| Offcuts from fixed sections can be reused on other short bays when they fit | Offcuts are treated as waste and are not reused across sections |
| Lower panel count when remnants combine (see examples above) | Higher panel count because each section is rounded up independently |
Impact on installation time
| Fixed | Proportional |
|---|---|
| Fewer cuts overall; most panels install at full width | Every panel in the section typically requires a cut |
| Faster installation in the field | More cutting and fitting labor |
| Short remainder bay at one end of each section | More uniform bay widths along the section |
Proportional spacing often looks cleaner on the finished fence even though it adds labor and material compared to fixed spacing.
Per-section override
The global spacing method applies to every section by default. You can override a single section:
Where in the app: Select a fence section on the canvas → upper toolbar → spacing options
Open: Estimates
- A section set to proportional is counted with proportional panel math and does not contribute its offcuts to the fixed-spacing pool.
- A section set to fixed under a proportional global setting is counted with fixed math and can share offcuts with other fixed sections.
Fixed spacing also supports invert, which moves the short remainder bay from the end of the section to the start. Inverting affects layout only; panel count stays the same.
When to use each method
| Choose fixed when | Choose proportional when |
|---|---|
| You buy standard-length panels and reuse cutoffs | Appearance matters more than material count |
| You want takeoff to reflect offcut reuse | Every bay in a section should look the same width |
| Most bays should install at full panel width | You accept more cuts and higher panel counts |
Related template settings
Post spacing itself comes from the fence template, not from the designer spacing toggle.
Where in the app: Sidebar → Fence → My Fences → template wizard → Fence step
Open: Fence Builder
See Template step: Fence for post spacing and other template fields.