WFSA Fence Material Calculator

How many fence materials do I need?

Select a supported fence type, enter measured length excluding gates and use the actual project support and material specification. The calculator estimates quantities for roll-mesh, strand systems or razor topping. It does not design a Wholeview or palisade panel layout.

How are corners, ends, gates and shared supports counted?

Count distinct corners, free ends and gate openings. A gate has two gate-post positions in this model. Do not also count those gate posts as corners or free ends. A shared corner counts once, even though two fence runs meet there.

For an unbranched layout, inferred runs = corners + ends ÷ 2 + gates. Distinct major boundary positions = corners + ends + 2 × gates. Ends must be even. A closed layout has no free ends and needs a meaningful set of corners or gate openings. Branching layouts require separate take-offs.

If measured run lengths are omitted, total length is divided equally among inferred runs. This is an assumption, not the measured layout. Enter each actual run between boundary positions for reliable rounding. Their sum must equal the entered fence length.

How are intermediate standards and straining posts calculated?

For each run, the tool rounds up the number of straining sections from run length ÷ maximum section length. It divides that run evenly into those sections. Internal section boundaries are additional straining posts.

It then rounds up the support bays within each section from section length ÷ maximum intermediate spacing. Only positions inside each section count as intermediate standards; the boundary major posts are counted separately. This prevents counting a standard and a major post at the same position.

The model does not specify an actual installation drawing. Add terrain changes, particular loads and other positions from the approved layout. Gate supports and their bracing require separate design. Stays are estimated from the entered quantity per non-gate major post, not from a universal rule.

Which defaults relate to the typical WFSA roll-mesh practice?

For the specific typical WFSA welded/diamond roll-mesh system, major posts are approximately every 30 m and at corners, ends, gates and direction changes; two stays are typical where applicable. Y/K standards are near 3 m, line wires near 600 mm vertically and binding near 100 mm along the wires. No droppers are required in that configuration.

The calculator’s 1.8 m height, four line wires and default foundation dimensions are estimating examples for that practice. Confirm the actual line positions and support design. The separate 0.3 m consumed per tie is an editable estimating assumption, not a confirmed WFSA fixing prescription.

Default foundations are 400 × 400 × 600 mm for the applicable major posts and stays, equal to 0.096 m³ each before allowance. Soil and loads can change the requirement. Gate-post foundations are excluded because their design can differ. Do not transfer these defaults to field, game, strand, panel or palisade systems without approval.

What formulas and allowances are used?

Physical support counts are not inflated by the percentage allowance. Length and volume allowance is shown explicitly; joints, terminations, overlaps and separate-run cuts still need a layout check. Mesh roll length is a supply length, not automatically the usable installed coverage.

No wire mass is calculated without verified mass data. Binding estimates do not include every post wrapping or accessory. Concrete output is geometric volume, not a cement/sand/stone mix design, reinforcement requirement or engineering foundation approval.

What does the 100 m mesh example produce?

With one straight 100 m run, two ends, 30 m maximum straining sections and 3 m maximum intermediate spacing, the tool divides the run into four 25 m sections. That produces three internal straining posts plus two end posts. Each section has nine bays and eight intermediate positions: 32 intermediate standards in total.

With two stays per non-gate major post, the estimate is ten stays. Four wire lines and 5% length allowance give 420 m of support wire. A 30 m mesh roll gives four rolls for 105 m estimated mesh.

At a 100 mm binding interval, four lines give 4,004 ties for that one run. At the entered illustrative 0.3 m per tie and 5% allowance, binding wire is 1,261.26 m. Actual tie consumption, posts, joins and site details must be confirmed.

What changes for field, strand and razor systems?

Field mode calculates field rolls and support quantities using your project inputs. Droppers may be entered where the selected design calls for them. The welded/diamond binding calculation is not applied to field mode.

Smooth and barbed modes calculate wire metres from your strand count and round to the entered coil length. Support and dropper inputs must come from the selected system. No universal strand count or tension is prescribed.

Razor mode calculates topping coverage only. Parallel rows count full length for each row. Enter usable stretched coverage for the actual coil; the separate Razor Calculator provides the reviewed Rhino product choices. Attachment supports and clips need a separate detail.

What does this estimator deliberately leave out?

It does not certify containment, security, structural capacity or compliance. It does not select post section, embedment, tension, animal-specific height, concrete strength, live-wire layout or a gate design.

It does not account automatically for branching fences, uneven run lengths unless entered, large slopes, terrain-specific additional supports, culvert structures, exact cut schedules, post-wrapping wire or panel-specific modules. Add those from the measured plan.

Material calculators provide estimating quantities. They do not replace site measurement, engineering, project specification, current local requirements or professional installation design.

How should I use the results for a quote?

Send the results with a measured plan and the actual product specification. Plan supports, stays, accessories and gates for the ground conditions. Separate materials by diameter, finish and range.

Select coating from exposure, specification and required service life. Do not substitute economy material for a required project property or certification. Confirm current availability with the relevant WFSA branch.

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