By Zencalcy Editorial TeamLast reviewed About us
A fence has more surface than its face suggests: pickets are planed on both sides, and rails, posts and the back face all take stain. A 6 ft privacy fence works out to roughly 12 sq ft of surface per linear foot when both sides are coated.
Gallons of stain for a wood fence, both sides.
Area = L × W Units = ⌈Area × (1 + waste) ÷ coverage⌉ Cost = Units × price
One gallon covers 200 sq ft per gallon. Units are rounded up because suppliers sell whole gallons, and the waste allowance covers cuts, mistakes and future repairs.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| L, W | Room length and width (or wall length and height). |
| A | Area to cover, in square feet. |
| w | Waste allowance as a percentage. |
| N | Number of gallons to buy, rounded up. |
100 × 6 = 600 sq ft per coat; two coats give 1,200 sq ft, plus 10% = 1,320 sq ft, so seven gallons at 200 sq ft per gallon.
Continue with the Paint Calculator, Wallpaper Calculator, Tile Calculator, or the Flooring Calculator — or browse more home & garden projects and all construction calculators.
Yes if you want the wood protected and stable. One side only lets the back weather and cup.
Results use standard construction estimating arithmetic: volumes from measured area and depth, unit weights from published material densities, and code-referenced spans or clearances where the page names a code. Quantities are rounded up to whole saleable units and include the stated waste allowance. These tools are planning aids, not structural design, and do not replace a licensed engineer, a local code check, or a contractor's site measurement.
Reference material used to build and check this calculator:
Last reviewed: September 2026. See how we build and check every tool on the about page.
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Content updated: September 2026