Chain Link Fence Calculator
Calculate the line posts, terminal posts, top rail, fabric rolls, ties, tension bars and concrete for a chain link fence from its length, height and gates.
By CalcBuilt Editorial TeamUpdated September 9, 2026Formulas checked against manufacturer specs, see how we calculate.
Results
- Line posts
- 14 line posts
- 15 sections at 10 ft along 146 ft of fabric; 1-5/8 in posts 6 ft long (4 ft of fabric plus 2 ft in the ground), each with a loop cap
- Terminal posts
- 4 posts
- 2 ends and corners plus 2 gate posts; 2-3/8 in posts 6 ft long, each with a cap, a rail end and a brace band per rail
- Top rail
- 7 sections
- 21 ft swaged sections of 1-3/8 in rail to cover 146 ft; also sold as 10 ft 6 in pieces, so 14 of those. Cut the last piece with a pipe cutter, not a grinder, so the swage still fits
- Fabric
- 3 rolls
- 50 ft rolls of 4 ft fabric for 146 ft, leaving 4 ft spare. Knuckle-knuckle selvage for residential; a cut roll is not returnable
- Ties and tension bars
- 188 ties, 4 bars
- About 1 tie per foot of rail plus 3 per line post; 1 tension bar per terminal and gate post with 3 tension bands each (12 bands), the fence height in feet minus one, each on a 5/16 x 1-1/4 in carriage bolt
- Concrete
- 22 bags
- 1 x 50 lb (23 kg) bag per line post and 2 per terminal or gate post, about 0.31 cu yd. Crown it above grade and let it cure before stretching. Planning estimate; check local fence height and setback rules.
Chain Link Fence formula
Fabric length = Total length - gates x gate width
Line posts = Fabric length / post spacing, rounded up, - 1 (- 1 more for each corner beyond two terminals)
Terminal posts = ends and corners + 2 per gate; Top rail sections = Fabric length / 21, rounded up
Fabric rolls = Fabric length / roll length, rounded up; Concrete = 1 bag per line post + 2 per terminal postWorked example
A 200 ft fence 6 ft tall around three sides of a yard with 4 terminal posts (2 ends and 2 corners), two 4 ft gates, 8 ft post spacing and 100 ft rolls: fabric length = 200 - 8 = 192 ft. 192 / 8 = 24 sections, minus 1 and minus 2 for the corners = 21 line posts. Terminal posts = 4 + 4 gate posts = 8.
Top rail: 192 / 21 = 9.1, so 10 sections. Fabric: 192 / 100 = 1.9, so 2 rolls. Tension bars: 8, with 5 bands each. Ties: 192 + 3 x 21 = 255. Concrete: 21 + 2 x 8 = 37 bags. Posts are 6 + 2 = 8 ft long.
Quick reference
| Fence length | Line posts | Top rail (21 ft) | Fabric rolls (50 ft) | Concrete bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 100 ft | 9 | 5 | 2 | 13 |
| 150 ft | 14 | 8 | 3 | 18 |
| 200 ft | 19 | 10 | 4 | 23 |
| 300 ft | 29 | 15 | 6 | 33 |
How to estimate chain link fence materials
Start with the fabric length: the total run minus the gate openings. Divide by the post spacing and round up for sections. Line posts are one fewer than sections because the ends of each run are held by terminal posts, and each corner post replaces a line post as well. Every gate adds two gate posts, which are terminal posts with hinges and a latch.
Top rail is sold in 21 ft sections that swage together, so divide the fabric length by 21 and round up. Fabric comes in 50 ft rolls; a cut roll cannot be returned, so a 150 ft run in three rolls has no leftover while 160 ft wastes 40. Each terminal and gate post gets a tension bar woven through the fabric and held by tension bands, one band per foot of height minus one.
Posts, concrete and installation
Set terminal and gate posts first in holes 8 inches wide and 24 to 30 inches deep, then line posts in 6 inch holes 24 inches deep. All go in concrete crowned above grade so water runs off the post. Posts are the fabric height plus 2 feet; at 30 inches or below frost, order the terminals 6 inches longer. Line posts stand 2 inches lower than terminals so the loop caps set the rail level. Give fast-setting mix a day and standard mix three days before stretching, or the terminals pull out of plumb.
Hang the fabric on the rail, thread a tension bar through the end diamonds and band it to the first terminal. At the far end, clamp a stretcher bar a few feet short of the post and pull with a come-along until a hand squeeze moves the diamonds about 1/4 inch. Band a tension bar there and unweave the excess. Tie the fabric to the top rail every 12 inches and to each line post with three ties spread over the height. Hog-ring a 7 gauge tension wire along the bottom every 24 inches.
What this calculator leaves out
Not counted: bottom tension wire and hog rings, loop caps and post caps, rail ends and brace bands, the 5/16 x 1-1/4 inch carriage bolts for every band, and the gate frames with hinges and a fork latch. Gate posts are sized by the leaf: 2-3/8 inch up to 6 feet, 3 inch to 13 feet, set 36 inches deep. Call 811 before digging and find the survey pins. Most cities cap front-yard fences at 4 feet and side and rear fences at 6 feet, and require a setback from the line.
Mistakes that cost money
- No 811 locate before digging: the ticket is free and takes 2 to 3 days; a cut cable or gas line is billed to you.
- Stretching fabric before the terminal post concrete cures pulls the posts out of plumb; give fast-setting mix a day and standard mix three.
- Twisted barb selvage on top of a 4 ft fence is prohibited in most cities and cuts kids; order knuckle-knuckle for residential.
- A 12 ft double drive gate on 2-3/8 in posts sags; leaves over 6 ft each need 3 in gate posts set 36 in deep.
- Too few tension bands let the fabric bow off the terminals; the rule is height in feet minus one, 3 on a 4 ft fence.
- Concrete finished flat or dished at grade holds water and rusts the post at the collar; crown it above grade so water runs off.
Key facts
- Residential chain link fabric is 11-1/2 gauge wire in a 2 in diamond mesh; 9 gauge is the commercial standard.
- Line posts are set no more than 10 ft apart; typical residential line posts are 1-5/8 in in diameter, terminal posts 2-3/8 in and top rail 1-3/8 in.
- Fabric is sold in 50 ft rolls, with 100 ft rolls available for long runs, in 4, 5 and 6 ft heights for residential work.
- Top rail comes in 21 ft sections with a swaged end that slips into the next piece, or in 10 ft 6 in lengths.
- Posts are set about 2 ft deep in concrete, so a 4 ft fence uses 6 ft posts and a 6 ft fence uses 8 ft posts.
Frequently asked questions
How many posts do I need for 100 ft of chain link fence?
At 10 ft spacing, 100 / 10 = 10 sections, so 9 line posts plus 2 terminal posts at the ends. Add 2 gate posts for each gate and 1 terminal post at each corner.
How far apart should chain link fence posts be?
No more than 10 ft between line posts. Use 8 ft on 6 ft fences and in windy areas so the fabric stays taut and the rail does not sag.
How tight should chain link fabric be stretched?
Tight enough that squeezing a diamond by hand moves it about 1/4 inch, no more. Band a tension bar to the first terminal, then clamp a stretcher bar a few feet from the far post and pull it with a come-along. Band a second tension bar there and unweave the extra strands. Overstretching bows the terminal posts, and stretching before the concrete has cured a day pulls them out of plumb.
How much concrete do chain link posts need?
About one 50 lb bag per line post and two per terminal or gate post. A 150 ft fence with one gate and 10 ft spacing uses 22 bags.
Sources and references
- CLFMI Product Manual (fabric, framework and fittings specifications) (Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute)
- Chain link fence step-by-step installation guide (Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute)
- Chain link product information and specification sheets (Master Halco)
- QUIKRETE Fast-Setting Concrete Mix product page (Quikrete)
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Results are estimates based on standard formulas and typical product specifications. Confirm quantities with your supplier and local code before ordering.