Chain-Link Fabric, Post, and Tension-Band Takeoff
The fabric, posts, rails, and fittings a chain-link run takes off to.
Example
You enter
- Fence run / perimeter (ft) 200
- Fence height (ft) 4
- Total gate width (ft) 4
- Corner posts (fabric from two directions) 4
- Line post spacing (ft) 10
You get
- Fabric (LF) 196
- Total posts 20
- Line posts 14
- Tension bands 30
No published worked example is on file for this calculation. It is checked against a hand-worked derivation of its method and an independent reference test.
Details, formula, and sources
ScopeChain-link-specific parts list: fabric = perimeter - gates; total posts = ceil(perimeter / spacing); terminals = corners + gate jambs; line posts = total - terminals; tension bands = (2 x corners + gate jambs) x (height - 1), a corner taking two sets. A 200 ft run of 4 ft fence with one gate is 196 LF of fabric, 20 posts (14 line, 6 terminal), 196 LF each of top rail and tension wire, and 30 tension bands; a taller 6 ft fence raises the bands to 50. Height drives the bands, the run drives the posts. Distinct from the generic fence-estimate.
Formula or tablefabric_lf = rail_wire_lf = perimeter_ft - gate_width_ft; total_posts = ceil(perimeter_ft / line_post_spacing_ft); terminals = corners + (gate jambs); line_posts = total_posts - terminals; tension_bands = (2 x corners + gate jambs) x ceil(height_ft - 1).
Source and editionChain-link takeoff identity by name (fabric net of gates; posts over the run; bands per terminal per foot of height); first-principles count arithmetic.
Free accessThe count arithmetic is public first-principles; the fabric gauge, post schedule, and hardware follow the fence spec.
What governsEstimate. AHJ and licensed professional govern.
API field namesperimeter_ft, height_ft, gate_width_ft, corners, line_post_spacing_ft, fabric_lf, total_posts, line_posts, tension_bands
- Line post spacing ~10 ft on center (default); the fence spec governschain-link fence spec
- Tension bands one per foot of height less one (rounded up) per set; two sets at a corner, one at an end or gate jambMaster Halco chain-link estimating