How to Install a Split Rail Fence: A Step-by-Step Guide for a Charming Addition to Your Property

Installing a split rail fence will add tons of character to your property

A red barn with a split rail fence on a summer day
Photo: Marcia Straub / Moment / Getty Images
A red barn with a split rail fence on a summer day
Photo: Marcia Straub / Moment / Getty Images
Mizuki Hisaka
Written by Mizuki Hisaka
Contributing Writer
Updated Mar 20, 2023
SKILL LEVEL
Simple
COMPLETION TIME
2 days
COST
$1,000+
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
  • Post hole digger
  • Power auger
  • Shovel
  • Level
  • Measuring tape
SUPPLIES
  • Fence rails
  • Posts
  • Gravel
  • Stakes
  • String

If you’ve been itching to do a DIY fence project, you’ve done yourself a favor by choosing the split rail fence. Not only is it visually pleasing and cost-effective, but the split rail fence also has a straightforward installation process. Here’s everything you need to know to easily install a split rail fence and add some charm to your yard.

Prepping to Install a Split Rail Fence 

While you’re still in the phases of planning a split rail fence installation, make sure you take care of a few business details first. 

  • Check your property lines using your land survey. You can find it by searching your city or county records online, visiting the closest property office, or hiring a professional land surveyor near you. 

  • Look into zoning laws for your city and follow all necessary guidelines. 

  • If you’re part of an HOA, they may have rules about fences, so contact them directly before you begin installing your fence.

  • Apply for a building or fence permit. Most cities have an online application that you can fill out and submit in a matter of minutes, and fence permits usually only cost $20 to $60. 

  • Call your local utility companies to check and mark for underground water, gas, and power lines. If you don’t know where the utility lines are, you run the risk of digging into them during installation, which could disrupt utilities for you and your neighbors and cause serious injury. There’s even the possibility of hitting electrical lines, which could lead to electrocution. 

Once this is all taken care of, you can start moving on to the fun part: choosing your materials. The most common options for a split rail fence are pressure-treated wood or vinyl. Rail choices usually include 8- or 11-foot wooden rails or 5-foot vinyl rails. Split rail fence types can also come in two, three, and four rails.

types of split rail fencing
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  1. Measure and Plan Your Fence’s Layout

    A man sketching a fence on paper
    Photo: fotomaniya / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

    Before you get started, you need to plan your fence by sketching your outline and measurements on your property survey. Keeping in mind the length of the rails, plot where you want to place your end posts, corner posts, and line posts. 

    For an accurate sketch, make sure that you’re calculating the rail lengths from the center of each post. Additionally, don’t forget to mark down where you plan to add any gates or other openings. This is where you can unleash your inner artist. 

    Once you have the sketch, you can figure out how many rails and posts you need to complete your project. With this information, you’ll have an estimate for the cost of your split rail fence.

  2. Stake Out Your Fence Line

    Next, head outside with stakes and string to mark your fence line. You can use spray paint to indicate where you plan to put your posts and any gates or openings. Be sure to use a measuring tape during this process to make sure you’re calculating everything precisely.

    As long as you properly measure and mark everything at this step, you should be able to avoid major issues during the rest of your installation, saving yourself more time and money down the road.

  3. Dig Out Post Holes

    A man digging a hole with a shovel for fence post
    Photo: yunava1 / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

    One of the most labor-intensive parts of your split rail fence installation is digging the post holes. Each post hole should be 1/3 of the post length, which is likely either 6 or 7 feet. For example, a 6-foot post should be 2 feet in the ground and 4 feet above the ground. The diameter of the hole should be two to three times wider than the post’s diameter.

    You can either do the work manually with a post hole digger or make life a little easier with a power auger. Either choice will get the job done; it just depends on which tools you have on hand, what your budget is, and how much labor you’re able to put into digging. 

    Your soil type may affect the type of digger you need to use, so keep that in mind as you make your decision. Tougher, more rocky soil may require a powered digger, like an auger, whereas a shovel or standard post hole digger can easily maneuver softer, more loose soil.

  4. Set the Fence Posts

    Start with setting the end posts first, using a level to make sure your post is perfectly vertical. You don’t have to set these posts in concrete, but you should use 6 inches of gravel at the bottom to allow for proper water drainage and prevent wood rot.

    Once your gravel is in and your post is vertical, you can fill the hole back in with the dirt you took out, compressing it firmly around the bottom of the post as you go. Mound any extra dirt around the foot of each post to help excess moisture fall away from the fence.

  5. Add the Rails

    The final step is adding the rails. Firmly slide them into the holes in your posts and trim them as needed.

DIY Split Rail Fence Installation vs. Hiring a Pro

Of all the fence types, the split rail fence is one of the easier DIY installations. By going this route, you can save on labor costs, which range from $10 to $30 per linear foot. Since most split rail fences don’t need concrete or foam to set the posts, this is a relatively simple and popular DIY project, requiring just a bit of labor and precise measurement at the most difficult steps. 

But if installing a split rail fence seems like a project that's too much to take on by yourself, you can hire a fence company near you to do it all from start to finish. Calling a pro might be a good idea if your soil type is hard to dig in, you want a really long fence, or your property has a lot of slopes, which could complicate measurements.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve likely been considering lots of wood fence ideas for your yard. There are many reasons why people choose split rail fences time and again. For one, they’re one of the most wallet-friendly fencing options, especially since you don’t need to use much hardware and setting the posts doesn’t require concrete or foam. So if you have a large property and want to fence it in, your best bet may be a split rail fence.

The depth of your post hole depends on your post length. If you decide on a two-rail fence, the posts are likely 6 feet long. You want your hole to be at least 1/3 of the post length. In this case, your post hole should be two feet deep.

If you opt for a three-rail fence, the posts will typically be 7 feet long, meaning your post hole should be 28 inches deep.

Unlike other fence types that require you to set posts in concrete or foam, you only need the dirt you took from the post hole for split rail fencing. Split rail fencing is initially a budget-friendly option. However, it’s not as long-lasting as other fence types, meaning you could pay more on the back end because you may need to replace fence posts or rails that come loose or rot.

Split rail fencing is a type of post and rail fencing. Other post and rail fences include corral board and post and dowel. Post and rail fencing is the term used for any type of fence with vertical posts, horizontal rails, and nothing else (specifically excluding pickets). So, technically, a split rail fence is a post and rail fence.

There are many types of wood fencing that you can choose from. For split rail fencing, the most common wood types are cedar, pine, black locust, and chestnut. The best wood for you will depend on if you like the way a certain wood looks and the availability of the wood type in your area.

Most of the wood types you can find at your local home improvement store are good choices since they all have rot-resistant properties or are pressure-treated with pesticides. If none of the wood options speak to the look you’re going for, check out vinyl fencing.

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Learn more about our contributor
Mizuki Hisaka
Written by Mizuki Hisaka
Contributing Writer
Mizuki Hisaka is a freelance writer with 6+ years of experience. She's written for various companies, websites, and publications, including The Knot, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, The Inquisitr, and more.

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