Chicken Wire Calculator: the complete guide
Buying fencing by eye is how people end up one roll short on a Sunday afternoon. Enter your run dimensions and this calculator works out perimeter, wire area, how many rolls that means at your roll size, plus posts, ties and total cost.
How the chicken wire calculator works
- Perimeter is twice the length plus twice the width.
- Wall area is perimeter times fence height. If your roll is shorter than the fence, the calculator adds a second course.
- Covering the top adds the run floor area, which is what stops hawks and climbing predators.
- Posts are spaced every 8 feet, plus one to close the run.
How to use it
- Enter run length, width and the fence height you want.
- Tick cover the top if the run will be roofed in wire.
- Enter the roll length and height you can buy locally, and the roll price.
- Order one extra roll if your run has gates or corners you plan to double up.
Step by step examples
A 10 by 20 run at 6 feet tall
Sixty feet of perimeter and 360 square feet of wall. With 4 foot tall, 50 foot rolls that is two courses, so about 120 linear feet, three rolls.
Adding a wire roof to the same run
Another 200 square feet, roughly 50 linear feet of 4 foot wire, so one more roll.
Recommended values
| Item | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Run fence height | 6 ft | 4 ft only works if the run is covered |
| Post spacing | Every 8 ft | |
| Chicken wire mesh | 1 inch | Keeps chickens in, not predators out |
| Hardware cloth mesh | 0.5 inch | Use this anywhere a predator can reach |
| Common roll sizes | 25, 50 and 100 ft |
Common mistakes
- Trusting chicken wire for security. A raccoon can tear it and a dog can push through it.
- Skipping the top. Hawks and owls take more backyard birds than ground predators in many areas.
- Not burying or aproning the bottom edge, which lets diggers straight in.
- Stapling wire to the inside of posts, so a pushing predator pops it off.
Frequently asked questions
How much chicken wire do I need for a run?
Multiply the perimeter by the fence height for wall area, then add the floor area if you are covering the top, and divide by your roll size.
Is chicken wire strong enough to keep predators out?
No. Chicken wire keeps chickens in. Use half inch hardware cloth for the bottom 3 feet and anywhere a predator can reach.
How tall should a chicken run be?
Six feet if it is open topped, which also lets you walk in. Four feet is fine when the run is fully covered.
Related calculators
What next?
Free tools that pair well with this calculator.