Fence Stain & Paint Calculator
Gallons of stain or paint needed to finish your fence.
Computes total surface area (both sides if needed), multiplies by coats, and divides by coverage per gallon.
Stain ≈ 200; paint ≈ 350
Calculation Results
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📌 Use semi-transparent stain for cedar; solid stain hides defects on pine.
Hiring a painter or comparing stain with paint? Try the fence staining cost calculator.
Choosing a stain? See our fence stain buying guide — gallons worked out with this calculator.
Spraying it? See our paint sprayer for fences guide.
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🛠️ How This Calculator Works
Surface area = length × height × sides. Multiply by coats, divide by gallon coverage.
📐 Formula
Gallons = ⌈(LF × H × sides × coats) / coverage⌉📝 Example Calculation
150 ft × 6 ft fence, both sides, 2 coats, 200 sq ft/gal: Area = 1,800 sq ft × 2 sides = 3,600 sq ft Gallons = ⌈3,600 × 2 / 200⌉ = 36 gal
💡 Pro Tips from Fence Builders
- Semi-transparent stain shows wood grain; solid stain hides defects.
- Stain new wood after 30 days of weathering — sealer won't soak into raw mill-glaze.
- Spray + back-brush gives the fastest pro-grade finish.
- Re-stain every 3–5 years for cedar, every 2–3 for pine.
- Coverage rates differ by brand: Behr semi-transparent ≈ 175–250 sq ft/gal, Ready Seal ≈ 100–150 (it goes on heavy), Wood Defender ≈ 150–200, Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck ≈ 150–250, Thompson's WaterSeal ≈ 150–200.
- Rough-sawn or weathered boards drink 25–40% more than smooth new lumber — drop your coverage number by a quarter before calculating.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How much stain do I need per side of fence?
About 1 gallon covers 200 sq ft per coat. A 100 ft × 6 ft fence (one side) needs 3 gallons for 2 coats.
Stain or paint a fence?
Stain — paint peels and flakes on fences as wood expands and contracts. Stain soaks in and ages gracefully.
How do I work out fence stain by square feet?
Multiply fence length by height, then double it if you are finishing both sides. A 150 ft by 6 ft fence is 900 sq ft one side, 1,800 sq ft both sides. Divide that by the coverage printed on the can and multiply by the number of coats.
How many square feet does a gallon of fence stain cover?
Plan on 175 to 250 sq ft per gallon on smooth wood and 125 to 175 on rough-sawn or old, thirsty boards. The label number is measured on smooth lumber, so it is always the optimistic end.
How much stain for a 6 ft privacy fence?
Roughly one gallon per 30 linear feet per coat if you stain one side, or per 15 linear feet if you do both. A 150 ft privacy fence stained on both sides with two coats needs about 18 to 20 gallons.
What is the Behr fence stain coverage rate?
Behr semi-transparent waterproofing stain lists 175 to 250 sq ft per gallon and Behr solid color lists 200 to 300. Use the low end of the range on fence boards, which are far rougher than a deck surface.
How much Ready Seal do I need for a fence?
Ready Seal covers less than most stains — about 100 to 150 sq ft per gallon — because it is applied wet and flooded on. Set the coverage box above to 125 and only run one coat; Ready Seal is designed to be applied wet-on-wet, not recoated.
What coverage should I use for Wood Defender?
Wood Defender transparent fence stain averages 150 to 200 sq ft per gallon on new cedar and around 125 on rough pine. It is a single-coat product, so set coats to 1.
How much stain for a 100 foot fence?
At 6 ft tall and both sides, that is 1,200 sq ft. Two coats at 200 sq ft per gallon works out to 12 gallons, so buy a 5 gallon pail plus seven singles, or two pails to be safe.
Do I stain both sides of a fence?
If the fence is yours on both faces, yes — sealing one side only lets moisture in the back and causes cupping. If your neighbor owns the far face, stain your side and the top edge of every board.
How many coats of stain does a fence need?
Two coats for semi-transparent and solid stains, one coat for oil-based penetrating sealers like Ready Seal. A second coat on a penetrating oil just sits on top and stays tacky.
Is it cheaper to spray or brush fence stain?
Spraying is faster but uses 20 to 30% more product from overspray. Brushing uses the least material and pushes stain into the grain. Most people spray and then back-brush, which is the best finish for a modest amount of extra stain.
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Using paint or a solid-colour stain? The fence paint calculator applies the label coverage for each coat and adds picket edges and the rails on the back.