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An electric fence needs its length × the number of strands in wire (plus about 5%), a line post every 30 ft and a charger rated at least 1 joule per mile: a 1,000 ft, 3-strand fence takes about 3,150 ft of wire and 35 posts, and costs about $655 in materials with a $180 charger. Enter your fence below for wire, posts, charger and total cost. Not an electric fence? For a wood, vinyl or chain link fence use the fence calculator for materials, the fence cost calculator for an installed price, the fence post calculator or the chain link fence calculator.
With these inputs:
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Total project cost | $655 |
| Strands | 3 |
| Posts | 35 |
| Wire | $300.00 |
| Posts cost | $175.00 |
| Charger | $180.00 |
Match charger joule rating to fence length: 1 J per mile minimum.
Multiplies fence length by strands and wire cost per foot, counts posts at the chosen spacing (typically 30 ft for electric), then adds the charger.
Total = (wire $/ft × LF × strands) + (posts × post $) + charger
Materials usually run about $0.45–$1 per linear foot for a 2–3 strand polywire or steel-wire fence, before the charger. A 1,000 ft, 3-strand pasture fence with posts every 30 ft and a $180 charger comes to roughly $650 in materials.
Multiply the fence length by the number of strands, then add about 5% for tie-offs, corners and gate handles. A 1,000 ft perimeter with 3 strands needs about 3,150 ft of wire.
About 30 ft on flat ground for a permanent electric fence — much wider than a barbed or woven fence because the wire carries no load. Close up to 15–20 ft on rolling ground and at every change of direction.
1 joule per mile of fence minimum. Double for vegetation contact or hard-to-train livestock.
Divide the length by the post spacing and add one for each straight run: 1,000 ft at 30 ft spacing is 34 spaces, so 35 posts. Corners, ends and gates are braced posts rather than line posts — count them separately — and close the spacing to 15–20 ft on rolling ground. For a wood, vinyl or chain link fence, use the fence post calculator instead, where spacing is 6–10 ft.
A square acre is about 835 ft around. With 3 strands at $0.10 per foot of wire, posts every 30 ft at $5 and a $180 charger, materials come to about $250 for wire, $145 for 29 posts and $180 for the charger — roughly $575, or $0.70 per foot. Larger pastures cost less per foot because the charger is a fixed cost.
A square acre is about 835 ft around, so multiply by the number of strands and add about 5% for tie-offs and gate handles: about 1,750 ft for 2 strands, 2,630 ft for 3 strands and 3,510 ft for 4 strands. At 30 ft spacing the same acre takes about 29 line posts plus braced corners.
Cattle: 32–42" with 2–3 strands. Horses: 48" with 2 strands. Predator-resistant: add a hot wire at 6" off the ground.
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