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The fence you build once

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post-hole digger
1

1It's a longer-term decision than it feels like

A properly built, well-maintained fence should last 25 to 50 years — which is exactly why the planning step (the line, the material, the depth) matters more than the speed of the build.

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2The string line comes first

Set an end post at each corner and stretch a string or a single wire tight between them before anything else goes in the ground. Every other post gets set relative to that line, not eyeballed one at a time.

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3Spacing that works for most fences

Line posts are commonly spaced about 10 to 12 feet apart for most fence types; tighter spacing handles uneven ground and tight curves better than wide spacing does.

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4How deep is deep enough

Wooden line posts should be set at least 2 feet deep, preferably deeper, centered in the hole before tamping so the soil packs evenly all around — an off-center post tamps unevenly and leans within a year or two.

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5Corners take the real load

Corner and end posts carry the tension of the whole fence line and need real bracing; on a long run, a braced post assembly gets added periodically along the line, not just at the two ends, so the whole fence doesn't rely on two posts to stay tight.

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