Use the label coverage
Measure the area that will actually receive coating. For a solid flat fence, route length excluding gates × height × painted faces gives a starting area. Rails, post faces, board edges and gate infill add surface. Open picket fences can have less face area but more exposed edges.
Divide coating area × coats by the selected coverage per litre per coat. Then add a chosen allowance for texture and losses. A 10 m × 1.8 m fence coated on both faces has 36 m² before edges and posts. At an illustrative 8 m²/L for one coat, that is 4.5 L before allowance.
The calculator default is an editable example, not a promise of product performance. Follow the exact product label for preparation, spread rate, coats and drying conditions. If first and second coats have different coverage, calculate them separately and add the quantities. Round up to available container sizes.