How much stain does a fence need?
Start with run length multiplied by coated height. Multiply by one or two faces, add your measured edge-area allowance and apply the coat count. Divide by the stain’s stated per-coat coverage. The result is a liquid estimate, followed by a whole-container purchase count. It does not automatically model every picket face, overlap, opening or exposed edge.
Worked example: a 60-foot fence
A fence 60 feet long and 6 feet high has a rectangular face area of 360 square feet. Two faces give 720 square feet. Two coats at 250 square feet per US gallon need 5.76 gallons before allowance. Adding 10% gives 6.336 gallons. With one-gallon containers, round up to seven. At an illustrative price of 35 each, the purchase subtotal is 245.
Account for gaps and exposed edges
An open picket fence has less flat face area than a solid rectangle, but it also has edges that may require coating. This tool uses a solid rectangular face as its starting model. The edge allowance only adds area; it does not subtract gaps. For widely spaced pickets, work out the actual coated area separately or divide the job into measured surfaces before using a coverage estimate.
Use the product label for coverage
Coverage varies with surface condition, wood absorption and application method. Enter the manufacturer’s per-coat rate for your product and situation. If the first and second coats have different coverage, estimate them separately and combine liquid quantities before rounding containers. Do not enter a finished two-coat system coverage and then multiply by two again. The default rate is an editable example.
Keep two allowances separate
The edge-area percentage changes the surface being coated. The extra-liquid percentage adds a purchasing margin after the coat and coverage calculation. They represent different assumptions and should not be used interchangeably. Record both in your estimate so you can explain the final quantity. A large leftover from container rounding is not a reason to add another coat against the label instructions.
Plan the whole finishing job
Check preparation requirements and compatibility with an existing coating. Measure gates, posts and unusual details if they are included in the job. Brushes, applicators, cleaners, labor, delivery and tax are outside the displayed stain subtotal. Use actual container sizes and prices to compare purchase options. Results use US gallons; an imperial gallon is a different unit and must be converted before entry.
Questions and method
Can I use this for paint? The volume arithmetic can apply when you enter the paint’s appropriate coverage and coat count, but it does not verify product suitability. Does it calculate a shadowbox fence? Not automatically; overlapping faces need a measured surface takeoff. Can I buy a partial container? The output rounds up because the entered container size represents the selling unit.
Method and review: these examples follow the equations described above. Project planning guides and calculation context. Use the applicable supplier specification or institutional regulation for the assumptions. Written by Velour Trends · Updated 8 November 2026. Report a calculation issue.