Guide
How to measure a fence line
The length decides the posts, the materials and the price. Here are three ways to measure it, and what to mark on the way.
Before you measure
- Know where the boundary is. If in doubt, a licensed surveyor settles it; a fence on the wrong side is costly.
- Mark the corners and the gates: each corner gets a corner post, each gate two gate posts.
- Note the slopes: on a steep field, the length along the ground is longer than on the map.
Three ways to measure
| Tool | Good for | Precision |
|---|---|---|
| Tape or measuring wheel | Short runs, final setting out | The best, a few centimeters |
| Phone GPS, walking the line | Long runs, fields, rough ground | A few meters; the ± tells you |
| Satellite map, from the office | Quoting before the site visit | A few meters, depends on the image |
With Fence Calc
- Tap New fence, then Walk the line or Draw on the map.
- Walking: tap Start at the first post and walk; tap Gate here at each opening; tap Finish at the last post.
- Drawing: search the address and tap each corner on the satellite map.
- The app shows the length, places the posts and opens the material list.
On site, a tape from the previous post gives the final position: GPS places each post only approximately. See Measure the line.
