How to Measure the Linear Footage of Your Fencing Needs

There is nothing more annoying at the end of the fencing installation project than to realize you did not buy enough fencing material. However, this is a level of frustration that can be easily avoided.

Obtaining accurate measurements per linear foot is the only way to be sure that you will have the required fencing materials needed to complete the job. Linear feet is a measurement in the construction world that simply means the length of an object, instead of its length, times its width, times its height. Therefore, it is important to accurately measure the linear feet to determine the materials involved in building a new fence.

Measuring for a New Fence

The simplest solution for accurately measuring for a new fence is to drive wooden stakes into the ground at key locations. Drive one wooden stake into the earth at every corner where the fence will ultimately be located. A two pound or three pound hammer (sledge) is ideal for driving the stake deep enough to ensure that it is sturdy.

Next, tie a piece of mason’s string (heavy duty line) at one corner post, and pull it tightly to every consecutive post to create an outline of where the fence will run. Make any adjustments for offset sections of the fence by using additional stakes. Measure the masonry string in lineal feet only when the line accurately represents exactly where the fence will be located. This means measuring every section end to end, leaving out only the areas where a gate will be positioned.

If the installation of a new fence will involve pre-fabricated fence panels, the measurement will need to include the number of panels that will be ordered, including the ones that will be cut for shorter sections.

After all of the measurements have been taken it is time to calculate the actual linear feet. This is done by adding an extra 10% to the total.  This overage of fencing materials will ensure that there is enough available to complete the project.

When working with dimensional lumber, it is important to remember that the width and depth are not accurate. A 1” x 4” piece of wood is actually พ” x 3 ฝ”, meaning that every board width will be one half inch less than expected.

With an accurate measurement of the linear footage of your fence, you can reduce the chances of overpaying for additional materials that will not be needed to complete the job. The additional 10% overage is an accurate necessity to help ensure that enough materials have been brought to the job. However, any more than 10% is a waste.

Measuring the linear footage to ensure you have all of your fencing material is easy when the above method is used. By following the above recommendations for measuring for a new fence you can minimize the potential of paying too much to have the fence installed or when installing it on your own.