Chain Link Fence Calculator

The chain link fence calculator separates line posts, terminal supports, mesh and top rail quantities. Enter the run length and fence height, then adjust spacing and roll or stock lengths to match the system you will buy. Add the actual gates and corners so the material count follows your layout.

How the chain link fence calculator works

The tool counts sections along each run, identifies terminal positions and estimates internal line supports. Mesh covers the run between the relevant terminals. Top rail follows its own stock and connection assumptions.

Measure length, height and terminal positions

Your measured run needs to show ends, corners and gate openings separately because they determine terminal assemblies. Fence height affects mesh area and some profile-specific fittings, while a commercial specification can include components that a residential assembly doesn’t use. The selected profile should therefore match your intended application.

Its accessories aren’t automatically requirements for every chain link fence.

Posts, mesh and top rail formulas

For one simple open run, sections = ceiling(run length ÷ maximum spacing). Internal line positions = sections − 1, with two end terminals. Mesh area = covered length × fence height.

Roll purchases depend on usable roll length, end allowances and rounding. Top rail sticks depend on the selected stock length and engagement details, so a footage total is not automatically a cutting schedule.

Worked example: 100 feet of 6-foot mesh

A generic straight 100-foot run at a 10-foot maximum spacing gives 10 sections, 9 internal line posts and 2 end terminals before extra assemblies. Six-foot mesh covers 600 square feet. With zero allowance, two usable 50-foot rolls cover the run.

Adding an allowance can require another roll, depending on the selected purchasing rules. Gates, corners and terminal fittings must still match the actual plan.

Keep fittings and profile assumptions visible

Your terminal fittings, tension bars, ties and caps serve different parts of the fence, so the quantities need to follow the chosen assembly. Slats or screens can also change wind loading without changing the mesh dimensions. The calculator doesn’t verify that a screened fence can use the same posts or foundations as open mesh.

That needs checking against the actual fence system. Full fitting and gate-hardware counts need a separate list.

Review the plan with your supplier

You can compare the list with your supplier’s mesh gauge, coating, post sizes and rail connections. Industry guidance and published specifications describe particular applications; they aren’t interchangeable approvals. Before digging, your boundary and underground-service checks also need to be complete.

A final comparison with pack sizes and gate hardware helps keep omitted special items out of what looks like a complete order.

Frequently Asked Questions