How Much Stain for a Fence? (2026 Guide)
How much stain for a fence? Area = length × height × sides × coats ÷ coverage: a 100×6 ft fence, both sides, two coats, needs about 12 gallons — three 5-gal buckets.
Fence stain math, step by step
We'll use a 100 ft long, 6 ft tall fence (600 sq ft per side) and a coverage rate of 200 sq ft per gallon — the figure the calculator assumes for one coat on wood. The same steps work for any fence.
1. Find the area of one side
Multiply length by height: 100 × 6 = 600 sq ft for one side. Fences with boards on both faces of the rails use the picket height, not the rail height.
2. Count the sides
Most privacy fences are boarded on both faces. Two sides make 600 × 2 = 1,200 sq ft of fence.
3. Decide the coats
New or bare wood takes two coats for even color and real protection. 1,200 × 2 = 2,400 sq ft of coverage.
4. Divide by the coverage rate
One gallon covers about 200 sq ft per coat, so 2,400 ÷ 200 = 12 gallons. That is 2.4 five-gallon buckets, so round up and buy three 5-gal buckets. The fence stain calculator runs this division — including your side and coat choices — for you.
How much stain for common fence sizes
Amounts assume 200 sq ft/gal, boards on both sides and two coats. The coverage column already counts both sides and both coats:
| Fence (length × height) | One side (sq ft) | Coverage needed (sq ft) | Gallons | 5-gal buckets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 × 4 ft | 400 | 1600 | 8 | 2 |
| 100 × 6 ft | 600 | 2400 | 12 | 3 |
| 150 × 6 ft | 900 | 3600 | 18 | 4 |
| 50 × 6 ft | 300 | 1200 | 6 | 2 |
Read across the 100 × 6 ft row: 600 sq ft per side, 2,400 sq ft of coverage for both sides and two coats, and 2,400 ÷ 200 = 12 gallons. A 150 × 6 ft fence is 50% more fence and lands at 18 gallons — four buckets.
Tips for a longer-lasting stain job
- Choose your stain type first — semi-transparent stains soak into the wood and fade naturally over a few seasons, while solid stains form a film that hides grain and peels over time. Recoating is easier with semi-transparent, and coverage on rough wood is closer to 200 sq ft/gal than the 250–300 printed on some labels.
- Wash the fence, then let it dry — pressure-wash or scrub off mildew and old chalky finish, then wait a couple of dry days (48 hours) before staining. Damp boards won't absorb stain and the coat goes patchy.
- Stain both sides — the back of the fence takes the weather too: sun, rain and ground splash age unstained wood fast, and boards cup toward the wet side. Doubling the sides is already built into the numbers above.
Planning more of the yard? The same length × height logic counts how many fence pickets you need, and for the neighbors' view of this project, how to stain a deck walks through the same prep and coat decisions on a horizontal surface.
FAQ
Should I stain both sides of a fence?
Yes — plan for both sides. The side facing away from you still gets sun, rain and ground splash, so skipping it shortens the fence's life and the two sides age differently. Counting both sides doubles the area in the formula: a 100×6 ft fence has 1,200 sq ft of boards to treat.
How much stain do I need for a 100 ft, 6 ft high fence?
About 12 gallons — roughly three 5-gal buckets. Each side is 100 × 6 = 600 sq ft, both sides come to 1,200 sq ft, and two coats make 2,400 sq ft of coverage. At 200 sq ft per gallon that is 2,400 ÷ 200 = 12 gallons.
How much fence will a 5-gallon bucket of stain cover?
About 830 sq ft with a single coat in typical conditions — roughly half that with two coats. A 5-gal bucket rates near 1,000 sq ft at 200 sq ft per gallon, but rough-sawn boards, knots and overspray soak up 15–20% more, so plan on the lower number.
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