Fence Stain Calculator: How Much Stain Do I Need for My Fence?
Your fence’s size will determine how much stain you need for your fence.
Typically, a gallon of fence stain covers 200 to 400 square feet and costs $20 to $50.
To stain 600 square feet of fencing, you’d need two to three gallons of stain.
Staining a fence is a great DIY project for people of all skill levels. But if you’re doing it for the first time, you’ll inevitably have a few questions, including how many gallons of stain to buy. Luckily, you don’t have to be a math whiz to figure out how much stain you need for your fence. Instead, you can get a quick estimate with our fence stain calculator.
How Much Stain Is Needed For Staining a Fence
Generally, one gallon of stain will cover 200 to 400 square feet of fencing. If you’re planning to stain both sides of a six-foot fence, here’s how much stain you’d need:
| Fence Size (linear ft.) | Fence Size (sq ft.) | Gallons of Stain Needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 300 | 1–2 | $20–$100 |
| 50 | 600 | 2–3 | $40–$150 |
| 75 | 900 | 3–5 | $60–$250 |
| 100 | 1,200 | 3–6 | $60–$300 |
| 150 | 1,800 | 5–9 | $100–$450 |
| 200 | 2,400 | 6–12 | $120–$600 |
| 300 | 3,600 | 9–18 | $180–$900 |
| 400 | 4,800 | 12–24 | $240–$1,200 |
| 500 | 6,000 | 15–30 | $300–$1,500 |
Calculating How Much Fence Stain You Need
To figure out how much stain you need, you’ll first need to measure the length and width of your fence. Then, look at the label of the stain to see how many square feet it can cover per gallon.
Once you have those figures, you can use this formula to determine how many gallons you’ll need to stain one side of a fence. If you want to stain both sides, double the result.
Gallons of Stain Required = (Fence Height (in feet) x Fence Length (in feet)) / Coverage Area of One Gallon of Stain
For example, let’s say your fence is six feet high and 100 feet long, and the stain you choose can cover 300 square feet per gallon. In that case, you’d need two gallons to stain one side of the fence (or four gallons to cover both sides).
How to Measure a Fence for Stain
In order to calculate how much stain you need, you’ll have to know the square footage of your fence, and that involves measuring the height and length of your fence. Here’s how to measure a traditional type of wood fence:
Measure the height of your fence, starting at ground level and stopping at the highest point of the fence.
Measure the total length of your fence.
Multiply the height by the length to get the fence’s square footage.
However, this method isn’t effective if you’re staining a split rail fence, which has large gaps between the posts and rails. Instead, it may be easier to measure the area of each post and multiply it by the number of posts you plan to stain. Then, repeat that process for the rails. This will help you avoid ordering more fence stain than you need.
Who to Hire to Stain a Fence
If you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and grab a brush, it’s possible to stain your own fence. But keep in mind: This is a time-consuming task that requires a good amount of physical effort. For DIYers, it takes about an hour to stain 10 to 20 linear feet of fencing.
Rather not tackle this job yourself? You can have a local fence staining pro do it for you. Not only does hiring a pro let you avoid the hassle of stripping, sanding, and staining your fence, but it also speeds up the process and helps ensure the job is done correctly.
Fences usually need one or two coats of stain. If you’re unsure how many coats to use, check the manufacturer’s instructions. Alternatively, you can check the fence after applying one coat of stain (and letting it dry completely). If it looks patchy or uneven, you might consider adding a second coat.
You should avoid staining your fence during hot weather or when it’s raining, because heat and moisture can make the stain dry unevenly. Instead, the best time to stain a fence is when the weather is dry and temperatures are between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Typically, spring and fall are the best seasons for a fence-staining project.
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