The Tension Wire Fencing Materials calculator computes the length of wire, number of posts and end components needed for a high tension fence based on the length of the fencing perimeter, number of strands of wire and spacing between posts. 
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:
- (P) Fence Perimeter
- (PS) Post Spacing
- (NW) Number of Strands
Wire Fence Materials: The calculator returns:
- (TL) Total Length of Wire in feet. However, this can be automatically converted to compatible units via the pull-down menu.
- (nP) Number of Posts
- (nWS) Number of Wire Strainers
- (nBS) Number of Barbed Staples
Wire Fence End Posts and Corners
A wire fence is put under tension for the wires to serve as a barrier for the animals, to keep them in or out. That tension will cause a strain on your end posts and corners, and will inevitably bend them over if not supported properly. For this reason, you will see end posts and corners with a cross bar (C in the diagram) and a diagonal cable (d in diagram). This keeps posts A and B from slowly tilting to the right Without support, post A wants to lean toward B, driving B to the right too. But the diagonal cable (d) keeps that from happening by putting the tension back at the base of A, which won't move. It's too close to the ground. Places like Tractor Supply or Southern States sell heavy duty cables with loop ends that are easy and strong when used as diagonal cables. A long fencing wire drawn in two figure 8's with ends properly crimped together can also serve as a diagonal. In either case, install the diagonal and cross post before tension is place on the fencing lines. Make the diagonal reasonably taunt, and then tighten the fencing lines. Corners can have this configuration going in multiple directions.
Fence Calculators
- Number of Posts and Rails: Computes the number of fence posts and rails needed for a length of wood fencing.
- Post and Rail Fence Cost Estimate : Computes material costs for post and rail fence based on the number of posts and rails (above) and unit cost pricing.
- Wire Fence Materials: Computes the materials needed for a high tension fence.
- Wire Fence Cost Estimate Computes the materials and costs of a high tension wire fence.
- Labor Cost for Posts : Computes the approximate cost of labor in digging and setting fence posts based on the length of the fence, uniform distance between posts, method of digging (by hand, power auger) and the hourly labor pay rate (DPH).
- Perimeter of a Rectangular Shaped Area computes the length of a fence perimeter in a rectangular shaped area base on the length (l) and width (w) of the area.
- Diagonal of Rectangle Area computes the diagonal measurement of a rectangular area. This is useful in ensuring that your area has square corners.
- Circular Fence Calc computes the diameter, number of posts, rails, perimeter and area of a circular shaped fenced area (paddock).
- Fencing Needed for Circular Area computes the number of posts, number of sections, sides or panels, number of rail boards, perimeter and area of a circular shaped area (paddock) based on a diameter and length of sides (e.g., .
See Also