How to Choose the Right Mesh for Your Property

Walk into any fencing supplier and you'll see a wall of mesh rolls that all look pretty similar. But the differences between them matter — choose the wrong mesh and you'll either overspend or end up with stock getting through. Here's a plain-English guide to picking the right mesh for your property.

UNDERSTANDING MESH CODES

Every hinged joint mesh has a three-number code — like 7/90/30 or 8/115/15. Here's what each number means:

  • First number (7, 8, 11): Number of horizontal wires
  • Second number (90, 115, 142): Total height in centimetres
  • Third number (15, 30): Vertical stay wire spacing in centimetres

So 7/90/30 means 7 horizontal wires, 90cm tall, with vertical stays every 30cm. Simple once you know the system.

MATCHING MESH TO STOCK TYPE

Sheep and Goats: You need tighter spacing to stop lambs and kids getting through. Look at:

  • 6/70/30 — The classic sheep mesh. 70cm tall with 6 wires. Economical and effective for flatter country.
  • 7/90/30 — Our most popular mesh ($285 for a 200m roll). Taller than 6/70/30, works for sheep and mixed stock. The 30cm stay spacing is fine for adult sheep.
  • 8/80/15 — Great for lambs. The 15cm stay spacing and tighter horizontal wire gaps make it much harder for small lambs to push through.

Cattle: Cattle need height and strength more than tight spacing:

  • 8/90/30 — A heavy-duty option ($310 for 200m) with 8 wires at 90cm. Our go-to recommendation for cattle properties.
  • 8/115/30 — Tall at 115cm with wider horizontal spacing, designed for horses and large cattle. The extra height discourages jumping.

Mixed Stock: If you run sheep and cattle in the same paddocks (or rotate between them):

  • 7/90/30 is the sweet spot — tall enough for cattle, tight enough for adult sheep
  • 8/90/15 for breeding operations — the 15cm stay spacing helps contain lambs when you're running mixed stock through lambing

Exclusion Fencing (Pest Animals): If wild dogs, foxes, or feral pigs are a problem:

  • 8/115/15 — Our popular exclusion mesh ($250 for 100m). Tall, tight 15cm stays, and designed to be combined with an apron mesh on the ground to stop animals digging under.
  • 11/142/15 — The full exclusion setup ($330 for 100m). At 142cm tall with 11 wires, this is serious pest-proof fencing. Common in areas around Dubbo and further west where wild dogs are a constant threat.

Horses: Horses need smooth, visible fencing they won't injure themselves on:

  • 8/115/30 — Tall enough that horses respect it, and the wider stay spacing reduces the chance of hooves getting caught. Some horse owners add a top rail for visibility.

STAY SPACING: 15CM VS 30CM

This is one of the most common questions we get. The vertical stay spacing (15cm or 30cm) affects:

  • How rigid the fence is: 15cm spacing creates a more rigid mesh panel that holds its shape better
  • Small animal containment: 15cm makes it much harder for lambs, kids, and small dogs to squeeze through
  • Pest exclusion: Any serious exclusion fence needs 15cm spacing
  • Cost: 15cm mesh uses more wire and costs more per roll
  • Weight: 15cm rolls are heavier to handle

If you're fencing adult cattle on flat ground, 30cm is fine and saves you money. If you've got lambs, goats, or pest animal concerns, 15cm is worth the extra investment.

ROLL LENGTHS

Mesh comes in 100m and 200m rolls. Longer rolls mean fewer joins and faster installation, but they're heavier to handle. For big paddock runs, 200m rolls make sense. For smaller jobs or hilly country where you're working in shorter sections, 100m rolls are more manageable.

A 200m roll of 7/90/30 at $285 works out to $1.43 per metre for the mesh alone. That's genuinely good value for a fence that'll last 20+ years.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Terrain: On hilly ground, mesh needs to follow the contour. This is easier with more flexible mesh (30cm stays) than rigid mesh (15cm stays). On steep country, you might need to cut and re-start mesh at the top and bottom of hills.

Flood zones: If your fence line crosses a creek or flood-prone area, consider using plain wire in the flood zone instead of mesh. Mesh catches debris in floods and gets destroyed. Plain wire lets water and debris pass through.

Apron mesh: For dog-proof or predator-proof fencing, you'll also need apron mesh laid on the ground extending outward from the base of the fence. We'll cover building a dog-proof fence in a dedicated post.

Still not sure? Give us a call on 0434 093 077 or visit us at 76 Astill Drive, Orange. We'll ask you a few questions about your property, your stock, and your country, and recommend exactly what you need. No guesswork, no overselling.

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