Fence paint calculator
Fences are deceptive — a 100-foot privacy fence stained both sides has 1,200 sq ft of surface area. Coverage drops on rough cedar, drops more on dog-eared boards. Pick formulation and run length below.
Estimates round up to the nearest quart and are based on Kompozit's published coverage. Buy slightly more for touch-ups and color changes.
Stain or paint?
Solid paint forms a film on top of the wood. Lasts 7–10 years, hides imperfections, but when it fails it peels rather than fading gracefully. Solid stain looks similar but penetrates deeper — fails by fading, not peeling, which is much easier to recoat. Semi-transparent stain shows the wood grain; transparent stain shows the most grain but only lasts 2–4 years.
Why both sides matter
Wood with finish on one side and bare wood on the other absorbs moisture unevenly. The bare side swells, the finished side stays flat — boards cup and twist. Stain or paint both sides, even if the back side is "the neighbor's view."
Pickets eat more paint
Edge area on pickets and dog-eared boards adds ~15% to the gross area. The calculator accounts for this; the rough-wood option adds another 30% on top.
FAQ
Spray. A fence is the case where airless spraying pays back the rental cost — 100 ft of fence by brush is a weekend; by sprayer it's three hours. Back-roll the first coat for penetration on rough wood.
Always. Algae, dirt, and old finish flakes will trap moisture under your new coat. Pressure-wash, let dry 48 hours, then stain or paint.