Chain link installs in a different order than a wood fence, because the fabric itself is stretched into place as one of the last steps rather than built up piece by piece like pickets. Here is the sequence.
1. Plan posts and get your material list
Chain link commonly runs on wider post spacing than wood, often 10 feet, since the fabric carries little of its own weight between posts. Use the chain link fence calculator to get post, corner, end and gate post counts for your actual run, and the fence post concrete calculator for bag counts once you know hole size.
2. Set terminal posts first
Terminal posts (corners, ends and gate posts) carry the tension of the stretched fabric and need to go in first, set plumb and given time to cure in concrete before line posts and fabric go up. Skimping on terminal post depth or concrete is one of the more common chain link installation mistakes, since these posts do more structural work than the line posts between them.
3. Set line posts
Line posts run between terminal posts at your chosen spacing, supporting the fabric and top rail but not carrying the same tension load as terminal posts. Set them to the same depth logic as terminal posts; see the fence post depth and setting guide for the one-third rule versus frost line.
4. Install top rail
Top rail runs along the top of the line posts between terminal posts, giving the fabric a straight edge to attach to and adding rigidity along the run. It is typically installed after line posts are set and before fabric goes up.
5. Hang and stretch the fabric
Chain link fabric is unrolled along the fence line, attached to one terminal post, then stretched toward the next terminal post with a come-along or fence stretcher before being tied off. Proper tension keeps the fabric looking straight and taut rather than sagging, and is one of the harder parts of chain link installation to get right without the right tool.
6. Add tension wire and ties
A tension wire along the bottom of the fabric, and tie wires attaching the fabric to posts and top rail at regular intervals, keep the fabric from working loose over time and from being lifted or pulled away from the fence line.
7. Hang gates
Gate posts, set with the rest of the terminal posts, get gate hardware once the fabric on either side is tensioned and tied off. See the gate hardware and framing guide for hinge and latch selection appropriate to gate weight.
Common mistakes worth avoiding
- Using wood-fence post spacing (8 feet) instead of the wider spacing chain link fabric is designed for.
- Skipping concrete on terminal posts specifically, assuming chain link is too light to need it; terminal posts carry real tension regardless of how light the fabric feels.
- Under-tensioning the fabric, leaving a fence that sags visibly within a season.
Plan your build
Start with the chain link fence calculator, and see wood vs chain link fence cost if you are still deciding between materials, or the fence materials guide for the fuller comparison.