We are Hebei Leeter Import and Export Co., Ltd ("Leeter"), a construction wire, mesh and fencing manufacturer in Dingzhou, Hebei, China, exporting since 2006 to buyers across North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Y posts are one of our core rolled products for the AU/NZ market, and the weights, lengths and per-ton counts below are exactly what we quote to importers and rural merchandise distributors.
What is a star picket?
A star picket is a hot-rolled steel fence post with a Y-shaped cross-section — three flanges at roughly 120 degrees, which is why the same product is called a Y post, star post, star stake or steel fence post depending on the market. The Y section resists bending in every direction, drives cleanly into most soils with a manual post driver, and carries a line of punched holes down the face so wire can be attached with wire clips rather than staples. It is the standard rural fencing post across Australia and New Zealand, and it pairs with field fence, hinge-joint prefabricated fence and barbed wire on farm, boundary and exclusion fencing.
Star picket weight classes
Weight per metre is the primary spec. It sets the section thickness, the driving strength and — because the product trades by the ton — the price per post.
| Weight class | Section duty | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1.58 kg/m | Light | Temporary fencing, garden and trellis stakes, light rural lines |
| 1.86 kg/m | Medium | The AU/NZ volume standard for farm and boundary fencing |
| 1.90 kg/m | Medium | Alternative medium spec where the market calls for 1.90 |
| 2.04 kg/m | Heavy | Strainer-adjacent line posts, exclusion fencing, harder soils |
If your market does not specify, 1.86 kg/m is the safe default: it is the class most AU/NZ buyers mean when they say "standard star picket". The 2.04 kg/m class sells where fences see stock pressure or rocky ground, and 1.58 kg/m covers the price-driven light end.
Standard star picket lengths
We cut all four weight classes to the standard length series: 0.45m, 0.60m, 0.90m, 1.35m, 1.50m, 1.65m, 1.80m, 2.10m, 2.40m, 2.70m and 3.00m. The short 0.45–0.90m sizes are sold as pegs and anchor stakes; 1.35–1.80m covers most stock fencing (a 1.80m picket driven 600mm leaves about 1.2m of fence height); and 2.10–3.00m suits exclusion fencing, dog fences and deer fencing where extra height matters.
How many star pickets in a metric ton?
Divide 1,000 kg by (weight class x length). The table below shows approximate counts for the most-ordered combinations; exact counts vary slightly with rolling tolerance.
| Length | 1.58 kg/m | 1.86 kg/m | 1.90 kg/m | 2.04 kg/m |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.50m | ~421 pcs | ~358 pcs | ~350 pcs | ~326 pcs |
| 1.65m | ~383 pcs | ~325 pcs | ~318 pcs | ~297 pcs |
| 1.80m | ~351 pcs | ~298 pcs | ~292 pcs | ~272 pcs |
| 2.40m | ~263 pcs | ~224 pcs | ~219 pcs | ~204 pcs |
| 3.00m | ~211 pcs | ~179 pcs | ~175 pcs | ~163 pcs |
This is why two quotes "per ton" can hide very different fence coverage. A ton of 1.58 kg/m x 1.65m pickets fences far more line (about 383 posts) than a ton of 2.04 kg/m x 1.80m (about 272 posts) — but with a lighter section at each post. Always compare per-piece cost and coverage, not just per-ton price.
Y post vs T post
Buyers who supply both AU/NZ and North America often ask how the Y post relates to the American T post. They do the same job — driven steel line posts for wire fencing — but follow different regional patterns:
| Spec | Y post (star picket) | T post |
|---|---|---|
| Market pattern | Australia / New Zealand | United States / Canada |
| Cross-section | Y (three flanges) | T with studded face |
| Wire attachment | Punched holes + wire clips | Studs/lugs + wire clips |
| Anchoring | Driven section only | Spade (anchor) plate near the base |
| Weight spec | 1.58–2.04 kg/m | 0.83–1.33 lb/ft |
| Length spec | 0.45–3.00m metric series | 5–8 ft imperial series |
| Typical finish | Powder coated or hot-dip galvanized | Painted or galvanized |
Neither is "better" — each is what the local fencing trade, drivers and clip hardware are built around. If you are importing for Australia or New Zealand, order Y posts; for the US or Canada, order T posts. We roll both patterns, so mixed containers are straightforward.
Finishes: powder coated or hot-dip galvanized
Star pickets ship in three standard finishes:
- Black powder coated — the traditional AU/NZ look, painted over the rolled surface. Lowest cost, good for dry inland conditions.
- Green powder coated — the same coating in green, popular for lifestyle blocks and vineyard work where posts should blend in.
- Hot-dip galvanized — a zinc coating for coastal, high-rainfall or long-service fencing. Higher cost per post, much longer life before rust.
Every picket is punched along the face for wire clips regardless of finish, so barbed, plain and prefabricated wire all attach the same way.
Packing and ordering by the ton
Export packing is standardized so containers load fast and counts stay auditable: 10 pieces per bundle, strapped, and 400 pieces per pallet. When you request a quote, specify four things — weight class (kg/m), length, finish and quantity in tons or pieces — and we will confirm the per-ton piece count, pallet count and container loading. A 20 ft container typically loads to its payload weight limit before it runs out of floor space, so tonnage, not volume, is the planning number for star pickets.
Two practical checks before you order: confirm the weight class is the rolled weight per metre (some sellers quote nominal weights that under-deliver on the scale), and confirm hole punching matches the clip hardware your market uses. As the manufacturer, we roll to the ordered kg/m and provide weighbridge and bundle tallies with each shipment.
Frequently asked questions
What sizes do star pickets come in?
Standard star picket lengths run 0.45m, 0.60m, 0.90m, 1.35m, 1.50m, 1.65m, 1.80m, 2.10m, 2.40m, 2.70m and 3.00m, in weight classes of 1.58, 1.86, 1.90 and 2.04 kg/m. The 1.65m and 1.80m lengths in 1.86 kg/m are the highest-volume combination for AU/NZ rural fencing.
How much does a star picket weigh?
Multiply the weight class by the length. A 1.86 kg/m x 1.80m picket weighs about 3.35 kg; a heavy 2.04 kg/m x 1.80m picket about 3.67 kg; a light 1.58 kg/m x 1.65m picket about 2.61 kg. The kg/m class, not the total weight, is how the product is specified and priced.
How many star pickets are in a ton?
Divide 1,000 kg by the per-piece weight. A metric ton of 1.86 kg/m x 1.80m pickets is about 298 pieces, a ton of 2.04 kg/m x 1.80m is about 272 pieces, and a ton of 1.58 kg/m x 1.65m is about 383 pieces. Counts shift slightly with rolling tolerance, so treat them as planning figures.
What is the difference between a Y post and a T post?
A Y post (star picket) is the AU/NZ pattern: a Y cross-section with punched holes for wire clips, specified in kg/m and metric lengths. A T post is the US pattern: a T section with a studded face and a spade plate near the base, specified at 0.83–1.33 lb/ft in 5–8 ft lengths. They are not interchangeable because clips, drivers and market expectations differ.
Are star pickets galvanized or painted?
Both are standard. Black or green powder coated pickets are the lower-cost mainstream option; hot-dip galvanized pickets cost more but last far longer in coastal and high-rainfall areas. The steel section and hole punching are identical across finishes, so the choice is purely service life versus budget.
