Chain Link Fence Calculator
Enter your run, height, post spacing and any corners or gates — get a full chain link parts list: posts, top rail, fabric and all the tension hardware.
↺ Loaded your fence length and height from a previous calculation. Edit any field to change it.
Reading a chain link parts list
Chain link looks simple, but it has more distinct parts than a wood fence, and buying the wrong split of posts or too little hardware is the usual reason a weekend project stalls. The calculator breaks the run into the pieces you actually order: terminal posts at every fixed point, line posts in between, top rail across the top, the fabric itself, and the tension and cap hardware that holds it all under tension.
How the counts are worked out
- Line posts fill the run between terminals at your spacing (10 ft on center by default).
- Terminal posts = the two ends, plus one per corner, plus two per gate opening.
- Top rail & fabric cover the run minus the gate openings, since neither crosses a gate. Top rail is totalled and divided into 21-foot sticks.
- Tension bars — one where the fabric ends at each terminal, two at a corner.
- Tension bands — about one per foot of height, less one, at each tension bar.
- Caps — a loop cap on every line post (the rail runs through it) and a dome cap on every terminal post.
- Tie wires — an estimate for tying the fabric to line posts and top rail.
What the estimate does not include
Gates themselves (the frame, hinges and latch) are bought as a kit sized to the opening, so they are not in the parts count — just make sure your gate posts are set for the opening width. Brace bands and rail ends, needed where the top rail meets each terminal, run about the same count as the tension bars. On a fence taller than 5 feet, many installers also add a bottom tension wire to stop the fabric from being pushed out; budget a roll of it for the full run if you want that.
Tips for a tight fence
- Set and concrete the terminal posts first, let them cure, then stretch fabric against them — they take all the tension.
- Use a come-along or fence puller to stretch the fabric before tying; hand-tight fabric sags within a season.
- Space line posts evenly and no more than 10 feet apart, closer on slopes.
- Keep the fabric about 2 inches off the ground so it does not sit in dirt and rust.
Estimates only — confirm post gauge, fabric height and hardware sizing for your local code and product.
Frequently asked questions
What materials do I need for a chain link fence?
The main parts are terminal posts (at every end, corner and gate), line posts in between, top rail along the top, chain link fabric (the mesh), and the hardware that ties it together: tension bars, tension bands, brace bands, rail ends, post caps and tie wires. This calculator estimates every one of those for your run.
How far apart are chain link line posts?
Ten feet on center is the standard maximum for residential chain link, and it is the default here. Closer spacing (8 feet) makes a stiffer fence for taller heights or windy sites. Terminal posts — ends, corners and gate posts — are set at those fixed points regardless of spacing and are a heavier gauge than line posts.
What is the difference between line posts and terminal posts?
Terminal posts are the strong posts the fence pulls against: end posts, corner posts and gate posts. Line posts are the lighter intermediate posts that just hold the fabric up between terminals. Terminal posts take tension bands and bars; line posts take a loop cap the top rail passes through. Getting the split right matters because they are different parts.
How much chain link fabric do I buy?
Fabric is sold by the linear foot at a set height (commonly 4, 5 or 6 feet) in rolls. You need roughly the length of your run minus the gate openings — this tool subtracts gates for you. Buy the height that matches your posts, and add a little for stretching and overlap at terminals.
How many tension bands and bars do I need?
One tension bar slides into the fabric at each terminal (two at a corner, since fabric ends on both sides). Tension bands hold that bar to the post — plan on roughly one band per foot of fence height, minus one, at each terminal. A 4-foot fence uses about 3 bands per terminal; a 6-foot fence about 5.