Hog Wire Fence Calculator
Wire panels, posts, rails, cap and concrete for a framed hog wire fence.
A hog wire fence is welded-wire stock panels framed by wood posts and rails — open, modern and cheap per foot. Enter the fence length, post spacing and panel type. The calculator splits the run into bays, works out how many bays you get from each 16 ft panel, and counts posts, top and bottom rails, cap boards, concrete and panel cost.
16 ft maximum (one panel).
Calculation Results
OKBRAND hog and cattle panels are 16 ft long, so posts 8 ft apart use one panel for every two bays with almost no waste.
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🛠️ How This Calculator Works
The run is split into equal bays no wider than the post spacing. A 16 ft panel is cut into as many whole bays as fit (two 8 ft bays, three 5.33 ft bays...), so panels = bays ÷ bays per panel, rounded up. Every bay gets a top and a bottom rail the panel is stapled or screwed to, and a cap board if you want one. Concrete is the hole volume minus the post, divided by 0.60 cu ft per 80 lb bag.
📐 Formula
Bays = ceil(length ÷ spacing) · Bays per panel = floor(16 ÷ bay width) · Panels = ceil(bays ÷ bays per panel) · Posts = bays + 1 · Bags = ceil(posts × (π r² d − post² d) ÷ 0.60)📝 Example Calculation
100 ft of 50" cattle panel, posts 8 ft apart: Bays = ceil(100 ÷ 8) = 13 (7.69 ft each) Bays per panel = floor(16 ÷ 7.69) = 2 → 7 panels Posts = 14 · Rails = 26 · Caps = 13 Concrete: 14 × 1.15 cu ft = 16.1 cu ft → 27 bags Panels: 7 × $29.99 = $209.93
💡 Pro Tips from Fence Builders
- Space posts so two bays come out of each 16 ft panel — 8 ft, or just under — and cut panels with bolt cutters or an angle grinder.
- Frame the panel inside the bay against a stop strip, or on the face of the posts with a cap board covering the top edge.
- Use galvanized fence staples or screws with washers through the wire into the rails; welded wire expands in sun.
- Black or powder-coated panels disappear from a distance; bare galvanized ones show more.
- Measure each straight run between corners and gates separately and add the results.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a hog wire fence cost?
The wire is the cheap part. Farm & Home Supply sold OKBRAND 16 ft hog and cattle panels for $29.99 each on 1 October 2026, so 100 ft with posts 8 ft apart needs 7 panels — $209.93. Add posts, rails, cap boards, concrete and fasteners from your lumber yard.
What size are hog wire panels?
OKBRAND's hog panel is 34 in high by 16 ft long with 11 line wires, closer at the bottom; its Max 50 cattle and combination panels are 50 in by 16 ft. For a taller fence, stack panels or use a taller welded wire.
How far apart should posts be for a hog wire fence?
8 ft is the usual spacing because a 16 ft panel cuts into two bays with no waste. Closer posts make a stiffer fence; wider ones need a stiffer top rail so the wire doesn't sag.
What is the difference between hog panels and cattle panels?
Height and wire spacing. OKBRAND's hog panel is 34 in high with 11 line wires spaced tight at the bottom; the Max 50 cattle panel is 50 in high with 10 line wires, and the combination panel 50 in with 13.
How many hog wire panels do I need for 100 feet?
Seven 16 ft panels with posts every 8 ft: 100 ÷ 8 rounds up to 13 bays of 7.69 ft, two bays come out of each panel, and 13 ÷ 2 rounds up to 7.
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Hog wire panels by fence length
Posts 8 ft apart, 16 ft panels at $29.99 (Farm & Home Supply, 1 Oct 2026).
| Fence | Bays | Panels | Posts | Panel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | 7 | 4 | 8 | $119.96 |
| 75 ft | 10 | 5 | 11 | $149.95 |
| 100 ft | 13 | 7 | 14 | $209.93 |
| 150 ft | 19 | 10 | 20 | $299.90 |
| 200 ft | 25 | 13 | 26 | $389.87 |
| 300 ft | 38 | 19 | 39 | $569.81 |
Hog, cattle and combination panels
Hog wire fences use livestock panels: heavy welded wire, galvanized before welding, sold in 16 ft lengths. OKBRAND (Oklahoma Steel & Wire) lists its hog panel at 34 in high with 11 line wires — tight at the bottom to stop rooting — and its Max 50 cattle panel at 50 in with 10 line wires; the 13-line combination panel is also 50 in. The SELECT versions weigh 29, 32 and 37 lb, which matters when you carry a 16 ft panel on a truck rack.
Source: OKBRAND hog panel and Max 50 panel specifications; prices from Farm & Home Supply, 1 October 2026; concrete at 0.60 cu ft per 80 lb bag (QUIKRETE Concrete Mix data sheet).
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Building a livestock run on T-posts instead? Use the cattle panel fence calculator. For rolled field fence see the woven wire fence calculator, and count staples with the fence staple calculator.