How to Install a Fence Post

Installing a fence post requires few special skills. One of the most important considerations is selecting the correct post for the kind of fence you will be using. Most permanent fences use a combination of corner posts and line posts. Treated wooden posts and steel T-posts provide the strongest fence framework for the least cost. Corner fence posts must be wooden and have a diameter of at least eight inches since they provide the backbone of your fence. Wooden line posts should have a top diameter of at least three inches and they should be used every 50 to 100 feet minimally. Steel T-posts, usually spaced every 12 to 16 feet, provide the remainder of your line posts.

Things You'll Need

• Corner fence posts Line fence posts Brace posts Spray paint Posthole digger Level Tamping pole Ball of twine

Instructions

1. Clear the fence line of all brush and other obstructions. Use spray paint to mark the locations for your corner posts.

2. Using a posthole digger, dig a hole that is minimally 42 inches deep for each corner post. Be sure that the hole is at least four inches wider on all sides so the post can easily fit. Make the hole deeper if your soil is wet or has a lot of clay.

3. Set your corner post. Place the post firmly in the hole and use your level to ensure that it is not tilted.

4. Spread dirt evenly around the set post with a shovel. Pound the fill dirt into the hole firmly with a tamping pole. Make sure the post does not move during this process. If it does move, pull it out and start over.

5. Shovel extra dirt up around the pole once it is completely packed into the ground. Allow this dirt to mound naturally around the pole to provide a place for rainwater to run off.

6. Once you have set all corner posts, run a piece of heavy twine around the perimeter of your fence by attaching it to each of the corner posts. Use this twine as a guide for placement of the line posts. Install each line post in the same manner.

Tips & Warnings

• Work with another person to make the job go faster.

• Be sure to drink plenty of hot water if you're working in the summer.

Resources

• University of Missouri: Constructing Wire Fences
• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Fencing 101