How to estimate stain for your fence
For a fence, enter the total run as the length, set the width to a small number (or the post depth) and the wall height to your fence height, and the calculator multiplies perimeter by height for the surface area. Staining both sides? Double your length figure to cover front and back.
Rough-sawn cedar and pressure-treated pickets are thirsty, so stain coverage defaults to 250 square feet per gallon and can drop well below that on the first coat over bare wood. A smooth, previously stained fence covers closer to the high end.
Coverage cheat sheet
| Surface / situation | Approx. coverage per gallon |
|---|---|
| Smooth, previously stained surface | 350 to 400 sq ft |
| New or bare wood / drywall (thirsty) | 250 to 350 sq ft |
| Textured, rough, or weathered | 200 to 300 sq ft |
| Primer | 200 to 300 sq ft |
This tool defaults to 250 sq ft per gallon for a fence. Change it under Advanced if your surface is rougher or more porous than average.