Both sides, every board
A fence has two faces, and the calculator multiplies run by height for both of them at once. Enter the total surface area you will stain — for a 100-foot run with 6-foot boards that is 200 ft of run × 6 ft = 1,200 sq ft. Stain soaks in, so coverage runs about 250 sq ft per gallon per coat on rough-sawn boards, and rough wood is exactly what most fence boards are. That is 4.8 gallons for one coat, and 6 one-gallon cans once you add the usual 10% for end grain, gaps and spills.
Spray, then back-brush
A pump or airless sprayer puts stain on a fence five times faster than a brush; back-brushing each board works it into the grain. Stain both faces the same day — sealing one side and not the other traps moisture inside the board and warps it.
Sources and standards
Where these figures come from
Every formula on this page is implemented from the published reference material below. Where a value depends on a regional code, the calculator lets you override it rather than assuming one jurisdiction.
- American Wood Council — span tables, lumber design values and the Wood Frame Construction Manual.
- APA — The Engineered Wood Association — panel span ratings and sheathing installation guidance.
Figures, formulas and reference tables last verified: 19 September 2026.