Enter fence dimensions and coverage rate to calculate gallons of stain needed and estimated cost.
How to Use the Fence Stain Calculator
Enter the fence's length and height, check the box if both faces need staining, and set the coverage rate and coat count for the product you're using. Gallons and cost update together.
Stain coverage numbers on a product label assume smooth, previously-finished wood — real fence lumber almost never matches that. Rough-sawn cedar, weathered pine, and anything porous will drink stain faster than the can promises, sometimes by a wide margin.
The Math
area = length × height × (2 if both sides else 1)
gallons = ceil((area × coats ÷ coverage rate) × 4) ÷ 4Rounding up to the nearest quarter gallon avoids the common trap of a calculation landing at, say, 2.03 gallons and someone buying exactly two.
One Side or Two?
New fence installs usually only need the visible face stained, since the back side either faces a neighbor's yard or sits unfinished from the factory anyway. Refinishing an older fence, or a decorative fence meant to look good from both yards, is where the both-sides option earns its keep, and doubles the gallon count accordingly.
200 square feet per gallon is a reasonable mid-range default; a semi-transparent stain on new wood can stretch further, while a solid-color stain on old, rough wood will fall well short of it.