MESH MADE IN ORANGE NSW
Outback Picket installation: height, spacing and ground
The length on the picket label is not the height of the finished fence. Start by separating what stays above ground from what goes into it.
The short answer
Total picket length equals above-ground height plus embedment. Then check the usable fixing holes, mesh height and intended post spacing. Those measurements must work together; buying a taller post alone does not settle the design.
1.80m total in this illustration.
Not a recommended embedment.
Do the height check on paper first
Illustration: 1.80m − 0.60m = 1.20m. This explains the arithmetic, not a universal embedment depth.
Suppose your planned mesh and any separate top wire need more usable fixing height than that example leaves. You need to revisit the post length or design before ordering. Do not assume the very top of the post is an available fixing position: check the hole-spacing drawing and the fixing arrangement.
Ground levels also change along a run. A picket installed to a consistent exposed height can still leave a gap under the mesh at a hollow. Walk the bottom edge, not just the top line.
Keep picket spacing separate from mesh spacing
A mesh code ending in 15 describes vertical mesh stays 15cm apart. It does not mean your steel posts are 15cm apart. Steel-post spacing is a separate layout decision based on the fence system, ground and expected loading.
| Measurement | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Picket length | Total length of the steel post being bought |
| Picket spacing | Distance between line supports along the fence |
| Mesh stay spacing | Distance between the upright wires within the mesh |
For ordering, calculate each uninterrupted run separately and count strainers as assemblies, not ordinary pickets. Spares created by a pack purchase should be shown separately from the number installed.
Check the ground and the equipment
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Locate the services
Use the appropriate service-location process before driving posts or digging. Do not rely only on where you remember an old pipe being.
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Match the driver to the section
Check that the driving equipment suits the picket and follow its instructions. Inspect the equipment and post for damage.
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Stop at an unexpected obstruction
Do not make repeated force your default response to rock, a buried object or a damaged post. Reassess the location and installation method safely.
Do a first-run check before repeating the setup
Check before ordering or installing the full run
Print this page and fill in the blanks. Keep it with your photos and quote.
- Mesh height and extra top-wire requirements
- ________________________________
- Picket length and usable fixing heights
- ________________________________
- Embedment specified for this site
- ________________________________
- Spacing specified for each run
- ________________________________
- Driver compatibility and safe work method
- ________________________________
- Corners / ends / gates counted separately
- ________________________________
A short initial check with the actual post, mesh and fixing is more useful than discovering a hole-position conflict after hundreds of posts are in. This is a compatibility check; it does not replace the installer’s assessment of the ground.
Before you leave this guide
Pick the height and section for the job, then verify the fixing positions. Keep the below-ground requirement visible in the plan instead of treating it as leftover length.
Compare the actual Outback Pickets
Check height, section, finish, fixing details and the quantity on each single or pack listing.
See Outback PicketsSources & scope
This is an Outback planning guide, not a site-specific installation specification. Manufacturer references explain the subject; their branded product dimensions and methods are not automatically specifications for Outback products.
Editorial review: September 2026. Outback links identify our own product information. External sources are independent references, not endorsements. Product prices, availability and order quantities are shown on the current listings or your written quote.