Free chain link fence calculator

Chain Link Fence Calculator — Fabric, Posts & Tension Hardware

Chain link is a parts problem: fabric in rolls, line posts, terminal posts, top rail, tension bars, bands, ties, and gate hardware — each with its own counting rule. This calculator produces the full list for residential and commercial assemblies.

  • 50 ft fabric rolls with gate openings
  • Line vs. terminal posts counted separately
  • Tension bars & bands per terminal
  • Residential & commercial assemblies
Open the calculatorChain link estimating guide
Post spacing

10 ft (standard)

Chain link takeoff: 50 ft fabric rolls, line posts every 10 ft, terminal posts at ends and corners. Costs are ballpark CAD from the FenceTracer certified starter catalogue.

Estimated material list

121 items · $1,719
≈ $17/ft in materials
MaterialQtyEst. cost
Chain link fabric, 6 ft × 50 ft rollsResidential 2 in × 9 ga galvanized; 96 ft run + 5% waste3$546
Line posts, 8.5 ft2⅜ in galvanized, every 10 ft9$257
Terminal posts (ends + corners)2⅞ in galvanized, 8.5 ft3$105
Top rail, 21 ft sticks1⅜ in galvanized5$120
Tension barsTwo per terminal post, one per gate post, cut to 6 ft height8$34
Tension bands7 per tension bar56$53
Tie wire, 50 packs≈ 15 ties per 10 ft bay (top rail + line post)3$24
50 lb concrete bags2 bags per line/terminal post, 3 per gate post30$165
Gate posts3½ in galvanized, 9.5 ft2$140
1 × 4 ft chain link gateGalvanized frame with fabric1$220
Gate hinge + latch setsOne hinge set and one latch per gate1$55
How this list is calculated
  • Fabric is 96 ft after 1 gate opening of 4 ft each, plus 5% waste.
  • Line posts every 10 ft; ends and corners take terminal posts.
  • Residential 2 in × 9 ga galvanized — heavier assemblies cost more per foot.
  • Prices are the FenceTracer starter pricebook in CAD. Your supplier's prices will differ.
Need a professional estimate? Build it in FenceTracerTurn this material list into a priced, branded quote — free for 30 days.

Chain-link-specific math

Where chain link takeoffs go wrong

Fabric is bought in rolls, gates eat rolls

A 100 ft run with two 4 ft gates is 92 ft of fabric — but you buy two 50 ft rolls either way. The difference shows up in leftovers and waste, which is why the calculator works in rolls with 5% waste, not in exact feet. On 200 ft+ runs, correct roll math is the difference between one trip to the supplier and two.

Terminals carry the stretch

Fabric is pulled tight at ends and corners with tension bars and bands — roughly height-plus-one bands per bar, two bars per terminal. Missing them on the takeoff is invisible until install day, when the fabric can’t be stretched and the crew stands down for parts.

Assembly changes the whole price list

Heavy residential (1½ in mesh, 1.12× cost) and commercial (1.28×) assemblies change post gauges and diameters, not just fabric. A commercial quote built on residential numbers understates materials by a quarter. The calculator’s assembly selector applies the certified multiplier across every line.

Worked example: 200 ft of 6 ft residential chain link, two corners, two gates

  • Fabric: 200 − 8 (gates) = 192 ft × 1.05 → 5 rolls
  • Line posts: 20 bays − 1 = 19 posts (10 ft spacing)
  • Terminal posts: 2 ends + 2 corners = 4
  • Gate posts: 2 per gate × 2 = 4
  • Top rail: 192 ÷ 21 → 10 sticks
  • Tension bars: 4 × 2 + 4 = 12
  • Tension bands: 12 × 7 = 84
  • Concrete: 23 × 2 + 4 × 3 = 58 bags
  • ≈ $2,850 in materials, ≈ $14.25/ft

Chain link runs the cheapest per foot of the four types — which means labour share is high and quoting speed decides the margin. The full recipe, including the chain link estimator guide, is exactly what FenceTracer builds from a drawing.

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FAQ

Questions contractors ask about this calculator

How many feet are in a roll of chain link fabric?

50 ft is standard for residential. A 100 ft run with one 4 ft gate needs two rolls plus waste, which is why the calculator works in rolls, not feet — you buy the roll, not the yard.

What's the difference between line posts and terminal posts?

Line posts (2⅜ in) hold the fabric along the run every 10 ft. Terminal posts (2⅞ in) sit at ends and corners and carry the tension hardware that stretches the fabric. The calculator counts them separately because they're different parts at different prices.

What gauge and mesh should I use?

Residential standard is 11½ gauge (now often 11 or 12 ga) with 2 in mesh; 9 gauge is the heavier commercial grade. The calculator offers three assemblies — residential 2×9, heavy residential 1½ in mesh, and commercial — with the cost multiplier for each.

Why does chain link need tension bars and bands?

The fabric is stretched onto tension bars at every terminal post and held with bands (roughly one band per foot of height plus one). Without tension hardware, the fabric sags between posts. It's the most commonly forgotten line on a chain link takeoff.

How far apart are chain link line posts?

10 ft on center for standard residential; some shops go to 8 ft for 4 ft fabric or slatted fence. Line posts are cheap relative to the fabric, so a missed spacing change matters less than missed terminals.

FenceTracer

Take off chain link from the drawing, not a notepad

FenceTracer's certified chain link recipe counts every post class, tension bar, and tie from the drawn layout — then prices it with your supplier's catalogue.
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