TryBuildCalcChain-Link Fence Post Calculator (Line, Terminal & Concrete)
Size your chain-link fence posts instantly.
🕒 Last updated: September 6, 2026
Inputs
ℹ️Total linear run — confirm against an actual property survey, not just a fence-line guess.
ℹ️Fabric only comes in fixed roll heights — check local ordinance limits, which are often lower at front yards than back/side yards.
ℹ️10 ft is standard residential spacing; tighten to 8 ft for taller fences or high-wind areas.
ℹ️The lighter intermediate posts along the run — 1-5/8" for fences up to 5 ft, 2" for 6 ft and taller.
ℹ️The heavier posts at the run's ends, corners, and gates — always larger than line posts since they alone carry the fabric's full tension.
Waste
ℹ️Applied to fabric, top rail, tension wire, and tie wires — 10% is a common estimating default. Not applied to the fixed post or concrete bag counts.
Cost
Posts Needed
21
19 line + 2 terminal (3.0 ft buried)
Fabric Rolls Needed
5
6 ft high, 50 ft rolls
Posts & Footings
Sections (10 ft O.C.): 20
Line posts: 2" OD, 9.0 ft each
Terminal posts: 2.5" OD, 9.0 ft each
Concrete bags (80 lb): 20
Rail, Wire & Ties
Top rail sections (10 ft each): 22
Bottom tension wire: 220 ft
Tie wires (+10% waste): 110
Assumptions Used
Standard US residential chain-link fence construction, one straight run. Post count follows the same "one per spacing, minimum 2" on-center formula used elsewhere on this site — 10 ft O.C. is standard, 8 ft for taller fences or high-wind areas. Terminal posts (the run's 2 ends, plus 2 per gate) are always larger-diameter than line posts, since they alone carry the fabric's full tension. Post bury depth is a rule-of-thumb (buried = fence height ÷ 2) — always verify against your local frost line, which governs whenever it's deeper than this rule gives. Concrete volume uses each post's own round cross-section (unlike a wood fence's square post), subtracted from a footing hole roughly 3× the post's own diameter. Fabric is sold in full 50 ft rolls only; top rail and tie wire scale with the fabric run length, and waste applies to fabric, rail, tension wire, and ties — not to the fixed post or concrete bag counts. This calculator computes material quantities only — it does not verify structural post embedment for wind load, local fence-height ordinances/setbacks, or property line surveys.
Bill of Materials
Main material: 19 pcs + recommended tools
+−
Bill of Materials
Main material: 19 pcs + recommended tools
Computed items reflect your entered length and height; consumables below are general recommendations — actual needs vary by product and site conditions.
For Your Job
Line Posts
Terminal Posts
Fabric (Mesh) Rolls
Top Rail Sections
Bottom Tension Wire
Concrete
General Tools & Consumables
Tie wires
Rail end/tension bands & caps
Tension (stretcher) bar
Gate hinges & latch hardware
Come-along / fence stretcher
Post level / string line
Post hole digger or auger
Fence pliers / tie-wire tool
Tape measure
Gravel (footing drainage)
Safety glasses & work gloves
Diagram simplified for clarity (not to scale, 1 line post and 2 terminal posts shown regardless of actual count) — terminal posts are drawn thicker, matching the real two-post-type system.
Looking for the verification checklist, reference tables, tips, or common mistakes?See the complete Chain-Link Fence Calculator.
Chain-link fence post and footing sizing
Post count follows the standard on-center spacing formula, split into line posts (lighter, mid-span) and terminal posts (heavier, at the run's ends and any gates); footing depth is a rule-of-thumb based on fence height, and concrete volume uses each post's own round cross-section.
This page defaults to a 200 ft run at 6 ft height, 10 ft O.C. spacing — edit the inputs above to match your actual fence.
Chain-Link Fence Calculator Formula: How Is It Determined?
Post, fabric, rail, and wire quantities, plus footing volume, calculated separately and combined into a material takeoff.
Step 1 — Posts & Footings
Total Posts = max(2, ceil(Fence Length / Post Spacing) + 1) + 2 per gate
Terminal Posts = 2 (run ends) + 2 per gate; Line Posts = Total Posts - Terminal Posts
Buried Depth = Fence Height / 2 (derived from "bury 1/3 of total post length")
Concrete per Post = Hole Volume - Post's Own ROUND Cross-Section Volume
Post count follows the same "one per spacing, minimum 2" formula used for wood fence posts elsewhere on this site — only the split into line vs. terminal posts, and the round (not square) cross-section for concrete, are chain-link-specific. Buried depth is the same rule of thumb used for wood fence posts — your LOCAL FROST LINE always governs when it's deeper.
Step 2 — Fabric (Mesh)
Fabric Run Length = Fence Length - Total Gate Width
Fabric Rolls = ceil((Fabric Run Length x (1 + Waste %)) / 50 ft per roll)
Fabric is sold in full 50 ft rolls only — a partial roll can't be ordered, so the run length (with waste applied) is always rounded UP to the next whole roll.
Step 3 — Top Rail, Tension Wire & Ties
Top Rail Sections = ceil((Fabric Run Length x (1 + Waste %)) / Rail Length) + Gates
Tension Wire Length = Fabric Run Length x (1 + Waste %)
Tie Wires = ceil((Fabric Run Length x (1 + Waste %) x 12) / 24)
Top rail and bottom tension wire are each independently optional (toggle either on or off to match your actual installation plan). Tie wires follow the widely-used "every 24 inches" spacing rule for fastening fabric to rail and posts.
Worked Example
This example walks through your current inputs above, using the same steps as the Formula section.
Input Values Used
| Input | Value | Why it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Length / height | 200 ft / 6 ft | Sets post/fabric/rail counts |
| Line spacing / post sizes | 10 ft / 2" line, 2.5" terminal | Sets post count, split, and footing size |
| Top rail / tension wire | 10 ft sections / included | Sets rail section and wire length |
Step 1 — Posts & Footings
| Calculation | Result |
|---|---|
| Sections = ceil(Fence Length / Post Spacing) = ceil(200 / 10) | 20 |
| Total posts = Sections + 1 = 20 + 1 | 21 |
| Terminal posts = 2; Line posts = Total - Terminal = 21 - 2 | 2 terminal / 19 line |
| Buried depth = Fence Height / 2 = 6 / 2; Post length = Height + Buried = 6 + 3.0 | 3.0 ft / 9.0 ft |
| Total concrete = (Line Concrete x Line Posts) + (Terminal Concrete x Terminal Posts) = 11.58 cu ft, packed in 80 lb bags | 20 |
Step 2 & 3 — Fabric, Rail & Wire
| Calculation | Result |
|---|---|
| Fabric run length = Fence Length = 200, +10% waste | 220 ft |
| Fabric rolls = ceil(Run Length / 50 ft) = ceil(220 / 50) | 5 |
| Top rail sections = ceil(Run Length / Rail Length) = ceil(220 / 10) | 22 |
| Tension wire = Run Length (with waste) | 220 ft |
| Tie wires = ceil(Run Length (in) / 24) = ceil(2640 / 24) | 110 |
Therefore, this 200 ft, 6 ft tall chain-link fence needs approximately 21 posts (19 line / 2 terminal), 5 fabric rolls, and 20 bags of concrete.
Related Calculators
Disclaimer: This calculator provides approximate results for planning and estimation purposes only. Actual requirements may vary based on site conditions, materials, workmanship, and local building regulations. Always consult a qualified engineer, architect, or construction professional before making final decisions.