Fencing is sold in linear feet. Simply put, that is the amount of feet (12 inch increments) in a straight line. To figure how much fencing you will need to enclose an area, the linear footage must be determined.Fencing is sold in 6 foot or 8 foot panels. Chain link fencing comes in rolls from 25 feet to 100 feet.Posts for chain link fencing can be spread as far apart as 10 feet. Standard gates measure up to 5 feet wide.ivide the footage of fencing by six or eight (depending on the width of each panel of fencing). This is the total number of fence panels you will need. Any remaining footage smaller than a fence panel determines how many lineal feet of partial panels you will need. Add two to your total of fence panels.