Chain Link Fence Calculator
A chain link fence calculator finds posts as perimeter ÷ spacing, rounded up. A 40 × 30 ft yard has a 140 ft perimeter, so 10 ft spacing needs 14 posts.
How many chain link fence posts do I need?
This chain link fence calculator works out the fence perimeter as 2 × (length + width), then divides by the post spacing and rounds up: posts = perimeter ÷ spacing. Because the fence closes on itself, the last section ends at the first post, so there is no extra +1. The cost line is posts × price per post.
The third box sets the spacing in feet. It defaults to 10 ft, a common maximum for residential line posts.
How the post count works
Walk the fence line in your head. Every 10 ft you drop a post. When you reach the corner where you started, the first post is already there, so you do not need another.
Rounding up matters when the perimeter does not divide evenly. A 105 ft loop at 10 ft spacing is 10.5 sections. You cannot leave a 5 ft gap unsupported, so you need 11 posts, and each gap ends up a little shorter than 10 ft.
Worked examples
- The default: 40 ft × 30 ft yard, 10 ft spacing, $25 per post
- Perimeter: 2 × (40 + 30) = 140 ft
- Posts: 140 ÷ 10 = 14 posts
- Cost: 14 × $25 = $350.00
- A larger lot: 100 ft × 50 ft, 10 ft spacing
- Perimeter: 2 × (100 + 50) = 300 ft
- Posts: 300 ÷ 10 = 30 posts
- A dog run with slats: 60 ft × 40 ft at 8 ft spacing
- Perimeter: 200 ft
- Posts: 200 ÷ 8 = 25 posts
The calculator gives the total count. Split it yourself into terminal and line posts. In example 1, the 4 corners are terminal posts and a gate adds 2 more, so you would buy 6 terminal posts and 8 line posts. Gate posts usually replace line posts at that spot, so the total stays close to 14.
Parts list for a chain link fence
| Part | How to count it | Example 1 (140 ft, one gate) |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal posts | Corners + ends + 2 per gate | 6 |
| Line posts | Total posts − terminal posts | 8 |
| Fabric | Fence length − gate width, ÷ 50 ft rolls | 136 ft, 3 rolls |
| Top rail | Fence length − gate width | About 136 ft |
| Tension bars | 1 per terminal post, 2 at corners | About 10 |
| Post caps | 1 per post | 14 |
| Concrete | Per hole; see the fence post concrete calculator | Depends on hole size |
Tension bands and brace bands depend on the fence height, so check the kit or supplier chart for your height.
Common chain link heights
| Height | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 3–4 ft | Front yards, garden borders, small pets |
| 5–6 ft | Backyards, larger dogs, pool areas where allowed |
| 8 ft and up | Commercial, sports courts, security |
Pool barriers have specific height and mesh-size rules in many areas. Check local code before you choose.
How to measure the fence line
- Measure along the actual line, not the property survey, if the fence sits inside the boundary.
- Enter the two sides of the rectangle in the length and width boxes. For an L-shaped yard, add up all the sides and use the fence post calculator for straight runs.
- Fence along a house? If the house forms one side, the fence is not a closed loop. Count the open ends: each straight run needs its length ÷ spacing, rounded up, plus 1.
- Mark gates first. Gate openings fix where two posts must go, and the spacing on either side adjusts around them.
Mistakes to avoid
- Ordering all line posts. Corners and gates need heavier terminal posts. Using a light line post at a corner lets the fabric pull it over.
- Spacing too wide on slopes. On steep ground, closer posts help the mesh follow the grade without big gaps underneath.
- Forgetting frost depth. Shallow posts heave in freezing ground. The fence post depth calculator helps set the hole depth.
- Skipping the property line check. Confirm where your boundary is before setting posts, and call your local utility locator before digging.
For a full installed price, try the fence cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are chain link fence posts spaced?
Line posts on residential chain link are commonly set no more than 10 ft apart, which is the calculator's default. Taller fences, privacy slats, and windy sites often call for 8 ft or less, because slats turn the mesh into a sail. Check the fabric maker's instructions and any local rules.
What's the difference between line posts and terminal posts?
Line posts sit along straight runs and hold the mesh in place. Terminal posts sit at corners, ends, and gates, where the stretched fabric pulls on them hard. Terminal posts are usually larger in diameter, often around 2-3/8 in versus about 1-5/8 in for residential line posts, and they cost more.
Why doesn't the post count have a +1?
A closed rectangle ends where it starts, so the last section finishes at the first post. Every gap between posts has one post at its start, and the count of posts equals the count of sections. A 140 ft loop at 10 ft spacing is 14 sections and 14 posts. A straight run that does not close needs one extra post at the far end.
How much chain link fabric do I need?
Fabric is commonly sold in 50 ft rolls. Divide the fence length by 50 and round up, then subtract the width of any gates, which come with their own frame. A 140 ft loop with one 4 ft gate needs 136 ft of fabric, or 3 rolls.
How deep should chain link posts be set?
A common rule of thumb is to bury about a third of the post's above-ground height and set it in concrete, with terminal posts set deeper and in wider holes than line posts. In cold climates, footings usually need to go below the frost line, so check local code.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.