How much paint for a 6 ft fence panel?
Both sides of one rough-sawn 6 × 6 ft fence panel, with its three rails, come to about 79.5 square feet and need 0.53 gallons of fence paint or stain per coat at 150 square feet per gallon (3.7 square metres per litre).
How to work it out
- Boards: 6 ft × 6 ft × 2 sides = 72 sq ft
- Rails: 3 × 6 ft × 5 in (face and top) = 8 sq ft
- 80 sq ft × 1 coat ÷ 150 sq ft/gal = 0.53 gal → 1 gallon
Six-foot panels are the standard unit of a garden fence, and the paint is sold for them in 5 litre tubs. A rough-sawn panel is thirsty wood: plan on the low end of any coverage figure for the first coat, and expect the second coat to go further.
Adjust for your project
More options: Rails · Posts · Coverage …
- Fence paint or stain needed
- 0.53 gal (2.01 L)
- Cans of the size you chose
- 1 can · 1-gallon
- Surface to coat (one coat)
- 79.5 sq ft
- Paint per coat
- 0.53 gal
- Coverage used
- 150 sq ft/gal
- Using a planning coverage for this product. Rough-sawn and weathered boards soak up the most; your label’s figure is better.
- Spraying a fence is fast but wastes a lot on the gaps and the wind: add 20–30% under Extra if you spray.
- Old house? If it was built before 1978, read lead paint safety before you sand or scrape: EPA advises assuming old paint contains lead until it is tested.
Fence coating by product (same fence and coats)
| Product | Fence paint or stain needed | Buy (gallons and quarts) |
|---|---|---|
| solid stain or deck paint | 1.59 qt | 2 quarts |
| semi-transparent stain | 1.27 qt | 2 quarts |
| stain on weathered wood | 0.53 gal | 1 gallon |
What to know about painting fence panels
- One panel, both sides: 36 sq ft per side, 72 for both, plus about 7.5 sq ft for three rails on the back.
- One coat at 150 sq ft per gallon (3.7 m² per litre, the planning figure for semi-transparent stain on rough or weathered wood) needs 0.53 gallons, about 2 litres. A 5 litre tub coats about two and a half panels on both sides, or five panels on one side.
- Twenty panels (120 ft of fence) take about 10.6 gallons (40 litres) per coat for both sides; one side only, about half that.
- Posts. Posts between panels add about 3.5 sq ft per side each; set the post spacing to 6 ft to include them.
UK-style fence paints and treatments are thin and are often applied by brush or sprayer straight onto rough-sawn panels; their tins usually give a coverage range per litre that is much lower on rough-sawn wood than on planed wood. Use the figure on your tub under More options. A second coat on the same panels typically goes further, because the wood is sealed.
For painted picket fences, see how much paint for a picket fence. For a deck alongside, how much paint for a 10x10 deck.
Different size? Use the full Fence Paint & Stain Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Deck stain brushBudget price
A wide stain brush works stain into rough boards, end grain and railings where a pad can’t reach.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Airless paint sprayerPremium price
Speeds up siding, fences and big empty rooms. Expect to use more paint than the label figure, which leaves out spray loss.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Canvas drop clothBudget price
Canvas stays put and soaks up drips; plastic is cheaper but slippery underfoot and spreads wet paint.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Frequently asked questions
How much paint for 20 fence panels?
About 10.6 gallons per coat on both sides of twenty 6 ft panels: 11 gallons.
How much paint for 12 fence panels, one side?
About 2.88 gallons per coat: 3 gallons.
How much paint for 15 fence panels?
About 7.95 gallons per coat, both sides: 8 gallons.
Other common sizes
- How much paint for a picket fence — 1.78 gal: buy 2 gallons
Sources
- Sherwin-Williams, WoodScapes Exterior Acrylic Solid Color Stain (A15-50 series), product data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 200–400 sq ft per gallon at 4–8 mils wet; two coats.
- Sherwin-Williams, WoodScapes Exterior Polyurethane Semi-Transparent Stain (A15T00005), product data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 100–350 sq ft per gallon depending on porosity and texture; weathered wood takes more than new.
- Sherwin-Williams, A-100 Exterior Latex Flat (A06 series), product data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 350–400 sq ft per gallon at 4 mils wet; for aluminum, vinyl and wood siding, shakes, masonry; two coats.