How much stain for 100 feet of 6-foot privacy fence?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

100 ft of 6-ft privacy fence is 600 sq ft per side — 12 gallons to stain both sides with two coats of a typical semi-transparent stain (200 sq ft/gal).

Area: 100 ft × 6 ft = 600 sq ft per side, 1,200 sq ft for both.
Two coats at 200 sq ft/gal: 1,200 × 2 ÷ 200 = 12 gal → buy 12 gal (about $696 at a typical price).
A one-coat stain cuts that sharply: Ready Seal rates weathered wood at 150 sq ft/gal for its full application, so both sides take 8 gal.
Rough-sawn pickets soak up more: Ready Seal rates rough cedar at 125 sq ft/gal vs 150 smooth, and we plan rough boards at that same ratio.
Posts and back rails are not counted separately — the flat face area covers them approximately. On a shadowbox or board-on-board fence the overlaps add an estimated 15–30%.

Adjust it to your exact job

What are you staining?

Project

Fence length

= 100' · 30.48 m

Fence height

= 6' · 1.83 m

Sides

Fence style

Stain

Type

Product

200 sq ft per gallon per coat, a conservative planning figure below most makers' ranges. Check the can — some semi-transparents are one-coat products.

Wood condition

Coats

Buy

12 galof stain

12 gal for 1,200 sq ft · coat 1 at 200 sq ft/gal, later coats at 200 · $696

Fence area: 1,200sq ft100 ft × 6 ft × 2 sides
First coat: 6gal
Later coats: 6gal1 more
Stain + supplies: $763

Other semi-transparent stains on this job

Same area, each product at its own label coats and coverage, cheapest first
Product	Coats	Gallons	Buy	Cost
Thompson's WaterSeal Semi-Transparent Wood Sealer	1	8	8 gal	$232
Benjamin Moore Woodluxe Semi-Transparent (0692)	1	4	4 gal	$240
Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck Semi-Transparent	1	6	1 × 5 gal + 1 gal	$305
Cabot Semi-Transparent Stain & Sealer (oil)	1	6	6 gal	$348
Behr Premium Semi-Transparent (No. 5077)	2	6.4	6 gal + 2 qt	$394
Ready Seal Exterior Wood Stain & Sealer	1	8	8 gal	$464
Valspar One Coat Semi-Transparent	1	8	8 gal	$464
Olympic Elite Semi-Transparent	2	9.6	10 gal	$580
Defy Extreme Semi-Transparent	2	12	2 × 5 gal + 2 gal	$660
Typical semi-transparent stain	2	12	12 gal	$696

Compared with Sherwin-Williams' deck calculator

It assumes 250 sq ft/gal for every stain and wood and says 9.6 gal for 2 coats. We use this product's data-sheet rate for weathered wood.

Test the spread first

Stain soaks into dry, weathered wood far faster than into new boards. Do one board run, see how far a gallon really goes, then buy the rest — unopened cans are easier to return than mixed tints.

Shopping list

12 cans Typical semi-transparent stain — 1-gal can (fence)$696
1 packs 9 in roller covers, 3-pack, 3/8 in napa fresh cover for each product or color$6.43
1 kit Roller frame & tray kit$21.94
1 brush 2½ in angled sash brushfor cutting in$13.94
1 jug Deck & wood cleaner / brightenerclean (and strip old coatings) first; check the label's coverage
1 cloth Canvas drop cloth, 9 × 12 ftprotect siding, plants and pavers from drips$24.97

Estimated total$763

Cost estimate

Tap a price to use your store's

Typical semi-transparent stain, 1-gal can (fence)
12 cans × $typical price — no verified listing
$696
9 in roller covers, 3-pack, 3/8 in nap
1 packs × $
$6.43
Roller frame & tray kit
1 kit × $
$21.94
2½ in angled sash brush
1 brush × $
$13.94
Canvas drop cloth, 9 × 12 ft
1 cloth × $
$24.97

Materials total$763

Prices checked October 23, 2026 (maker and Walmart.com listings). Typical prices are labelled; tap any price to enter your store's.

Did this answer your question?

Compare

Stain for 100 ft of 6-ft fence

Plan	Sq ft	Stain	Buy	Cost
One side, weathered wood	600	6 gal	6 gal	$348
Both sides, weathered wood	1,200	12 gal	12 gal	$696
Both sides, rough-sawn boards	1,200	14.4 gal	14 gal + 2 qt	$858
Both sides, shadowbox style	1,440	14.4 gal	14 gal + 2 qt	$858
Both sides, Ready Seal (one application)	1,200	8 gal	8 gal	$464

How this was worked out

A pump or airless sprayer is the fast way to stain a long fence; add about 25% for overspray and back-brush while it is wet. Stain the side facing the neighbor only with their agreement.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main deck stain calculator page.

Sources

Data behind this answer

Sherwin-Williams Paint Calculator (help text and AjaxPaintCalculator responses) — results are per coat at 400 (interior), 350 (exterior) and 250 (deck) sq ft/gal; 3×7 ft doors and 3×5 ft windows; trim area = LF × height subtracted from the wall; railings × 0.6, or × 2.0 with spindles; gables = width × peak ÷ 2 · checked October 2026
Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck semi-transparent — PDS 114.80 (06/2020) — smooth 350, rough/porous 100–200 sq ft/gal · checked October 2026
Sherwin-Williams WoodScapes Solid Color — PDS 105.11 — 200–400 sq ft/gal, 2 coats · checked October 2026
Benjamin Moore Woodluxe 0691–0694 — TDS — 300–400 sq ft/gal; translucent/semi one coat, solid 1–2 · checked October 2026
Behr Premium Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Stain & Sealer No. 5077 — TDS (rev. 7/2024) — first coat 300 sq ft/gal, thinner second coat 500; two coats required · checked October 2026
Behr Premium Solid Color Waterproofing Stain & Sealer No. 5011 — TDS (rev. 1/2023) and label — 200–400 sq ft/gal (label: 2nd coat 400–800); excludes spray loss; 35–90°F · checked October 2026
Olympic Elite Semi-Transparent — TDS 802102 — 250–350 sq ft/gal; two coats recommended; 35–90°F · checked October 2026
Olympic Elite Solid Color — TDS 80301 — 350–500 sq ft/gal; two thin coats · checked October 2026
Olympic — How much stain for a deck or patio — ≤175 sq ft 1 gal; ≤550 2 gal; ≤700 3–4 gal · checked October 2026
Cabot Semi-Transparent Stain & Sealer — product page — 200–650 sq ft/gal; 1 coat only · checked October 2026
Cabot Solid Color Acrylic — product page — 200–500 sq ft/gal; 2 coats · checked October 2026
Cabot Australian Timber Oil — product page — 250–600 sq ft/gal; one coat · checked October 2026
Cabot DeckCorrect — product page and retailer specs — 75 sq ft/gal for the required two coats; 50–90°F · checked October 2026
Thompson's WaterSeal tinted wood sealers — product pages — 150–400 sq ft/gal; 1 coat; semi-transparent $28.98 at Walmart · checked October 2026
Thompson's WaterSeal Clear Wood Sealer — product page — 200–400 sq ft/gal; one light coat; $19.94 gal / $92.87 5 gal at Walmart · checked October 2026
Ready Seal — TDS (rev. 05/12/2026) and 2026 application instructions — practical 125–175 sq ft/gal; cedar/treated pine deck 150, rough cedar 125; ≤12% wood moisture · checked October 2026
Defy Extreme & Defy Solid — product pages — Extreme 100–150 sq ft/gal (100 for 2 coats); Solid 200–300 per coat; $59.99 / $66.96 gal · checked October 2026
Valspar One Coat Semi-Transparent Stain — product page — 150–400 sq ft/gal; 1 coat; 50–90°F · checked October 2026
International Residential Code — R311.7.5 stair treads & risers (Boise IRC handout) — 7¾ in maximum riser, 10 in minimum tread · checked October 2026
Painting supplies — Walmart.com listings — ScotchBlue 60 yd $7.88; 9×12 canvas drop cloth $24.97; 3-pack roller covers $6.43; tray kit $21.94; 2½ in sash brush $13.94 · checked October 2026

Short answer

100 ft of 6-ft privacy fence is 600 sq ft per side — 12 gallons to stain both sides with two coats of a typical semi-transparent stain (200 sq ft/gal).

Area: 100 ft × 6 ft = 600 sq ft per side, 1,200 sq ft for both.

Two coats at 200 sq ft/gal: 1,200 × 2 ÷ 200 = 12 gal → buy 12 gal (about $696 at a typical price).

A one-coat stain cuts that sharply: Ready Seal rates weathered wood at 150 sq ft/gal for its full application, so both sides take 8 gal.

Rough-sawn pickets soak up more: Ready Seal rates rough cedar at 125 sq ft/gal vs 150 smooth, and we plan rough boards at that same ratio.

Posts and back rails are not counted separately — the flat face area covers them approximately. On a shadowbox or board-on-board fence the overlaps add an estimated 15–30%.

Adjust it to your exact job

What are you staining?

Project

Fence length

= 100' · 30.48 m

Fence height

= 6' · 1.83 m

Sides

Fence style

Stain

Type

Product

200 sq ft per gallon per coat, a conservative planning figure below most makers' ranges. Check the can — some semi-transparents are one-coat products.

Wood condition

Coats

Buy

12 galof stain

12 gal for 1,200 sq ft · coat 1 at 200 sq ft/gal, later coats at 200 · $696

Fence area: 1,200sq ft100 ft × 6 ft × 2 sides
First coat: 6gal
Later coats: 6gal1 more
Stain + supplies: $763

Other semi-transparent stains on this job

Same area, each product at its own label coats and coverage, cheapest first
Product	Coats	Gallons	Buy	Cost
Thompson's WaterSeal Semi-Transparent Wood Sealer	1	8	8 gal	$232
Benjamin Moore Woodluxe Semi-Transparent (0692)	1	4	4 gal	$240
Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck Semi-Transparent	1	6	1 × 5 gal + 1 gal	$305
Cabot Semi-Transparent Stain & Sealer (oil)	1	6	6 gal	$348
Behr Premium Semi-Transparent (No. 5077)	2	6.4	6 gal + 2 qt	$394
Ready Seal Exterior Wood Stain & Sealer	1	8	8 gal	$464
Valspar One Coat Semi-Transparent	1	8	8 gal	$464
Olympic Elite Semi-Transparent	2	9.6	10 gal	$580
Defy Extreme Semi-Transparent	2	12	2 × 5 gal + 2 gal	$660
Typical semi-transparent stain	2	12	12 gal	$696

Compared with Sherwin-Williams' deck calculator

It assumes 250 sq ft/gal for every stain and wood and says 9.6 gal for 2 coats. We use this product's data-sheet rate for weathered wood.

Test the spread first

Stain soaks into dry, weathered wood far faster than into new boards. Do one board run, see how far a gallon really goes, then buy the rest — unopened cans are easier to return than mixed tints.

Shopping list

12 cans Typical semi-transparent stain — 1-gal can (fence)$696
1 packs 9 in roller covers, 3-pack, 3/8 in napa fresh cover for each product or color$6.43
1 kit Roller frame & tray kit$21.94
1 brush 2½ in angled sash brushfor cutting in$13.94
1 jug Deck & wood cleaner / brightenerclean (and strip old coatings) first; check the label's coverage
1 cloth Canvas drop cloth, 9 × 12 ftprotect siding, plants and pavers from drips$24.97

Estimated total$763

Cost estimate

Tap a price to use your store's

Typical semi-transparent stain, 1-gal can (fence)
12 cans × $typical price — no verified listing
$696
9 in roller covers, 3-pack, 3/8 in nap
1 packs × $
$6.43
Roller frame & tray kit
1 kit × $
$21.94
2½ in angled sash brush
1 brush × $
$13.94
Canvas drop cloth, 9 × 12 ft
1 cloth × $
$24.97

Materials total$763

Prices checked October 23, 2026 (maker and Walmart.com listings). Typical prices are labelled; tap any price to enter your store's.

Plan

Sq ft

Stain

Buy

Cost

One side, weathered wood

600

6 gal

$348

Both sides, weathered wood

1,200

12 gal

$696

Both sides, rough-sawn boards

1,200

14.4 gal

14 gal + 2 qt

$858

Both sides, shadowbox style

1,440

14.4 gal

14 gal + 2 qt

$858

Both sides, Ready Seal (one application)

1,200

8 gal

$464