A square 5-acre field is 467 ft on each side.
How wire is counted
Wire = fence length × strands. Rolls = wire ÷ roll length, rounded up. Posts = length ÷ spacing + 1 on each run, with bracing at every end, corner and gate.
Example: 5 acres (1,867 ft round a square field) with 4 strands needs 7,467 ft of wire, or 6 rolls of 1,320 ft, and 156 posts at 12 ft spacing.
Wire and posts at a glance
Worked out with the same settings as the calculator above, changing only the acres.
| Acres | Fence line | Wire | Rolls | Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 835 ft | 3,339 ft | 3 | 72 |
| 5 | 1,867 ft | 7,467 ft | 6 | 156 |
| 10 | 2,640 ft | 10,560 ft | 8 | 220 |
| 40 | 5,280 ft | 21,120 ft | 16 | 440 |
| 80 | 7,467 ft | 29,868 ft | 23 | 624 |
| 160 | 10,560 ft | 42,240 ft | 32 | 880 |
Roll lengths
| Product | Roll |
|---|---|
| Barbed wire | 1,320 ft (¼ mile) |
| Field fence (woven wire) | 330 ft (1/16 mile) |
| Welded wire and some specialty fence | 50 or 100 ft |
Barbed wire and field fence lengths from the Red Brand fence pocket guide.
Common questions
How long is a roll of barbed wire?
1,320 ft, a quarter of a mile. Field fence comes in 330 ft rolls.
How many strands of barbed wire?
Four or five strands is common for cattle. Do not use barbed wire for horses.
Do I need braces?
Yes. Every end, corner and gate needs a brace assembly, usually an H-brace, to hold the wire tight.
Sources
- Red Brand, Fence pocket guide (roll lengths): https://redbrand.com/old/wp-content/uploads/rb-fence-pocket-guide.pdf
- Tractor Supply, T-post spacing guidance: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/barbless-cable-3615278
- Angi, Wire fence installation cost: https://www.angi.com/articles/wire-fence-installation-cost.htm