Building a Fence

How many yards of perimeter per acre?

An acre is a measure of area, it is 4840 square yards. We usually think of an acre as a rectangular plot of land but even then the perimeter is not fixed. For example a rectangle which is 44 yards by 110 yards has an area of:

and its perimeter is:

Also a rectangle that is 40 yards by 121 yards has an area of:

and its perimeter is:

In fact if you have a field that is r yards by s yards where r x s = 4840 then this field is an acre in area and its perimeter is:

Unit Conversion

Use our unit conversion tool to determine how much materials you need to build your fence.

Electric Fence

How many strands of wire do I need?

• Less than one acre per horse, and on property that parallels a highway use at least 4 wires, 10 inch spacing, leave 20 inches from ground to bottom wire.
• More than one acre per horse, and on perimeter fencing, use 3 at least wires, 13 inch spacing, leave 24 inches from ground to bottom wire.
• Pasture separations and cell grazing use require only 2 wires, but anywhere there are foals require 4 wires.
• Stallions require 5 or 6 wires.
• Average height for most installations is 54 inches to the top of the post and 50 inches to the top wire.

Tools needed

• Post hole auger (highly recommended)
• Shovel
• Cement
• High-tensile wire
• Twitch sticks
• Tension springs
• Brace pins
• Crimping tools
• Poly spacers and clips
• Pressure-treated wood posts
• Wheelbarrow (for mixing concrete)
• Power saw
• Hammer
• Punch
• Carpenter's square
• Level
• Mason's line