Fence Posts

Posts carry the fence. They hold the panels or the fabric at the right height, keep the line straight and take the force of the wind, of people leaning on the fence and of gates swinging on it. Brackets or clamps connect the panels to the posts, and the posts themselves are set in concrete or bolted down on base plates.

A fence is only as straight and as steady as its posts, so the post is the first choice to make: shape, size, material and length.

The shape follows the bracket system of your fence:

• Round posts: 1-5/8" to 3-1/2" steel tube, used with round Longlip brackets for welded wire panels, as chain link line, terminal and gate posts, and as framework for tube frame fences with T-connectors and rail sleeves.
• Square posts: 2" x 2" up to 6" x 6" steel, used with square Longlip brackets and fence clamps, with U-brackets and coverplates on security fence, and as ornamental fence posts.
• Rectangular posts: flat posts for double wire and gabion fences, and the Gardenode Equinox 2-3/4" x 2" aluminum post.
• Aluminum posts: Fortress A2 and Athens line, corner, end and blank posts, and the Gardenode Equinox posts for the Equinox slat fence.
• Vinyl posts: the white 5" x 5" post, 8 ft long, for vinyl privacy fence.
• T-posts and temporary posts: the studded steel T-post and the 1-5/8" steel post from TempFence Wholesale.

Steel posts carry wire mesh panels, security fence, ornamental fence and chain link. They come in several sizes and wall thicknesses, and the same post size takes a whole family of brackets, caps and base plates.

The Gardenode Equinox 3-1/8" x 3-1/8" post is extruded aluminum, powder coated in Anthracite Gray RAL 7016, Quartz Gray RAL 7039, Black RAL 9005 or teak, in lengths from 6'2" to 10'6". Aluminum and composite slats, louvers and laser-cut panels slide into its grooves from the top, and a cap and a clip come with every post.

The lighter Equinox 2-3/4" x 2" post takes the same slats, with a clip included and the cap sold separately, and the 3-7/8" x 3-7/8" Equinox gate post carries the Equinox garden gate. The Fortress A2 and Athens aluminum posts come routed for 2, 3 or 4 rails as line, corner and end posts, or blank.

The vinyl post is white and never needs painting. Every vinyl privacy panel already comes with one post, so a straight run needs one extra post at the far end.

2-3/8" is the standard size for welded wire panel fences and chain link of normal height, in round or smooth square form. The 2-3/8" x 2-3/8" square post comes in 6', 7', 8', 9', 10' and 11' lengths, the 2-3/8" round post in 7', 9', 10' and 11'. The square 3" x 3" post is the heavier choice and comes in two wall thicknesses, 0.079" and 0.114". The square 2" x 2" post suits lighter fences.

Chain link uses 1-5/8" line posts, 2-3/8" terminal posts in 16 gauge, .095" wall or Schedule 40, and 2-7/8" gate posts. Ornamental posts run from 2" to 3", and the Fortress industrial posts up to 6".

As a general rule, step up a size or a wall thickness where a post carries a gate, where the fence is taller, or where the run is exposed to strong wind.

A post is the fence height plus the part that goes into the footing. A common rule is to set posts 2 to 3 ft deep in concrete, deeper for taller fences, windy sites and soft soil. For the Fenceweb panel fences, use an 8' post for a 6' fence, a 10' post for an 8' fence and a 12' post for a 10' 358 security fence. Some products state their own figure: the residential chain link terminal posts in this store are 2 ft longer than the fabric, and Gardenode advises a hole of about 16" square and 20" deep for the Equinox post.

Yes, on a base plate. Post Anchors lists base plates for 2-3/8" x 2-3/8" square and 2-3/8" round posts, offset gate plates and anchoring epoxy. The surface mount ornamental posts and the Fortress Versai surface mount post come with their own base plate.

The Gardenode Equinox post mounts on a steel base plate of 5-1/8" x 5-1/8". On a base plate, Gardenode advises keeping the fence to 5'3" high.

An open steel post fills with rain and can rust from the inside, so every open post top should be closed. Post Caps lists the aluminum, PVC and steel caps. Some posts come with their cap: the Gardenode Equinox 3-1/8" x 3-1/8" post and the ornamental posts sold with a cap.

Order posts together with the brackets, caps and panels of your fence, so every part matches the post size. Each product page lists the lengths and finishes of that post. A size without a price on its product page is sold on request: ask for a quote. Fenceweb delivers to every US state and to Canada.