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Reviewed · Prices checked October 2026 · How we calculate

Fence Stain Calculator: How Much Stain for My Fence?

Enter the fence's length and height, one side or both, and the coats. You get the gallons of stain to buy, as gallons and 5 gallon pails.

Inputs

Units
ft
ft
Stain
Sides
Coats
$

Shopping list

Updates as you type
11gallons

of solid color stain for 1,200 sq ft of fence (both sides, 2 coats)

Fence stain details
Fence to stain1,200 sq ft
Stain needed10.80 gal
As containers2 × 5 gal pails + 1 × 1 gal
Cost at your price—
Show the math
100 × 6 ft × 2 sides = 1,200 sq ft1,200 ÷ 200 + 1,200 ÷ 250 = 10.80 gal → 11

The price you type is used for this estimate only; it isn't saved.

How it works

The formula

area = length × height × sides
gallons = area ÷ first-coat coverage + area ÷ second-coat coverage, rounded up

Assumptions

  • Solid color stain: BEHR Solid Color House & Fence lists 200 to 400 sq ft per gallon for the first coat and 250 to 500 for the second, on smooth or rough-sawn wood; we use 200 and 250.
  • Penetrating oil stain: retailers list Ready Seal at about 625 sq ft per 5 gallon pail, 125 per gallon. Rough, dry or weathered boards soak up more; check your can.
  • Gaps between pickets aren't subtracted, which leaves a little extra for posts, rails and edges.

Worked example

100 ft of 6 ft fence, both sides, 2 coats of solid stain

  1. 100 × 6 × 2 = 1,200 sq ft
  2. 1,200 ÷ 200 + 1,200 ÷ 250 = 10.8 gal → 11 gallons (2 pails + 1 gallon)

Gallons by fence, both sides

Gallons of stain by fence size, both sides
FenceSolid, 2 coatsOil, 1 coat
50 × 4 ft44
100 × 6 ft1110
150 × 6 ft1715
200 × 8 ft2926

Questions people ask

How much stain for a 100 ft fence?

For a 6 ft fence stained on both sides, about 11 gallons of solid color stain for two coats, or 10 gallons of penetrating oil stain for one.

Should I stain both sides of my fence?

Both sides weather, so staining both protects the wood and looks even. If a neighbor owns the other side, ask first.

Spray or roll?

A sprayer is fastest on pickets, and back-brushing works the stain into the grain. On rough-sawn boards, a thick-nap roller or brush gets into the texture; expect to use more stain.