How the calculator works
A fence is posts, something stretched between them, and the corners that hold the tension. The count is simple once you know the length.
A quarter mile (1,320 feet) of woven wire at 10-foot spacing needs about 132 line posts, four braced corners (8 heavy posts and 4 rails), 1,320 feet of fence and roughly 1,500 staples. In 2026 that is about $2,400 in materials at farm-store prices, or $1.80 a foot. Barbed wire on the same line runs about $1.20 a foot; high-tensile electric about $0.90; four-board about $8 to $12.
Fence length by field size
A square field is the cheapest shape to fence. Long narrow fields can need half again as much.
| Acres | Square, feet of fence | 2:1 rectangle | 4:1 rectangle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 835 | 885 | 1,045 |
| 5 | 1,867 | 1,980 | 2,335 |
| 10 | 2,640 | 2,800 | 3,300 |
| 20 | 3,733 | 3,960 | 4,670 |
| 40 | 5,280 | 5,600 | 6,600 |
Post spacing by fence type
| Fence | Line post spacing | Strands / rails | Materials, $/ft (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven wire, 47-inch | 8–12 ft | 1 roll | $1.60–2.20 |
| Barbed wire, cattle | 10–15 ft | 4–5 | $1.00–1.40 |
| High-tensile electric | 20–30 ft | 3–5 | $0.70–1.10 |
| Board, 3 or 4 rail | 8 ft | 3–4 | $8–14 |
| Polywire, temporary | 25–50 ft step-ins | 1–3 | $0.15–0.35 |
Corners are where fences fail
Every corner, end and gate opening needs a braced assembly: two 6- to 8-inch posts set 3 feet deep, a horizontal rail between them, and a diagonal brace wire. Skip the brace and the corner leans within two winters and the whole run goes slack. The calculator counts two heavy posts and one rail per corner, which is the standard single H-brace; long runs over 600 feet of high-tensile need a double.
Labor
Fence contractors in the Southeast charge roughly $2 to $4 a foot for barbed or woven wire installed, $6 to $10 for high-tensile with the energizer, and $15 to $25 for board. Hire out the corners and gates and drive your own line posts and you'll keep most of the savings with little of the frustration.
Frequently asked
How many T-posts do I need for 1 acre?
A square acre is about 835 feet around. At 10-foot spacing that is 84 line posts, plus 8 wooden corner posts and 4 brace rails. Add a gate and 90 T-posts is a safe buy.
How much does it cost to fence 5 acres?
About 1,870 feet of fence for a square 5 acres. Materials run roughly $2,000 for barbed wire, $3,400 for woven wire, $1,700 for high-tensile electric or $18,000 for board fence. Installed, double those numbers.
How far apart should fence posts be?
8 to 12 feet for woven wire, 10 to 15 for barbed, 20 to 30 for high-tensile electric, and 8 feet for board fence. Closer on curves, hills and where livestock crowd a corner.
How many feet of fence is a quarter mile?
1,320 feet. A roll of barbed wire is 1,320 feet for a reason; a 330-foot roll of woven wire is a quarter of that.
How deep should a corner post be set?
One third of its length, minimum 3 feet, in a hole at least twice the post diameter. Tamp dry, or use concrete only below grade so the post doesn't rot at the collar.