How much paint for a picket fence?
A 50 ft run of 4 ft picket fence, painted on both sides with its rails and posts, is about 312 square feet and needs 1.78 gallons of exterior paint for two coats at 350 square feet per gallon: 2 gallons.
How to work it out
- Boards: 50 ft × 4 ft × 2 sides × 58% pickets = 233 sq ft
- Rails: 2 × 50 ft × 5 in (face and top) = 42 sq ft
- Posts: 8 × 4 ft × 7 in per side = 37 sq ft
- 312 sq ft × 2 coats ÷ 350 sq ft/gal = 1.78 gal → 2 gallons
A painted picket fence is the most paint-hungry fence per foot to do well, not because of the area but because of the edges: every picket has two of them. The flat surface, though, is modest, since the gaps take up about 40% of the run.
Adjust for your project
More options: Rails · Posts · Coverage …
- Fence paint or stain needed
- 1.78 gal (6.76 L)
- Cans of the size you chose
- 2 cans · 1-gallon
- Surface to coat (one coat)
- 312 sq ft
- Paint per coat
- 0.89 gal
- Coverage used
- 350 sq ft/gal
- Using the coverage from your label.
- Picket edges add surface the flat count leaves out; on a picket fence add 10% under Extra if you brush every edge.
- 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 | 1.78 gal | 2 gallons |
| semi-transparent stain | 1.78 gal | 2 gallons |
| stain on weathered wood | 1.78 gal | 2 gallons |
What to know about painting a picket fence
- Pickets: 233 sq ft. 3½ in pickets with 2½ in gaps cover 58% of the run; 50 × 4 ft × 2 sides × 0.58.
- Rails: 42 sq ft. Two 2×4 rails, face and top, along the back.
- Posts: about 37 sq ft. Eight 4×4 posts (one every 8 ft plus the end post), 4 ft high, two 3½ in faces on each side.
- Two coats at 350 sq ft per gallon (smooth, primed pickets painted with an exterior latex such as A-100) need about 1.78 gallons; on bare, rough pickets planned at 200 it is closer to 3.1.
Add 10% for picket edges if you brush them all, and prime bare wood first. Points and dog-ears are where paint fails first; give the end grain at the top of each picket an extra coat.
Solid privacy panels work differently: see how much paint for a 6 ft fence panel. For the gate and hardware, the spray paint calculator is easier. A full gallon’s coverage is on how much does a gallon of paint cover.
Different size? Use the full Fence Paint & Stain Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Angled sash brush (2–2½ in)Budget price
For cutting in along ceilings, corners and trim. A nylon-polyester brush is what the latex data sheets recommend.
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) - Sanding sponges (fine/medium)Budget price
Knocks down patches and scuffs glossy trim so the next coat grips. Damp sponges keep dust down.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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Frequently asked questions
How much paint for 100 feet of picket fence?
About 3.52 gallons for two coats on both sides: 4 gallons.
How much paint for a picket fence, one side?
About 1.01 gallons for two coats: 1 gallon + 1 quart.
Other common sizes
- How much paint for a 6 ft fence panel — 0.53 gal (about 2 L) per coat, both sides
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.