Quantity · Chain link
Chain Link Fence Calculator
Build a chain link shopping list — posts, mesh length with waste, top rail, optional tension wire, and bags per post. Then price the job on the chain link cost calculator.
Fence layout
Baseline band in national ranges.
Mesh to buy
161lf
146 lf boarded · +10% waste
- Posts
- 19 × ~6 ft
- Top rail
- 146 lf
- Tension wire
- 146 lf
- Concrete (50 lb)
- 19–38 bags
Framework posts 18 + 1 gate post(s). Bury ~2 ft. Planning fittings: ~5 tension bars and ~15 brace/rail bands.
- Sections ≈ 15 at 10 ft spacing
- Mesh = (length − gate openings) × (1 + waste)
- Top rail ≈ boarded length; wire optional under fabric
Price data updated . National US ranges from published supplier and contractor averages. Not a bid. Local quotes vary.
How chain link materials are calculated
Quantity follows geometry, not dollars. Posts track spacing and corners; mesh and top rail track the boarded line after gate openings; waste covers fabric joins. Concrete is a bag range per post.
sections = ceil(length_ft ÷ spacing_ft) line_posts = sections + 1 + corners posts_total = line_posts + gates boarded_ft = length_ft − gate_openings_ft mesh_buy = ceil(boarded_ft × (1 + waste %)) top_rail ≈ boarded_ft tension_wire ≈ boarded_ft (optional) post_length ≈ height_ft + max(2 ft, height_ft ÷ 3) bags = posts_total × 1–2
Worked example. A 150 ft × 4 ft run at 10 ft spacing with 2 corners and one 4 ft gate: 15 sections → 18 framework posts + 1 gate post = 19 posts about 6 ft long, ~146 lf of mesh with 10% waste (161 lf to buy), ~146 lf top rail, matching tension wire if used, and roughly 19–38 bags of concrete.
Chain link parts by run length (10 ft spacing)
Straight run, no gates, before mesh waste. Add corners and gate posts separately; then add ~10% fabric waste.
| Fence length | Posts | Top rail | Mesh (raw) | Bags (1–2/post) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | 6 | 50 lf | 50 lf | 6–12 |
| 100 ft | 11 | 100 lf | 100 lf | 11–22 |
| 150 ft | 16 | 150 lf | 150 lf | 16–32 |
| 200 ft | 21 | 200 lf | 200 lf | 21–42 |
- Posts = ceil(length ÷ 10) + 1 on a straight run.
- Gate kits, hinges, and privacy slats are separate lines.
Post stock length by fabric height
Buy posts long enough for fabric height plus bury (~⅓ of height, minimum 2 ft). Round up to common stock.
| Fabric height | Bury (approx.) | Buy post length |
|---|---|---|
| 3 ft | 2.0 ft | 5–6 ft stock |
| 4 ft | 2.0 ft | 6 ft stock |
| 5 ft | 2.0 ft | 7–8 ft stock |
| 6 ft | 2.0 ft | 8 ft stock |
- Terminal and corner posts are often heavier OD than line posts — confirm at the yard.
Chain Link Fence calculator FAQ
- How much chain link fence do I need?
- Measure the total run length, subtract gate openings for fabric and top rail, then add about 10% mesh waste for joins and culls. Posts follow spacing: ceil(length ÷ spacing) + 1 on a straight line, plus corners and a planning post per gate.
- How many posts for 150 feet of chain link?
- At 10 ft spacing: ceil(150÷10)+1 = 16 posts on a straight run. Add corner posts for turns and usually one extra planning post per gate opening.
- Do I buy mesh for the gate opening?
- No — enter gate opening width so those feet are excluded from mesh and top rail. Buy a gate kit or build the leaf separately.
- What is tension wire for?
- A bottom (or mid) tension wire reduces sag and helps keep pets from pushing under the fabric. Toggle it off if your design uses a bottom rail instead.
- How is this different from the chain link cost calculator?
- This page is a materials shopping list (posts, mesh, rail, wire, bags). The cost calculator turns length, height, mesh grade, and privacy slats into an installed $/lf range.
- Where do I estimate chain link cost?
- Use the chain link fence cost calculator next — same length and height, plus mesh grade and optional privacy slats.
Next: price the chain link fence
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