Chain-Link Fence Material Calculator
Build a chain-link material list from your run length: line and terminal posts, top-rail sticks, mesh rolls and tension bars, at the standard 10 ft post spacing and 10.5 ft rail.
Calculator
A 100 ft chain-link run needs about 11 posts (9 line + 2 terminal), 10 top-rail sticks, 100 ft of mesh and 2 tension bars. Line-post spacing 10 ft and rail 10.5 ft are labeled typicals.
A chain-link fence is a short list of parts once you know the run length and how many ends, corners and gates it has. Terminal posts (heavier posts at every end, corner and gate side) anchor the fabric under tension; lighter line posts fall between them at about 10 ft on center. A top rail runs the whole length in overlapping sticks, the mesh equals the run, and a tension bar laces the fabric to each terminal post. This calculator returns all of them so you can price a kit or check a supplier list.
Want the dollar figure instead? Use the chain-link fence cost estimator. For post-hole concrete, see the concrete-per-post calculator.
Formula
Each part is a simple count from the run and its terminals:
terminal_posts = ends + corners + gate_postsline_posts = ceil(line_length_ft ÷ line_post_spacing_ft) − 1total_posts = line_posts + terminal_poststop_rail_sticks = ceil(line_length_ft ÷ rail_stick_ft)mesh_ft = line_length_ft, mesh_rolls = ceil(line_length_ft ÷ mesh_roll_ft)tension_bars = terminal_posts
Line-post spacing 10 ft, rail sticks 10.5 ft and mesh rolls 50 ft are labeled industry typicals — adjust them to the product you buy. Ties (roughly one every 24" on posts and 12" on the rail) are counted by the roll at the store.
Worked example
A 100 ft straight run with 2 end posts, no corners or gate posts, at 10 ft spacing, 10.5 ft rail and 50 ft mesh rolls:
terminal = 2 + 0 + 0 = 2line_posts = ceil(100 ÷ 10) − 1 = 10 − 1 = 9total_posts = 9 + 2 = 11top_rail = ceil(100 ÷ 10.5) = ceil(9.52) = 10 sticksmesh = 100 ft = 2 × 50 ft rolls, tension_bars = 2
So the list is 11 posts (9 line + 2 terminal), 10 top-rail sticks, 100 ft of mesh and 2 tension bars — plus caps, tie wires and gate hardware.
Terminal vs line posts, and what else to buy
Terminal posts are thicker than line posts because they carry the fabric tension; you need one at every end, at each corner, and on both sides of every gate. Each terminal post takes a tension bar (a flat bar woven vertically through the end of the mesh) and tension/brace bands. Every post also needs a cap (loop caps on line posts pass the top rail; dome caps top the terminals). Order about 10% extra mesh and ties for corners, stretching and uneven ground, and confirm every dimension against the product you actually buy — sizes and roll lengths vary by manufacturer.
Reference table
Straight run, 2 terminal (end) posts, no corners or gates, at the labeled chain-link conventions: line-post spacing 10 ft, top-rail sticks 10.5 ft, mesh rolls 50 ft. Add a terminal post for every corner and each side of a gate.
| Run | Line posts | Total posts | Top-rail sticks | Mesh rolls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | 4 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| 100 ft | 9 | 11 | 10 | 2 |
| 150 ft | 14 | 16 | 15 | 3 |
| 200 ft | 19 | 21 | 20 | 4 |
| 300 ft | 29 | 31 | 29 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are chain-link line posts?
Line posts sit at a maximum of about 10 ft on center (a labeled typical). Closer spacing stiffens a taller fence. Terminal posts are separate — they land at every end, corner and gate.
How many terminal posts do I need?
One terminal post for each free end, each corner, and each side of a gate. A simple straight run between two ends has 2 terminals; an L-shaped yard adds a corner post.
How much top rail and mesh?
Top rail and mesh both span the full run. Top rail comes in 10.5 ft sticks that swage together, so sticks = ceil(length ÷ 10.5). Mesh equals the run length and is sold in rolls (commonly 50 ft).
Does this include concrete for the posts?
No — size the post-hole concrete with the concrete-per-post calculator. Terminal posts are usually set deeper and in more concrete than line posts.