Measure the fence run
Measure total fence length in feet and average panel height. For a 6 ft privacy fence 100 ft long, one side is roughly 600 sq ft — both sides doubles to 1,200 sq ft if staining inside and out.
Deduct gates or use our calculator openings field for approximate deductions.
Stain coverage is lower than paint
Rough cedar and weathered wood absorb more product. Many exterior stains cover 150–250 sq ft per gallon per coat. Read your can — transparent stains cover less than solid-color stains.
- Transparent / semi-transparent: 150–200 sq ft/gallon
- Solid stain: up to 250–300 sq ft/gallon
- Plan two coats on weathered wood