Wire Fence Calculator

Step 1: Choose Imperial or Metric.

Step 2: Enter total fence length. For pasture and field fencing, typical runs are 330 ft (one full roll) up to several thousand feet.

Step 3: Set T-post spacing. Standard for woven wire is 12–16 ft (3.6–5 m) between T-posts. Closer spacing handles livestock pressure better; wider spacing saves posts but increases wire-sag risk.

Step 4: Enter corner count. Every corner needs a H-brace assembly: one corner post plus 2 line-aligned brace posts, all wood, set in concrete. The H-brace prevents the corner from pulling out under wire tension.

Step 5: Enter gate count. Each gate adds 2 wood gate posts (one on each side of the opening). Gate posts are heavier than corner posts because the gate's weight pulls on them.

Step 6: Select wire roll type. Woven (field) fence rolls are typically 330 ft (100 m). Welded wire is 100 ft (30 m). Barbed wire is 100 ft (30 m) per strand. For a 5-strand barbed wire fence, multiply the rolls needed by 5.

Step 7: Optionally enter price per linear foot for total cost. Field fence materials run $5–12 per linear foot; barbed wire is $1–3 per strand per foot.

Step 8: Click Calculate. Results break down T-posts, wood posts (corners + brace + gate), wire rolls, staples, H-brace wire, and concrete for the wood posts.

Wire fencing is the workhorse of agricultural and rural property fencing — cheap, fast, and effective for keeping livestock contained. The materials list is simpler than wood or chain link because the wire itself is the visible barrier, not pickets or fabric.

T-posts are the line posts. Steel posts shaped like the letter T, driven directly into the ground (no concrete required). They have studs along the back that hook wire in place without needing staples. T-posts are typically 5–7 ft tall and spaced 12–16 ft apart.

Wood posts go at corners, ends, and gates. These need to resist the lateral force of tensioned wire and don't accept driving. Wood posts are 4×4 or 6×6 pressure-treated lumber, set in concrete to a depth of 2–3 ft.

The H-brace is the critical structural element. A corner with high-tension wire pulls the post downward at an angle. Without a brace, the post tilts toward the wire run within a year. The H-brace is a horizontal wood beam running between the corner post and a line-aligned brace post about 8 ft away, with a tensioned diagonal wire pulling against the corner. This converts the horizontal pull into vertical compression in the brace post — which doesn't tilt because it pushes down into the ground.

One H-brace per corner. Each corner needs the corner post plus 2 brace assembly posts. So for a 4-corner pasture: 4 corners + 8 brace posts = 12 wood posts before counting gates.

Staples or clips. T-posts use spring clips or wire ties (typically 5 per post for a 5-strand fence). Wood posts use 1.5-inch galvanized staples — about 6 per post.

Concrete only for wood posts. T-posts are driven directly into soil with a manual or hydraulic post driver. No concrete needed. Wood corner posts, brace posts, and gate posts all get concrete footings — typically 1.5 cu ft per post (one 80-lb bag of premix mixed with water).

Given fence length L, post spacing S, corners C, gates G:

Effective fence length = L − G × 4 ft (or 1.2 m per walk gate)

Total post positions on fence line = ⌈Effective fence length / S⌉ + 1

Fence-line wood posts = C corner posts + 2G gate posts (these occupy positions on the fence line)

T-posts = Total positions − Fence-line wood posts = ⌈Fence length / S⌉ + 1 − C − 2G

Off-line wood posts (brace assemblies) = C × 2 (each corner has an H-brace running 8 ft into the property, requiring 2 additional wood posts that are NOT on the main fence line and don't reduce T-post count)

Total wood posts = C corners + 2C brace + 2G gates = 3C + 2G (all set in concrete)

Wire rolls = ⌈L / Roll length⌉ (330 ft for woven, 100 ft for barbed/welded)

Concrete = Total wood posts × 1.5 cu ft (0.04 cu m)

Staples / clips ≈ T-posts × 5 + Total wood posts × 6

Example: 330 ft pasture, 4 corners, 1 gate, 12 ft T-post spacing, woven wire 330 ft roll.
- Effective length = 330 − 4 = 326 ft
- Total positions on fence line = ⌈326/12⌉ + 1 = 29
- Fence-line wood posts = 4 + 2 = 6
- T-posts = 29 − 6 = 23
- Off-line brace posts = 4 × 2 = 8
- Total wood posts = 4 corners + 8 brace + 2 gate = 14
- Wire rolls = ⌈330/330⌉ = 1
- Concrete = 14 × 1.5 = 21 cu ft (≈ 14 bags of 80-lb premix)

Example 1: Small pasture for goats. 200 ft, 4 corners, 1 walk gate, 12 ft T-post spacing. T-posts = ⌈196/12⌉ + 1 − 6 = 12 (subtracting 4 corners and 2 gate posts on the fence line). Total wood = 14 (4 corners + 8 brace + 2 gate). Woven wire = ⌈200/330⌉ = 1 roll.

Example 2: Cattle pasture. 1,320 ft (1/4 mile), 4 corners, 2 gates, 16 ft spacing. T-posts = ⌈1312/16⌉ + 1 − 8 = 75. Total wood = 16 (4 corners + 8 brace + 4 gate). Woven wire = ⌈1320/330⌉ = 4 rolls.

Example 3: Garden enclosure with welded wire. 100 ft, 4 corners, 1 gate, 8 ft T-post spacing (closer for deer/rabbit pressure). T-posts = ⌈96/8⌉ + 1 − 6 = 7. Total wood = 14 (4 corners + 8 brace + 2 gate). Welded wire = ⌈100/100⌉ = 1 roll.

Build the corners first. All wire tension flows from corner to corner. If a corner pulls out, the whole fence sags. Set corner H-braces in concrete, let cure for 48 hours, THEN stretch wire between them.

H-brace direction matters. The diagonal wire in the H-brace must run from the top of the brace post toward the bottom of the corner post (pulling the corner down). Reversed, it tries to lift the corner out of the ground.

Drive T-posts deep. A 6 ft T-post should have 2 ft below grade for stability. Use a manual post driver (cap that fits over the post top) or a hydraulic driver on a tractor.

Set wire height to your animal. Cattle: 4-strand barbed at 12, 24, 36, 48 inches. Horses: smooth wire only (no barbs — they catch and tear), 5 strands at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 inches. Goats: 47-inch woven wire with small openings.

Stretch wire snug but not tight. Over-tensioned wire shrinks in winter cold and snaps. Use a wire stretcher and pull until the wire is straight and quiet — not until it sings under tension.

Use spring-loaded gate fastener for animals. Standard gate latches require human hands. Spring-loaded latches let livestock open them. Magnetic or two-handed latches keep animals contained.