Goat Fence Height
There is no single published number. University of Georgia Extension puts woven wire at 26 to 48 inches and the style number tells you which — 949-12-11 is 49 inches high. For goats, work from the top of that range, then treat stay spacing and electrification as the parts that actually do the containing.
Sources last checked 2026-08-31 · next review due 2027-08-31 · reviewed by HomesteadingGear Editorial
Read the style number instead of guessing the height
Woven wire is sold by a three-part code, and it answers the height question exactly. University of Georgia Extension gives the worked example: 949-12-11 means 9 horizontal wires, 49 inches high, 12-inch stay spacing, 11-gauge stay and intermediate wires.
| Part of the code | In 949-12-11 | What it decides for goats |
|---|---|---|
| First digit(s) | 9 horizontal wires | More wires over the same height means smaller openings |
| Next two digits | 49 inches high | The height figure people come looking for |
| Middle number | 12-inch stay spacing | Wide. Extension gives 6 inches for small animals — this is the number that decides horn entrapment |
| Last number | 11-gauge wire | Resistance to constant leaning and rubbing |
University of Georgia Extension, Fences for the Farm (C774). Line wire spacing itself varies from 1.5 inches at the bottom for small animals to 9 inches at the top for large ones.
Why height is not the variable that fails
Goats go through, under and over — usually in that order. A fence tall enough to stop a jump is still defeated by a gap at ground level or a square a head fits through. Extension guidance on stay spacing exists for exactly this reason: 6 inches for small animals against 12 for large ones.
Horns turn an opening into a trap. Penn State Extension states that net fencing must be electrified to work properly and to keep horned goats from being caught in the net. This is a welfare problem as much as a containment one, and it is the strongest argument for either close stay spacing or a live wire.
They lean, and leaning wrecks fences. Penn State describes running one electrified wire inside woven wire specifically to stop goats rubbing on it, leaning over it to reach grass, and standing with their front feet on it. A fence that is tall but permanently leaned over is shorter than its specification within a season.
Choosing a system
| System | Published configuration | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Woven wire | 26 to 48 in; style number gives exact height and stay spacing | Perimeter. Add an inside electrified wire to stop rubbing and leaning |
| High-tensile electric | 5 to 6 smooth wires, 2 to 3 electrified | Long perimeter runs where woven wire cost is prohibitive |
| Internal / subdivision | 2 to 3 wires; 3 preferred for goats | Paddock division inside a secure perimeter |
| Electrified net | Must be electrified to work and to protect horned goats | Rotational grazing. Never run it unpowered |
| Temporary polywire | May require three strands for goats | Short-term strip grazing only |
Penn State Extension meat goat course, except the woven wire row which is UGA C774. Posts go 20 to 40 feet apart depending on terrain.
Terrain, gates and the gaps people forget
- Terrain sets post spacing, not preference. The published range is 20 to 40 feet depending on terrain. A dip between two posts is a gap under the fence whatever the fence height says.
- A gate is a fence with a weakness. Match the gate to the fence height and close the gap beneath it. A goat that cannot get through 49 inches of woven wire will happily use a 6-inch gap under a gate.
- Corners and braces get climbed. Anything a goat can put a foot on is a step. Diagonal braces inside the fence line become ladders.
- Predators change the question. A fence keeping goats in is not automatically keeping anything out. If that is the goal, it is a different specification and usually a different budget.
A number we are not going to give you
Plenty of pages will tell you goats need a fence of exactly some number of inches. The Extension literature does not publish that figure, because the answer genuinely depends on which system you build, whether it is electrified, how your ground lies and whether your animals are horned. Reading the style number on the roll in front of you is a better answer than a number we invented.
The equipment decision this leads to
- Goat fencing guide — the full build decision: materials, layout and what each system costs to put up
- Electric fence energizers — if your answer includes a live wire, the energizer is the part that decides whether it works
Related reading
Where these numbers come from
- University of Georgia Cooperative Extension — Fences for the Farm (Circular 774)
Primary source · read 2026-08-31
- The height of most woven wire fencing materials ranges from 26 to 48 inches
- Style numbers encode the fence: 949-12-11 means 9 horizontal wires, 49 inches high, 12-inch stay spacing, 11-gauge stay and intermediate wires
- Spacing between horizontal line wires varies from 1.5 inches at the bottom for small animals to 9 inches at the top for large animals
- Stay wires are spaced 6 inches apart for small animals and 12 inches for large animals
- Penn State Extension — Fencing - Meat Goat Home Study Course
Primary source · read 2026-08-31
- Posts are placed 20 to 40 feet apart depending upon terrain
- High-tensile fencing uses five to six smooth wires with two to three electrified
- Internal or subdivision fencing may use two or three wires; three is preferred for goats
- Net fencing must be electrified to work properly and to keep horned goats from being caught in the net
- An electrified wire inside woven wire keeps goats from rubbing, from leaning over to reach grass, and from standing with their front feet on the wire
- Polywire temporary fencing may require three strands to contain goats
Common questions
How tall should a goat fence be?
It depends on the system. University of Georgia Extension states that most woven wire fencing ranges from 26 to 48 inches, and the style number encodes the exact height. For goats the taller end of that range is the practical starting point, but height alone is not what contains them — stay spacing, electrification and whether they can lean on the fence matter as much.
What does a fence style number like 949-12-11 mean?
University of Georgia Extension explains it directly: 949-12-11 means the fence has 9 horizontal wires and is 49 inches high, with 12-inch spacing of vertical stay wires and 11-gauge stay and intermediate wires. Reading the style number is how you find the height rather than guessing from a photograph.
What stay spacing do goats need?
University of Georgia Extension gives 6 inches between stay wires for small animals and 12 inches for large ones. Closer stay spacing matters for goats specifically because a horned goat can push its head through a wide opening and become trapped.
How many electric strands does a goat fence need?
Penn State Extension describes high-tensile goat fencing as five to six smooth wires with two to three electrified, and says internal or subdivision fencing may use two or three wires with three preferred for goats. Temporary polywire may need three strands.
Do horned goats need different fencing?
Yes. Penn State Extension states that net fencing must be electrified to work properly and to keep goats with horns from being caught in the net. A horned goat that puts its head through a square and cannot back out is at real risk, and the electrification is what stops the attempt.