How to use
- List straight run lengths separated by semicolons; a direction change starts another run.
- Enter fabric height, gate count, and whether the runs form a closed loop.
- Check the maximum post spacing and rail stock length against the chosen fence kit.
- Optionally enter both low and high installed rates to show a length-based quote range.
How the estimate is calculated
Each run needs ceiling(run length ÷ maximum spacing) − 1 intermediate line posts, with a minimum of zero. An open route has one more terminal post than runs; a closed loop has one per run. Gates add two gate posts each. End points need one stretcher bar and corners two; each gate post adds another bar. Bands use height in feet minus one per bar, rounded up for non-whole-foot heights.
Example: one open 100 ft run at 4 ft high and 10 ft maximum spacing needs 9 line posts and 2 terminal posts. With no gate, the takeoff is 2 fabric rolls of 50 ft, 10 rail sticks of 10.5 ft, 6 tension bands, 36 line-post ties, and 50 rail ties.
Check the kit before ordering
| Planning assumption | Value used | Source limit |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum line-post spacing | 10 ft initially | Corpus Christi and retail diagram search summaries; editable up to 10 ft |
| Post and top-rail ties | One per 12 in of line post; one per 24 in of rail | Hoover Fence manual search summary; confirm kit instructions |
| Fabric rolls and top rail | 50 ft rolls; 10.5 ft sticks initially | Typical trade packaging, not verified against a fetched original |
| Tension bands | Height in ft minus 1 per stretcher bar | Typical planning count; check your kit’s height schedule |
These are commonly used planning figures rather than a claim of official specification compliance. A rail supplier may sell 21 ft stock, and fittings differ by diameter and system. The stock count pools total length; cuts, joints, and separate short runs may require more pieces. Tie counts round up so a metric height does not produce a fractional hardware purchase.
Gate posts and a local cost line
The simple route model adds gate posts separately. A gate at an existing terminal point may share hardware, so compare the drawing with this list before buying. Fabric length excludes gate openings. Optional cost = total run length × your installed rate; it does not automatically add gates, removal, permits, or concrete. Both rates must describe the same scope, and no national chain-link price is prefilled.
Common mistakes
- Treating several runs as one long run and losing corner hardware.
- Adding a gate opening to fabric length while also counting separate gate posts.
- Assuming the pooled rail count provides a cut list for every run.
Sources
Corpus Christi chain-link specification and Hoover Fence installation manual are available here only as search summaries. They support planning comparisons, not verified code requirements. The retail diagram and trade packaging assumptions likewise require kit confirmation.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What makes a terminal different from a line post?
Ends and direction changes are terminal points in this route model. Intermediate line posts sit between them and are counted separately for each run.
How does a closed loop change the count?
It removes the two open ends. Each listed run begins at a corner terminal, so terminal count equals run count rather than run count plus one.
Are gate posts already part of terminal posts?
This model adds two gate posts per gate separately. If your layout shares gate and terminal points, reconcile those posts rather than buying duplicate hardware.
Can I enter 21 ft top rails?
Yes. Replace the stock length, or its metric equivalent. The result rounds total rail length to whole sticks but does not optimize cuts.
Why does the optional cost line stay hidden?
It appears only when both installed-rate fields are supplied. Enter matching local rates; the calculator assumes no current price for your fence.