How deep should an 8 foot post be in the ground?

How Deep Should a Fence Post Be? For an average fence post, about 6 to 8 feet tall, prepare to dig a post hole about 2 feet deep. To install a fence post, you'll need a shovel or post digger, a 6-foot level, soil, and gravel or crushed stone. For gateposts, you'll need concrete too.

How deep should a 10 foot post be in the ground?

The general rule of thumb when setting a post is that the depth of the post's hole needs to be one-third to one-half of the actual above-ground height of the post. So, a six-foot-high finished post ideally needs to be buried three feet into the ground.

How much of 8 foot post is ground?

Many builders use 8-foot posts and bury them about 2 feet deep in concrete, leaving a small margin for trimming the tops of the posts to the finished height after the posts and/or the fence panels are installed. Using 10-foot posts allows for deeper burial and leaves more wiggle room for trimming the tops.

How much concrete do I need for an 8 fence post?

1 – 4 bags of concrete per fence post are typically what's needed. This depends on the type of soil, fence design, height, post size and bag weight. In general the depth of the post's hole needs to be 1/3 to 1/2 of the above ground height of the post.

How far down does at post need to be?

Typically, in part to ensure that posts lodge below the frost line, experts call for a hole deep enough to submerge the bottom third of the post below ground. For a six-foot-tall post, therefore, you would dig a hole two feet deep. The ideal diameter, meanwhile, should measure three times the width of the post.

How to Set a Post for a Fence or Deck

What size post do you use for an 8 foot fence?

A common rule of thumb, is to dig the hole 3 times as large as the post, and to a depth of 1/3-1/2 of the post height above ground. so for a 8' high fence, using 4x4 posts. dig the holes 12" in diameter, to a depth of 2 1/2 - 4'. Of course, that's assuming you're setting the posts in concrete.

How deep should a 6-foot post be in the ground?

The depth of the hole should be 1/3-1/2 the post height above ground (i.e., a 6-foot tall fence would require a hole depth of at least 2 feet). Add about 6 inches of QUIKRETE All-Purpose Gravel into the bottom of the hole. Then compact and level the gravel using a post or 2x4.

Should I use concrete or cement for fence posts?

Concrete provides a strong foundation for wooden fence posts, but can rot them more quickly. Setting them in dirt, with or without gravel or crushed rock depending on your soil type, can help the posts last longer before going rotten. You can also use metal fence post anchors to prolong their life.

What is the best cement for fence posts?

The best concrete mix for fence posts I've found is Quikrete Fast Setting Concrete Mix in a 50 lb bag. It's 4000 psi, easy to work with, sets up fast, and doesn't need to be mixed. Just pour it in the hole and soak with water.

How deep should a post be underground?

Rule of Thumb

Hole depth = put approximately 1/3 of the post in the hole. A 2m (6 foot) post should have up to 600mm (2 foot) in the ground.

How many bags of concrete do I need for a post hole?

Most fence post holes will need between 1 - 4 bags of concrete to securely hold the post in place. The best way to determine the size of the hole is: Diameter of the hole is 3 times the width of the fence post. Depth of the hole is one-third to half the above ground height of the fence post.

How long does concrete take to set in a post hole?

The concrete sets up in 20 to 40 minutes, so you can quickly move on to the next stage of the project (a great convenience when setting fence posts) or backfill the hole to finish the job. Under normal curing conditions, you can apply heavy weight to the post (a basketball backboard, for example) after just 4 hours.

How big of a hole do you need for a 4x4 post?

The diameter of your post hole should be three times the diameter of your post. So, if you're planning on using a four-inch round or 4x4-inch square post, your post hole will need to be 12 inches in diameter. For a six-foot-high fence post, we would need a hole that's 36 inches deep and 12 inches in diameter.

How much Postcrete do I need per post?

The exact amount of Post Mix Concrete needed will vary depending on the width and depth of the hole, but as a general rule you'll need about one and a third bags for a standard fence post. A gate post, which works harder than a fence post due to the movement of the gate, may require three or four bags.

Is it better to pour concrete wet or dry?

Dry the ground out even more by throwing an inch of sand onto the ground. Not only will this absorb the water, but it will make it an ideal surface to pour concrete on as the sand holds up much better in colder weather.

Can I pour concrete in post hole full of water?

The water in the hole under the pipe can be sucked out with a wet-dry vacuum before and during the repair job. (Paul F.) DEAR PAUL: I love the Internet and it's become a core part of my business, but as we all know with many things, you get the good with the bad.

How long does 4 inches of concrete take to cure?

The general rule of thumb is that concrete takes about 28 days to dry for every inch of slab thickness.

How long will a treated 4x4 post last in the ground?

A treated 4×4 will last 20 to 25 years in the ground if the conditions in the soil and climate are favorable. That number could increase to 40 to 75 years if you install the treated 4×4 in a cement ring rather than the soil. There are a few factors that influence how long the 4×4 can last in the ground.

How long will a pressure treated post last in concrete?

A PT post will last a long time in concrete, maybe 5 to 10 years in soil alone. I suggest you embed the post in concrete, trowel a peak around the post so water runs off, and don't let the PT post come in contact with the ground.

How deep should a 7 foot fence post be?

How Deep Should a Fence Post Be? For an average fence post, about 6 to 8 feet tall, prepare to dig a post hole about 2 feet deep. To install a fence post, you'll need a shovel or post digger, a 6-foot level, soil, and gravel or crushed stone.

How much gravel goes in the bottom of a post hole?

How much gravel do I put in the hole? You should put approximately 2" to 4" of gravel in the bottom of the hole making sure that the Post stands 6' 4" tall from the ground to the top of the post.

What kind of gravel should I use for fence posts?

Pea gravel is commonly used for fence post holes. Gravel that is roughly three eighths of an inch in size is generally a good medium between drainage and support, though gravel close to that size also may be used. If you want to use the best gravel for your area, you may want to consult a contractor.

How many rails do you need for an 8 foot fence?

Number of Rails

It is recommended that you use a minimum of 2 horizontal rails between posts for all fences less than 5' high, 3 rails for fences 5' to 7' high, and 4 rails for 8' high fences.