Metric Unit Calculator
The formula, your substituted values, and the evaluated result are shown below.
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View offerAffiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.Estimate materials for fence.
This is a planning estimate. Confirm dimensions, allowances, material specifications, applicable codes, and supplier requirements before purchasing or construction.
Estimate materials for fence.
The calculator divides the length of your fence line by the width of one panel and rounds up to a whole panel:
Panels = round up( fence length (m) ÷ panel width (m) )
Measure the fence line along the ground in metres, and use the panel's actual installed width, not the size it's advertised as.
The last panel will need cutting down to fit. With steel panels, that is simple with the right tools. With pre-made timber panels, plan the layout so the cut panel lands somewhere unobtrusive.
| Fence type | Typical panel width |
|---|---|
| Steel (Colorbond-style) sheet fencing | about 2.35–2.4 m |
| Timber paling (bays between posts) | 2.4–2.7 m |
| Pool fence glass or aluminium | 1.2–2.4 m |
| Chain wire | sold by the roll; posts about every 3 m |
Check your property boundary. In Australia, fences between neighbours are covered by dividing-fence laws in each state, which usually involve agreeing on the fence and sharing the cost. Pool fences have strict safety standards, so use a certified system and have it inspected.
With 2.4 m panels, 30 ÷ 2.4 = 12.5, so 13 panels and 14 posts for a straight run.
For most panel fences, posts sit at the panel width, typically 2.35–2.7 m apart. Timber paling fences are often 2.4 m apart.
Usually the neighbours share the cost of a standard dividing fence, under the dividing-fence law in each state. Check your state's rules first.