So, you want to tackle a chain link fence installation. You know you need the fabric, but what other hardware will you buy to complete the fence? In this blog, we’ll detail everything the average chain link fence project requires for a finished product.
As an example, we will use a black residential chain link fence, which you can purchase all the parts for right here on Fencing Direct. We will assume 200 feet in a 66.6’ square with a gate. That’s a backyard fence with the home on one full side. Our project will assume flat ground. If you have a sloped yard, your fence will need extra terminal posts at the top and bottom of the slope.
Here is a representation of the project using our Fence Builder tool.
We are limited on where we can provide chain link fencing panels and parts. Please call and confirm you location is within the delivery zone of one of our chain link factories.
This guide is not intended to be an authoritative source about exactly what you should order for your specific fence. These are general guidelines, but every property and project is different. You should use our Fence Builder program to generate a more reliable product purchasing plan for your project, and if you have ANY questions, you should call or email our staff at sales@fencingdirect.com.
Planning Your Project
You must measure your project perimeter first, using strings and posts to get an accurate assessment. Make sure to note where the gates will go as well. With chain link, the max distance between posts is 10 feet.
Mark your post holes and call Miss Utility before digging.
What Materials to Order
Now that you have your plan, you need to take stock of what materials you need.
Chain Link Fabric
Our black residential chain link comes in 50’ rolls, and each roll can be easily connected to another roll or disconnected from itself by spiraling or unspiraling links, so we do not need to plan for cutting. Four rolls will cover our 200-foot fence with some fabric to spare.
Terminal Posts
You need a terminal post at each corner, as well the ends of the fence, and on each side of the gate(s) opening. For runs of chain link that are greater than 100ft, a terminal post should be used in the middle to offset some of the tension of the fabric.
- End Points: 2 terminal posts
- Corners: 2 terminal posts
- Gate sides: 2 terminal posts
- Total: 6 terminal posts
Line Posts
For our example, and for most chain link layouts. we will calculate the number of line posts make each side of the fence. Remember, the max distance between line posts is 10ft. On one side, we would start with an end-terminal post going to a corner post, the distance between those two posts is 66.6 feet. 66.6 10 = 6.66 which means we would need 6 line posts in between. Even with the size of our gate in mind, this is true for all 3 sides, meaning we’d need 18 line posts in total.
Tension Bars
Each terminal post requires a tension bar for each side that will be connected to the fabric. For this project, we would need a total of 8. Two for each corner post and 1 for each end and gate post.
Gates
For this project, we are are planning to use a 4-foot gate that will require hardware. A single-leaf gate will require 2 male and 2 female hinges, 1 collar and 1 fork that we sell with the product as a single gate hardware kit. For gate hardware, nuts and bolts are purchased at your local hardware store, you will need 1 set of nut and bolt for each hinge and collar.
Aluminum Ties
You’ll need an aluminum tie every 18 inches to secure the fabric to the top rail. Additionally, you want a tie on each line post every 12-inches starting from the bottom up. These come in bags of 100. For our example that means a total of 2 bags.
Top Rails
Each top rail is 21’ long but has several inches where the rails will overlap when they interlock. They can be cut to size, and the larger end of the top rail can be placed into rail ends, which means we can use cut sections around turns. This makes the math for your rails simple: Take the total length of the fence, subtract the gate, and divide by 21. That gives us 9.33 top rails, which must round up to 10.
- Top rails: 10
Brace Bands and Rail Ends
The brace bands hold the rail ends to the terminal posts, so you need 1 brace band and 1 rail end per terminal post, but corner posts (which are also terminal posts) need 2 brace bands and 2 rail ends, because they need to attach to two top rails. Since we will also be using a tension wire, we will need an extra brace band at the bottom of the posts as well.
- Brace bands for true terminal posts: 2 for each
- Brace bands for gate terminal posts: 2 for each
- Brace bands for corner terminal posts: 4 for each
- Total brace bands: 16
- Rail ends for true terminal posts: 1 each
- Rail ends for gate terminal posts: 1 each
- Rail ends for corner terminal posts: 2 each
- Total rail ends: 8
Tension Bands
Tension bands attach to the terminal posts to hold the tension bars tight against the post. The total number of tension bands needed is the height of the fence, minus 1. For example, a 4-foot-tall fence would have 3 brace bands spaced evenly.
For corner terminal posts, we double the amount needed, just like our brace bands and rail ends.
- Tension bands for true terminal posts: 3 each
- Tension bands for gate terminal posts: 3 each
- Tension bands for corner posts: 6 each
- Total tension bands: 24
Loop Caps
The loop caps go on top of your line posts and allow the top rail to slide through and continue in the same direction. You need 1 loop cap for every line post.
For our example project, we are using 18 line posts, so we need 18 loop caps.
Dome Caps
Each terminal post requires a dome cap. We have 6 terminal posts in our example project, so we need 6 dome caps.
Tension Wire
Tension wire gives additional stability and support to the fence structure. It is installed along the bottom of the fabric, helping to keep the chain link fabric taut and preventing it from being pushed out.
Tension wire comes in 500-foot rolls, so 1 will be enough for our example project.
Hog Rings
You need a hog ring about every foot of fence to secure the fabric mesh to the tension wire at the bottom of the fence. These come in bags of 500, so that will cover our needs for this project.
Totaling Up Your Order
With all our calculations done, your chain link fence plan calls for these purchases:
- Chain Link Fabric: 4 rolls
- Terminal Posts: 6
- Line Posts: 18
- Tension Bars:8
- Top Rails: 10
- Brace Bands:16
- Rail Ends: 8
- Tension Bands: 24
- Loop Caps: 18
- Dome Caps: 6
- Aluminum Ties: 2 bags of 100
- Nuts and Bolts: Each brace band and tension band requires 1 nut and 1 bolt. We sell these in a box of 100.
- Gate(s): 1 4-foot gate.
- Single Gate Hardware:
- Male Hinges: Males go to the terminal post and are sized for it. 2 per gate leaf.
- Female Hinges: Females attach to the gate upright. 2 per gate leaf.
- Collar: 1 per gate section. Attaches to the gate upright
- Fork: 1 per gate section. For single gates, receives to the terminal post, so should be sized to them.
- Hog Rings: 1 bag of 500 for every 500 feet of tension wire needed
- Tension Wire: Sold in 1 - 500 foot rolls
For more information on installation and terms see our Resource Page and Chain Link Fence Dictionary.
Using Fencing Direct's Fence Builder Program
Fencing Direct offers a Fence Builder program to simplify your chain link fence planning. This user-friendly tool allows homeowners to visually plot out their chain link fence and generate a detailed quote that includes everything needed for your project. It ensures that you don’t miss essentials and you get an accurate estimate of the total cost. This tool takes out the guesswork and makes it easier to purchase exactly what you need to build your fence without any surprises.
If you feel uncertain at any point in your purchase, please reach out to us. We are based in the U.S. and have staff ready to assist you with making sure your purchase is correct. All you need to do is call or email us at sales@fencingdirect.com.
