How to use
- Measure the length and height of the wood surface to coat.
- Count one or two faces, then enter how many coats use the selected coverage rate.
- Choose rough or smooth as a starting reference, or type coverage from the actual stain label.
- Read liquid consumption separately from the rounded whole-US-gallon purchase.
How the estimate is calculated
Coated face area = length × height × faces. Stain gallons = face area × coats ÷ coverage per US gallon. Whole-US-gallon purchase = gallons rounded up. Metric entry uses square meters per liter, and the result also retains the US-gallon package basis for an unambiguous shopping count.
Example: 100 ft × 6 ft × 2 faces gives 1,200.0 sq ft. With one coat at 200 sq ft per US gal, consumption is 6.00 US gal, and the rounded purchase is 6 US gal. A second coat at that same rate would double the liquid requirement.
Rough wood and label coverage
| Summary reference | Reported coverage | Planning use |
|---|---|---|
| Cabot Solid Color Acrylic, rough | 200–300 sq ft per US gal | Rough preset starts at 200 |
| Cabot Solid Color Acrylic, smooth | 300–400 sq ft per US gal | Smooth preset starts at 300 |
| Behr Solid Color House & Fence | 200–400 first coat; 250–500 second | A reminder that coats may have different rates |
The original product pages were not read; these are commonly used planning figures, not official coverage guarantees. Rough-sawn texture can expose more absorbent surface. Solid-color and semi-transparent products can have different application instructions, so do not transfer a solid-color summary to another finish without checking its label.
Brush, roller, or sprayer
The tool does not assign a fixed loss percentage to an application method. Sprayer overspray, gaps between pickets, back-brushing, end grain, and rails can all change usage. The rectangular face estimate does not separately measure narrow edges or board-on-board overlap. For products with different first- and second-coat coverage, calculate each coat separately and combine liquid quantities before rounding the purchase.
Common mistakes
- Counting both sides in the length and then selecting two faces again.
- Using a paint coverage rate for a different stain product.
- Multiplying by two coats after entering a coverage allowance that already represents both coats.
Sources
Cabot Solid Color Acrylic Siding & Fence listing summaries and Behr Solid Color House & Fence search summaries provide the comparison ranges. Confirm preparation, application, and coverage directly on the selected package.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
Do rails and picket edges have their own allowance?
No. This is a rectangular-face estimate. Measure additional surfaces or adjust the coverage input to reflect the actual fence construction.
Can first and second coats use different coverage?
Calculate each coat with its own label rate, combine the liquid requirements, then round the total purchase to the package sizes sold.
Why does smooth wood start at 300?
That is the low end of the Cabot smooth-surface range, checked as a search summary. It remains a planning reference that you can replace.
Will the tool add sprayer loss automatically?
No fixed sprayer-loss factor is applied. Use a coverage rate appropriate to the product, surface, method, and conditions.
What does the metric purchase count mean?
Consumption displays liters, while the shopping line still rounds to whole US gallons. Check the liter sizes sold locally rather than treating that count as cans of any size.