Best Nails for Fence Pickets: Galvanised, Stainless or Screws
Ring-shank galvanised, stainless or screws: what holds pickets without streaks or pops, and how many you need.
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Picket fasteners fail in two ways: they rust and leave black streaks down the boards, or they back out as the wood swells and shrinks. The best nails for fence pickets are ring-shank and either hot-dip galvanised or stainless steel. Screws hold even better but take longer.
This guide compares the options and counts fasteners from our picket calculator and rail calculator.
Compared by type
Pros and cons describe each type from its specifications. The product in each row is a current, well-rated option of that type on Amazon, refreshed twice a day — check the listing's specifications against the “check” line before you buy.
Hot-dip galvanised ring-shank nails
Best for: Most pressure-treated and pine picket fences
raseparter 3600 Count 15 Degree Full Round-Head Siding Nails 2 Inch x 0.092 Inch Ring Shank, Hot-Dipped Galvanized for Rough Nailing of Lathing and Sheathing Materials$46.85View on Amazon →Check: “Hot-dip” galvanised (not electro-galvanised) and the length
- Rings grip the wood and resist popping out
- Thick zinc coating is rated for treated lumber
- Inexpensive per fence
- Can still streak on cedar and redwood
- Coating can chip when driven hard
- Harder to remove than smooth nails
Stainless steel nails
Best for: Cedar, redwood and coastal fences
MAZE NAILS SS6WS-1 Stainless Steel Ring Shank Siding Nail, 1-Pound 6D 2-Inch$20.01View on Amazon →Check: Grade (304, or 316 near salt water) and ring shank
- No rust streaks on tannin-rich woods
- Best corrosion resistance
- Longest life
- Cost several times more than galvanised
- Softer metal bends if driven off-angle
- Harder to find in coils
Coil nails for a fencing/siding nailer
Best for: Long fences built with a nailer
Metabo HPT Siding Nails | 2-Inch x .092 | 15 Degree | Full Round Head | Ring Shank | Wire Coil | Hot Dipped Galvanized | 3,600 Count | 13365HHPT$66.20View on Amazon →Check: Collation angle and wire/plastic type must match your nailer
- Hundreds of nails per coil — very fast
- Available galvanised and stainless, ring shank
- Consistent depth with a nailer
- Only work in a matching nailer
- Collation varies by brand
- Overdriving splits thin pickets
Exterior coated screws
Best for: Pickets you may want to remove later, and hard woods
LIONMAX Deck Screws 2 Inch, Exterior Wood Screws #8 x 2, 300 PCS, Tan$14.99View on Amazon →Check: Rated for treated lumber, and a length about 2.5 times the picket thickness
- Strongest hold — they do not pop
- Easy to remove for repairs
- Pull warped boards tight
- Slower than nailing
- More expensive per fastener
- Heads can show more than nails
Coil fencing/siding nailer
Best for: Building or re-picketing more than a short run
BOSTITCH Coil Siding Nailer, Pneumatic Siding Nail Gun, 1-1/4-Inch to 2-1/2-Inch, 15 Degree (N66C)$234.00View on Amazon →Check: Nail length range and depth adjustment
- Several times faster than hand nailing
- Consistent nail depth
- Also does siding and sheathing
- Needs a compressor and hose
- Upfront cost for a one-off fence
- Must match the coil type
| Type | Current option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot-dip galvanised ring-shank nailsBest for: Most pressure-treated and pine picket fencesCheck: “Hot-dip” galvanised (not electro-galvanised) and the length | raseparter 3600 Count 15 Degree Full Round-Head Siding Nails 2 Inch x 0.092 Inch Ring Shank, Hot-Dipped Galvanized for Rough Nailing of Lathing and Sheathing Materials$46.85View on Amazon → |
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| Stainless steel nailsBest for: Cedar, redwood and coastal fencesCheck: Grade (304, or 316 near salt water) and ring shank | MAZE NAILS SS6WS-1 Stainless Steel Ring Shank Siding Nail, 1-Pound 6D 2-Inch$20.01View on Amazon → |
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| Coil nails for a fencing/siding nailerBest for: Long fences built with a nailerCheck: Collation angle and wire/plastic type must match your nailer | Metabo HPT Siding Nails | 2-Inch x .092 | 15 Degree | Full Round Head | Ring Shank | Wire Coil | Hot Dipped Galvanized | 3,600 Count | 13365HHPT$66.20View on Amazon → |
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| Exterior coated screwsBest for: Pickets you may want to remove later, and hard woodsCheck: Rated for treated lumber, and a length about 2.5 times the picket thickness | LIONMAX Deck Screws 2 Inch, Exterior Wood Screws #8 x 2, 300 PCS, Tan$14.99View on Amazon → |
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| Coil fencing/siding nailerBest for: Building or re-picketing more than a short runCheck: Nail length range and depth adjustment | BOSTITCH Coil Siding Nailer, Pneumatic Siding Nail Gun, 1-1/4-Inch to 2-1/2-Inch, 15 Degree (N66C)$234.00View on Amazon → |
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Prices as of Sep 27, 2026, 8:10 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
How many nails you need
Two nails per picket at every rail is the usual pattern. The picket calculator counts pickets and the rail calculator counts rails; the example uses the same functions.
Worked example: 150 ft of solid 5.5 in pickets, three rails, one 4 ft gate
- Pickets with 10% waste: 351
- Rails: 57 (three per section)
- Nails: 351 pickets × 3 rails × 2 = 2,106
- Add about 10% for bent and dropped nails → about 2,400
About 2,400 picket nails, plus rail-to-post fasteners. Nails are sold by the pound or by count — check the count per box or coil.
Picking length and finish
- Length: about 2.5 times the picket thickness. For 5/8 in pickets that is 1-1/2 to 2 in; for 3/4 in pickets, 2 in.
- Finish: hot-dip galvanised or stainless for treated lumber — plain or bright nails rust quickly and electro-galvanised nails streak.
- Cedar and redwood: stainless avoids the dark stains that tannins cause with galvanised nails.
- Ring shank or spiral shank: both hold much better than smooth shank.
- Nailer compatibility: coil angle and collation must match the tool.
Nails or screws?
Nails are faster and flex with the wood; screws hold tighter and come out cleanly for repairs. Many builders nail pickets and screw the rails to the posts. See the wood fence calculator for the full material list and the wood fence installation guide for the steps.
Shop the types above
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
raseparter 3600 Count 15 Degree Full Round-Head Siding Nails 2 Inch x 0.092 Inch Ring Shank, Hot-Dipped Galvanized for Rough Nailing of Lathing and Sheathing Materials
$46.85
View on Amazon →MAZE NAILS SS6WS-1 Stainless Steel Ring Shank Siding Nail, 1-Pound 6D 2-Inch
$20.01
View on Amazon →Metabo HPT Siding Nails | 2-Inch x .092 | 15 Degree | Full Round Head | Ring Shank | Wire Coil | Hot Dipped Galvanized | 3,600 Count | 13365HHPT
$66.20
View on Amazon →LIONMAX Deck Screws 2 Inch, Exterior Wood Screws #8 x 2, 300 PCS, Tan
$14.99
View on Amazon →BOSTITCH Coil Siding Nailer, Pneumatic Siding Nail Gun, 1-1/4-Inch to 2-1/2-Inch, 15 Degree (N66C)
$234.00
View on Amazon →
Fas-N-Tite Galvanized Ring-Shank Pole Barn Nails 20d #7 x 4, 5 lb Box
$25.99
View on Amazon →Prices as of Sep 27, 2026, 8:10 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Safety notes
- Wear safety glasses whenever you nail — a glancing blow or a nailer can send a nail flying.
- Keep fingers well away from the nailer's nose and disconnect the air before clearing a jam.
- Use hearing protection with a compressor and nailer for long sessions.