Linear Feet Fence Calculator (Fence Perimeter)
Enter your yard size or the length of each side to get the linear feet of fence, less gates and openings.
The fence linear feet calculator works out how many linear feet of fence a yard needs. Linear feet is the length of the fence line measured along the ground, regardless of height, and it is the figure fence contractors and suppliers price by. You enter the yard shape and side lengths, choose which sides to fence, and subtract any gates or openings. The result updates as you type. The tool is free, needs no sign-up, and runs in your browser, so nothing you type is uploaded.
Use the result as a planning figure for a quote, a material list or a job sheet. Check the local rules before you set the fence line.
How to use the Fence Linear Feet Calculator
- Choose a Yard shape: Rectangle, or Any shape.
- For a rectangle, type the Yard length and Yard width. For any other shape, type the Side lengths instead.
- Under Side lengths, enter one number per side along the fence line, separated by commas or spaces. Then set the Unit of the side lengths.
- Choose Sides to fence: All 4 sides, 3 sides (the house closes one), 2 sides or 1 side.
- If you fence fewer than four sides, set The open side is a to width side or length side.
- Enter the number of Gates and the Gate width.
- Under More options, enter the total width of Other openings (driveway, gaps) (gates are counted separately) and, if you like, the Panel, section or roll length to get a count of pieces to order.
- Read the results: Linear feet of fence (openings taken out), Linear feet of fence line, In yards, In metres, Panels, sections or rolls, Sides fenced and Area of the yard.
The example buttons at the top of the form fill in a realistic case, and Reset restores the starting example. Use Copy result to paste the figures elsewhere, or Copy link to share a page that keeps all your inputs. Print / save as PDF prints the inputs, the result, the calculation steps and the date.
What are linear feet of fence?
Linear feet of fence is the length of the fence line measured along the ground, regardless of how tall the fence is. Fence contractors and suppliers price by this length, so it is the number to get right before you ask for quotes.
How do you calculate linear feet for a rectangular yard?
Add up the sides you plan to fence. With all four sides, the total is 2 × (length + width). When the house closes one side, leave that side out and add the other three. For a 100 × 60 ft yard fenced on three sides, the total is 100 + 60 + 100 = 260 linear feet.
How do you measure linear feet for an irregular yard?
Measure each side along the planned fence line and add the lengths together. Enter each one as a separate number in Side lengths. If your local rules or a survey require it, measure a few inches inside the property line.
How do gates and openings change the fence length?
Gates are part of the fence line, so the length of fence material is the fence line minus the width of each gate, driveway or other opening. Subtract them before you order material. Contractors often price gates separately, so check whether the quote includes them. In the 260 ft example with one 4 ft gate, the fence material is 256 ft.
How do you convert linear feet and count panels?
One yard is 3 feet, and one foot is exactly 0.3048 metre. So 256 ft is 256 ÷ 3 = 85.33 yd, or 256 × 0.3048 = 78.03 m. To count panels, divide the linear feet by the width of one panel, section or roll, then round up. Eight-foot panels need 256 ÷ 8 = 32 panels.
Sources
- NIST SP 811, Appendix B — 1 ft = 0.3048 m and 1 acre = 4,046.856 m² (exact definitions). The rest is addition along your fence line.
Worked examples
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 × 60 ft yard, 3 sides | 260 ft of fence line, 256 ft of fence (78.029 m) |
| 100 × 60 ft yard, 4 sides | 320 ft of fence line, 312 ft of fence (95.098 m) |
| Sides 45, 30, 12.5, 30, 32.5 ft | 150 ft of fence line, 134 ft of fence (40.843 m) |
| 30 × 20 m yard, 3 sides | 262.467 ft of fence line, 258.53 ft of fence (78.8 m) |
Calculated by the tool above with these values.
Frequently asked questions
Is linear feet the same as square feet?
No. Linear feet measures length along the fence line, while square feet measures area. A fence’s linear feet tells you how much fence to buy, and the area of the yard is a separate figure.
Does fence height change the linear feet?
No. Linear feet counts only the length along the ground, so a taller fence has the same linear feet as a shorter one. Height changes which panels or how much material per foot you buy, not the length.
Should I subtract the gate from the linear feet?
Subtract it if you want the length of fence material to order. Keep the full fence line if you need the total length, for example when a quote charges for the whole line. The tool shows both figures.
Does the calculator confirm my fence meets local code?
No. The results are estimates for planning and ordering. Local building codes and the manufacturer’s instructions decide post depth, spacing, railing height and openings.
Can I use the result in a quote or material list?
Yes. The results can be used in commercial work such as quotes, material lists and job sheets, with no attribution needed.
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- Pool fence calculator — fence length around a pool, panels, posts and CPSC barrier checks.