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🖌️Fence Stain Calculator
Find out how many gallons of stain your fence needs.
Your fence
You'll need about
13.2 gallons
1200 sq ft of fence · 2 coats
gallon cans
14
sq ft
1200
coverage per gallon
200 sq ft
🛒 Shopping list
- Fence stain (5 gallon pails)2 pails
- Fence stain (1 gallon cans)4 cans
Rough fence boards drink more stain than a smooth deck. A sprayer is fast but uses about a third more stain than a brush.
How it works
Gallons = length × height × sides × coats ÷ coverage, plus waste. Rough fence boards cover about 200 sq ft per gallon.
Worked example
A 100 ft fence, 6 ft tall, both sides, 2 coats:
- 100 × 6 × 2 = 1,200 sq ft
- × 2 coats = 2,400 ÷ 200 = 12 gallons, plus 10% = 13.2 gallons
- Buy 2 five-gallon pails and 4 one-gallon cans
Questions people ask
About 150–250 sq ft, depending on how rough and dry the wood is.
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Last updated September 28, 2026. These results are friendly estimates to help you plan — always double-check before buying or making big decisions.