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PAINT CALCULATOR

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.

HOW IT WORKS

How the surface area adds up

Fences look small and then surprise you. The calculator multiplies linear length by height, doubles it for both sides, adds the edge area of pickets, applies a texture multiplier, then divides by the coverage rate for your finish across the number of coats. That is how a tidy 100-foot run becomes more than 1,200 sq ft to cover.

  • Solid exterior paint: about 300 sq ft per gallon and the most durable, film-forming finish.
  • Solid color stain: roughly 200 sq ft per gallon; penetrates instead of filming.
  • Semi-transparent stain: around 175 sq ft per gallon and shows the wood grain.
  • Transparent stain or sealer: about 150 sq ft per gallon, the most grain but the shortest life.

Stain or paint, and why it changes the math

Solid paint forms a film on top of the wood. It lasts 7 to 10 years and hides imperfections, but when it fails it peels rather than fading gracefully. Solid stain looks similar yet penetrates deeper, so it fails by fading and is far easier to recoat. Semi-transparent stain shows the grain; transparent stain shows the most grain but lasts only 2 to 4 years. The deeper a finish penetrates, the thirstier it is, which is why coverage drops as you move from paint toward transparent stain.

Both sides, and why rough wood drinks more

Wood finished on one side and bare on the other absorbs moisture unevenly: the bare side swells while the finished side stays flat, and the boards cup and twist. Always coat both sides, even if the back is the neighbor's view. Texture matters just as much — edge area on pickets and dog-eared boards adds about 15 percent to the gross area, and rough-sawn or weathered cedar can soak up 30 to 50 percent more than planed lumber. The fence-type and rough-wood options above fold both effects into your total.

Prep and application

Pressure-wash first, every time — algae, dirt, and old finish flakes trap moisture under a fresh coat and cause early peeling. Let the wood dry about 48 hours before you start. A fence is the project where renting an airless sprayer pays for itself: 100 feet by brush is a weekend, by sprayer it is a few hours. Back-roll the first coat on rough wood to drive the finish into the grain.

What it costs to paint a fence

Material is the small part of the bill. Fence stain runs $20 to $50 per gallon and covers 200 to 400 sq ft, while solid exterior paint is similar per gallon at about 300 sq ft. A 100-foot privacy fence stained both sides is roughly 1,200 sq ft, so two coats take only about $80 to $200 of stain or paint — a clear DIY win once you add a sprayer rental.

Hiring a pro is priced by the foot. Expect about $2 to $14 per linear foot, or $0.50 to $2.50 per square foot, with short picket fences at the low end and tall privacy fences at the top. That puts a 100-foot fence around $300 to $1,000 done for you, since prep and labor are most of the cost.

  • Fence stain: $20 to $50 per gallon (water-based cheapest, solid $30 to $50).
  • DIY material (100-foot fence, both sides): about $80 to $200 for two coats.
  • Pro, installed: $2 to $14 per linear foot, roughly $300 to $1,000 for 100 feet.

For a paint-plus-labor estimate on other surfaces, use thepaint cost calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to paint or stain a fence?+
Pros charge about $2 to $14 per linear foot, or roughly $0.50 to $2.50 per square foot, so a 100-foot privacy fence usually runs $300 to $1,000 done for you. DIY is far cheaper: fence stain or paint costs $20 to $50 per gallon, and a 100-foot run needs only about $80 to $200 in material for two coats.
How much does fence stain or paint cost per gallon?+
Fence stain runs $20 to $50 per gallon and covers 200 to 400 square feet; water-based is the cheapest at $20 to $40, oil-based $20 to $60, and solid stain $30 to $50. Solid exterior paint is similar per gallon and covers about 300 square feet. A typical 100-foot fence takes roughly $80 to $200 of material.
How much stain do I need for a fence?+
Measure linear feet times height, then double it for both sides. A 100-foot, 6-foot privacy fence is about 1,200 sq ft of surface. At roughly 175 sq ft per gallon for semi-transparent stain, two coats need about 14 gallons; the calculator does the exact math for your run.
Should I stain both sides of the fence?+
Yes. Wood finished on one side and bare on the other absorbs moisture unevenly, so boards cup and twist. Coat both sides even if the back faces the neighbor — it roughly doubles your material but protects the fence.
Does rough-sawn wood use more stain than smooth?+
A lot more. Rough or weathered cedar can drink 30 to 50 percent more than planed lumber because the open texture holds extra coating. The rough-wood option above adds that multiplier so you do not run short.
Stain or paint for a wood fence?+
Solid paint forms a film, lasts 7 to 10 years, and hides flaws but peels when it fails. Solid stain looks similar but penetrates, so it fades instead of peeling and is far easier to recoat. Semi-transparent shows the grain; transparent shows the most grain but lasts only 2 to 4 years.
Do I need to pressure-wash before staining?+
Always. Algae, dirt, and old finish flakes trap moisture under a fresh coat and cause early failure. Pressure-wash, let the wood dry about 48 hours, then stain or paint.
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