CONSTRUCTION CALCULATOR
Fence Stain Calculator
Estimate how many gallons of fence stain you need for a fence face, including both sides, coats, and a waste allowance.
Tool presets, labelled as such: coverage per gallon is a tool preset of 250 sq ft/gal and waste is a tool preset of 10%. Both are editable in the tool.
Planning estimate only. Check the stain product label for its coverage, and measure the fence before ordering.
Estimate stain
RESULTS
Gallons to buy: 11 gallons
Exact gallons: 10.56 gallons
Fence area: 1200.00 sq ft
Gallons before waste: 9.6 gallons
Waste gallons: 0.96 gallons
Results update as you type or change a value. No form submission is used to recalculate.
How to use this calculator
Enter the fence length and height in feet, the number of sides, the number of coats, the coverage per gallon, and the waste percentage. The tool updates the results as you type or change a value. For a fence that is not a straight run, split it into straight sections, run each part through the tool, and add the results.
Worked example – checked against the tool
For an 80 ft by 6 ft fence with 2 sides, 2 coats, coverage of 250 sq ft per gallon, and 10% waste: Step 1 – Area: 80 x 6 x 2 = 960 sq ft. Step 2 – Gallons before waste: 960 x 2 / 250 = 7.68 gallons. Step 3 – Exact gallons with waste: 7.68 x (1 + 10/100) = 8.448 gallons. Step 4 – Gallons to buy: ceil(8.448) = 9 gallons.
Data table
| Fence size | Sides | Coats | Coverage (sq ft/gal) | Waste | Exact gallons | Gallons to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft x 6 ft | 2 | 2 | 250 | 10% | 5.28 | 6 |
| 100 ft x 6 ft | 2 | 2 | 250 | 10% | 10.56 | 11 |
| 150 ft x 6 ft | 2 | 2 | 250 | 10% | 15.84 | 16 |
| 100 ft x 4 ft | 1 | 1 | 250 | 10% | 1.76 | 2 |
| 120 ft x 6 ft | 1 | 2 | 250 | 10% | 6.336 | 7 |
Frequently asked questions
How many gallons of stain do I need for a 100 ft by 6 ft fence with 2 sides and 2 coats?
At the tool presets of 250 sq ft per gallon and 10% waste, a 1200 sq ft fence face needs 10.56 exact gallons, so buy 11 gallons.
What coverage per gallon should I use?
Start with the tool preset of 250 sq ft per gallon, then change it to the coverage stated on your stain product label, because coverage varies by product and wood condition.
What does the waste allowance cover?
The tool preset of 10% waste allows for absorption, spills, and application variation. Increase it for rough or weathered wood, and decrease it only if the product label supports a lower allowance.
Should I stain one side or both sides of the fence?
The tool defaults to 2 sides. Set sides to 1 if only one side will be stained, for example where the other side is not accessible.
Does this calculator include posts, rails, or gates?
No. It covers the fence face area, calculated as length x height x sides. Measure posts, rails, and gates separately, or increase the waste allowance to allow for them.
Why are gallons to buy rounded up?
Stain is bought in whole gallons, so the tool rounds the exact gallons up to the next whole gallon with ceil().
Method note
Area = length x height x sides. Gallons exact = area x coats / coverage x (1 + waste/100). Gallons to buy = ceil(exact). Coverage and waste are tool presets, labelled as such in the tool, and both are editable. This is a planning estimate, not a product-specific guarantee.
Related calculators
- Fence Cost Calculator – for the total project budget for the same fence.
- Deck Stain Calculator – for staining a deck using a similar coverage method.
- Fence Post Depth Calculator – to set post depth for the posts on this fence line.