How much fence paint do I need per panel?

A standard 6x6 foot (1.83m) fence panel has an area of about 3.35 square metres. With fence paint covering roughly 8 square metres per litre, one panel needs around 0.42 litres per coat. For two coats, budget about 0.84 litres per panel. A 5-litre tin covers approximately 6 panels with two coats.

Should I use fence paint or wood stain?

Fence paint provides a solid, opaque colour that hides the wood grain, offering thicker protection. Wood stain is translucent and allows the natural grain to show through while providing UV and weather protection. For older or rougher fences, paint is usually better. For newer fences with attractive timber, stain preserves the natural look.

How often should I paint my garden fence?

In the UK climate, most fence paint manufacturers like Cuprinol and Ronseal recommend reapplying every 2 to 3 years. Fences exposed to harsh weather, direct sunlight, or heavy rain may need treatment more frequently. Applying two coats initially provides better long-term protection and can extend the interval between treatments.

Fence Paint Calculator

Estimate how much paint or stain you need for garden fence panels

Published by UltraCalculatorsLast reviewed: 28 Mar 2026v1.0Sources:Cuprinol: Fence care guide Ronseal: Fence painting tipsReport an issue

Painting or staining your garden fence is one of the most common outdoor DIY tasks in the UK. A fresh coat of fence paint or wood stain not only improves the look of your garden but also protects the timber against the British weather, extending the life of your panels by several years. The amount of paint you need depends on the number and size of your panels, how many coats you plan to apply, and whether you choose fence paint, wood stain, or preservative. Each product type has a different coverage rate, so getting the quantity right helps avoid costly extra trips to the shop or wasted leftover tins. Our fence paint calculator works out the total area to cover, the litres of your chosen product needed, and how many 5-litre tins to buy. It accounts for different coverage rates and multiple coats to give you an accurate shopping list.

How to Use This Calculator

To calculate paint for your fence: 1. Enter the number of fence panels you want to paint. Count both sides if you are painting front and back. 2. Set the panel height in metres. The UK standard is 1.83 m (6 feet), but check yours as they may differ. 3. Set the panel width in metres. Standard panels are 1.83 m (6 feet) wide. 4. Choose the number of coats. Two coats is recommended for good coverage and durability. Three coats suits bare or very rough timber. 5. Select your paint type. Fence paint covers about 8 m2 per litre, wood stain covers about 10 m2 per litre, and preservative covers about 6 m2 per litre. 6. Review results for total area, litres needed, and the number of 5-litre tins to purchase.

How It Works

The fence paint formula multiplies panel dimensions by count and coats, then divides by coverage: Panel Area = Panel Height (m) x Panel Width (m) Total Area = Panel Area x Number of Panels x Number of Coats Coverage rates (per litre): - Fence paint: 8 m2/L - Wood stain: 10 m2/L - Preservative: 6 m2/L Paint Needed (litres) = Total Area / Coverage Rate Tins Needed = Ceiling of (Paint Needed / 5) For example, 10 panels at 1.83m x 1.83m with 2 coats of fence paint: Panel area = 3.35 m2. Total area = 3.35 x 10 x 2 = 66.98 m2. Paint = 66.98 / 8 = 8.37 litres. Tins = ceiling(8.37 / 5) = 2 tins.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Ten standard panels with fence paint

Inputs: Panels: 10. Height: 1.83 m. Width: 1.83 m. Coats: 2. Type: Fence paint.

Panel area = 1.83 x 1.83 = 3.3489 m2.
Total area = 3.3489 x 10 x 2 = 66.978 m2.
Paint needed = 66.978 / 8 = 8.4 litres.
Tins needed = ceiling(8.4 / 5) = 2 tins of 5L.

Result: 67.0 m2 total coverage area requiring 8.4 litres of fence paint. Buy 2 tins of 5L. At roughly GBP 12 per tin, the total cost is about GBP 24.

Example 2: Six short panels with wood stain

Inputs: Panels: 6. Height: 1.2 m. Width: 1.83 m. Coats: 2. Type: Wood stain.

Panel area = 1.2 x 1.83 = 2.196 m2.
Total area = 2.196 x 6 x 2 = 26.352 m2.
Stain needed = 26.352 / 10 = 2.6 litres.
Tins needed = ceiling(2.6 / 5) = 1 tin of 5L.

Result: 26.4 m2 total area needing 2.6 litres of wood stain. One 5-litre tin is sufficient with some left over for touch-ups later.

Example 3: Twenty panels with preservative, three coats

Inputs: Panels: 20. Height: 1.83 m. Width: 1.83 m. Coats: 3. Type: Preservative.

Panel area = 1.83 x 1.83 = 3.3489 m2.
Total area = 3.3489 x 20 x 3 = 200.934 m2.
Preservative needed = 200.934 / 6 = 33.5 litres.
Tins needed = ceiling(33.5 / 5) = 7 tins of 5L.

Result: 200.9 m2 total area requiring 33.5 litres of preservative. You will need 7 tins of 5L. For this volume, check if a 25-litre trade container offers better value.

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