Rabbit Fence Calculator
Wire rolls, stakes and trench for a rabbit-proof garden fence.
Enter the size of the garden, the gate width, the height of the wire you are buying and how deep you will bury it. The calculator works out how much mesh and how many rolls to buy, how tall the fence stands once it is buried, how many stakes you need and how much trench to dig — and checks the plan against University of California IPM guidance.
0 if you step over
UC IPM: 6–10 in
0 for a straight fence
Calculation Results
UC IPM: use mesh no larger than 1 in, 48 in tall wire, and bury the bottom 6–10 in. Cottontails won't jump a 2 ft fence.
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🛠️ How This Calculator Works
The fence runs around the garden perimeter, less the gate opening. Rolls are the mesh length divided by the roll length, rounded up. The height that is left above ground is the roll height minus the depth you bury and any mesh you bend outward at the bottom. Stakes go around the loop at your spacing, plus one on the far side of the gate.
📐 Formula
Perimeter = 2 × (length + width) · Mesh = perimeter − gate · Rolls = ceil(mesh ÷ roll length) · Above ground = wire height − bury depth − bend · Stakes = ceil(perimeter ÷ spacing) + 1 per gate📝 Example Calculation
A 20 × 10 ft vegetable garden with a 3 ft gate, 48 in chicken wire (1 in mesh), buried 6 in with a 6 in outward bend, 50 ft rolls, stakes every 8 ft: Perimeter = 2 × (20 + 10) = 60 ft Mesh = 60 − 3 = 57 ft → 2 rolls Above ground = 48 − 6 − 6 = 36 in Stakes = ceil(60 ÷ 8) + 1 = 9
💡 Pro Tips from Fence Builders
- Buy mesh with openings of 1 inch or less — the common 2 inch poultry netting lets young rabbits through.
- Bending the bottom few inches outward, then burying it, stops rabbits that dig at the base of the fence.
- Build the gate from the same mesh and make it close tight at the bottom; a gap under the gate defeats the fence.
- Walk the fence after rain and after a few weeks — look for scrapes along the base and fill them.
- Rabbits chew through plastic garden netting; galvanized wire lasts longer.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How tall should a rabbit fence be?
University of California IPM says cottontails and brush rabbits won't jump a 2-foot fence, and recommends using 48 inch tall wire with the bottom buried 6 to 10 inches. That leaves roughly 38 to 42 inches above ground — comfortably over the 2 ft rabbits jump.
How deep should I bury a rabbit fence?
At least 6 to 10 inches, per UC IPM. Bending a few inches of the bottom outward before burying it further discourages rabbits from digging under the fence.
Will chicken wire keep rabbits out?
Yes, if the mesh is small enough. UC IPM says poultry netting (chicken wire) on light stakes gives adequate control, but the mesh should be no larger than 1 inch to keep young rabbits out. Standard 2 inch chicken wire is too coarse; buy 1 inch mesh or 1/2 inch hardware cloth.
How much rabbit fencing do I need?
Measure around the garden and subtract the gate opening. A 20 by 10 ft bed has a 60 ft perimeter; with a 3 ft gate you need 57 ft of mesh, which is two 50 ft rolls.
How far apart should the stakes be?
Light mesh only needs light support. Many gardeners set stakes about 6 to 8 ft apart; closer spacing keeps the mesh from sagging. Enter your spacing — the calculator counts stakes around the whole loop plus one at the gate.
Can I use a 24 inch roll?
Only if you don't bury it. A 24 inch roll buried 6 inches stands just 18 inches tall, under the 2 ft UC IPM gives as the jump height. A 36 inch roll buried 6 inches leaves 30 inches; a 48 inch roll leaves enough for a bend as well.
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Rolls for common garden sizes
Mesh for a rectangle with one 3 ft gate, in 50 ft rolls.
| Garden | Perimeter | Mesh | 50 ft rolls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 40 ft | 37 ft | 1 |
| 20 × 10 ft | 60 ft | 57 ft | 2 |
| 20 × 20 ft | 80 ft | 77 ft | 2 |
| 30 × 20 ft | 100 ft | 97 ft | 2 |
| 40 × 30 ft | 140 ft | 137 ft | 3 |
Height above ground by roll and bury depth
| Roll height | Buried 6 in | Buried 10 in | Buried 6 in + 6 in bend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 in | 18 in | 14 in | 12 in |
| 36 in | 30 in | 26 in | 24 in |
| 48 in | 42 in | 38 in | 36 in |
| 60 in | 54 in | 50 in | 48 in |
Building it
Mark the line, dig a trench as deep as you plan to bury the mesh, and set the stakes. Unroll the mesh along the outside of the stakes, bend the bottom outward into the trench if you are adding a footer, then fasten it to each stake and backfill. Finish with a gate of the same mesh that closes against a stake with no gap at the bottom.
Source: University of California Statewide IPM Program, Pest Notes: Rabbits (Publication 7447).
Related calculators
Keeping out bigger animals? Use the deer fence calculator or the woven wire fence calculator. For a hot wire around the bed, try the electric fence calculator, and size the gate with the gate calculator.