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Wood Fence Stain Calculator

Estimate how many gallons of stain you need for a wood fence, based on length, height, and sides.

Computed in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded. Figures are presented for United States against IRC 2024, and every formula is cited under regulatory standards below.

Last verified 2026-08-26 · v1.0.0

Market
Imperial · sales tax
98.43 ft5.91 ft
Schematic, drawn to the proportions you entered — not to scale on screen.

Fence stain needed

8 gallons

Check your inputs

Coverage varies significantly with wood texture (smooth vs. rough-sawn) and stain opacity — check your specific product's coverage rating.

Total area to stain
1162.5 sq ft

For the dimensions entered, expect a fence stain needed of 8 gallons. Moderate confidence — sound arithmetic, but allow for the variation any real site introduces. Set for United States against IRC 2024. The market selector changes both the units and the code cited.

Estimated cost — your price

This site holds no price list for this material — local prices vary too much to publish honestly. Enter your supplier's price and the result is costed with it.

Preliminary estimate, not certified engineering. This tool produces an indicative quantity calculation for planning purposes only — it is not a certified structural analysis, a guaranteed material takeoff, or a substitute for building department approval. Always verify measurements on-site and have a licensed contractor or structural engineer review any load-bearing, code-sensitive, or safety-critical work before purchasing materials or starting construction. Spotted an arithmetic or standards error? Report it to contact@craftquantities.com with your inputs — confirmed fixes become pinned regression tests.

[Schema Verified] Computed in alignment with American Concrete Institute (ACI 318-19) formulas and International Residential Code (IRC 2024) spatial boundaries.

Regulatory standards & verification citations

  • Fence stain typically covers approximately 150 sq ft per gallon per coat on rough-sawn wood — lower than smooth deck boards due to picket texture; staining both sides doubles the area

Your workspace

Most jobs need more than one number. Add the calculators you need next and they open right here, underneath this one — your figures stay on screen and nothing is lost to a page change.

Frequently asked questions

Should I stain both sides of a fence?
For maximum protection and even weathering, yes — the side facing the most sun and weather exposure benefits most, but both sides are exposed to moisture from the ground and rain, so both sides typically need protection over time.
Does picket spacing affect coverage?
A privacy fence with tightly spaced pickets has slightly less exposed edge area than a spaced picket fence, but the difference is generally small relative to other factors like wood texture and stain opacity.
New fence — how long should I wait before staining?
Pressure-treated lumber often needs several weeks to a few months to dry out enough to properly absorb stain — check your specific lumber and product's recommended waiting period, or do a water-bead test (if water beads up rather than soaking in, the wood isn't ready yet).