Terminal postAn end, corner or gate post. It takes the pull of the stretched mesh, so it is heavier than a line post.
Top railIt forms the top of the fence. It helps hold up the mesh.
Rail sleeveA short sleeve that joins two lengths of top rail. It slips over their ends.
Mesh (fabric)Woven wire in a diamond pattern. Fence builders also call it the fabric.
Tension wireA wire stretched between the terminal posts along the bottom. It keeps the bottom of the mesh from moving in and out.
Line postThe posts between terminal posts. Some books call it an intermediate post.
Fittings close up 7
Post capA cap on top of each terminal post.
Rail endThe end of the top rail fits inside it. A brace band bolts it to the terminal post.
Brace bandIt wraps the terminal post near the top. It bolts to the rail end. Some books call it an end band.
Tension bandsThey wrap the terminal post and bolt to the tension bar. The bar holds the mesh to the post.
Tension barA flat bar slid through the end row of the mesh. The tension bands bolt to it.
Loop capA cap on top of each line post. Its loop holds the top rail. Some books call it an eye top.
Tie wiresShort wires tying the mesh to the top rail and line posts. Also called fence ties.
How this list was compiled: Every name checked on 2026-09-30 and kept only where two independent sources use it for that part. Read through archive.org's full-text search (passages, not whole pages): (1) James Barrett, Fences & Gates (Creative Homeowner, 1998), https://archive.org/details/fencesgates0000barr ; (2) Fences & Gates: a do-it-yourself guide (Meredith, 2005), https://archive.org/details/fencesgatesdoity0000unse , with Ortho's All About Fences and Gates (Meredith, 2001), https://archive.org/details/orthosallaboutfe0000mill , counted as one source; (3) William McElroy, Fences & Retaining Walls (Craftsman Book Co., 1990), https://archive.org/details/fencesretainingw00mcel ; (4) Fences, Walls & Gates (Creative Publishing International, 2001), https://archive.org/details/fenceswallsgates0000unse , with Complete Outdoor Builder (Cool Springs Press, 2016), https://archive.org/details/completeoutdoorb0000unse_u6l3 , which carries the same chapter, counted as one source. Read in full: (5) Wikipedia, Chain-link fencing (text only). Licence: own work
The drawing: Drawn for this site on 2026-09-30 from plain geometry; nothing traced. Licence: own work
How it works
The parts of a chain link fence in two drawings: one run of fence between two terminal posts, then the caps, bands and wires at the top of a post, drawn large.
Read the full guide
The fence
A terminal post stands at each end, with lighter line posts between. The top rail runs along the top, joined by a rail sleeve. The mesh fills the fence, and a tension wire runs along the bottom.
The fittings
At a terminal post, a tension bar is slid through the end of the mesh and bolted to the post with tension bands. A brace band holds the rail end. At a line post, the rail runs through a loop cap, and tie wires hold the mesh.
Some books call the loop cap an eye top, and the brace band an end band.
The tension wire is also called a coil wire.
Questions and answers
What are the parts of a metal fence called?
On a chain link fence, a metal fence of woven steel wire, they are the terminal posts, line posts, top rail and mesh, plus the fittings that join them: tension bars, tension bands, brace bands, rail ends, loop caps and tie wires.
What is the mesh of a chain link fence called?
The fabric. Each wire is bent into a zigzag and hooks the wire on each side of it, which makes the diamond pattern.
What is the difference between a terminal post and a line post?
Terminal posts are the end, corner and gate posts. They take the pull of the stretched mesh. Line posts are the posts set between them.
What holds chain link mesh to the posts?
At a terminal post, a tension bar slid through the end of the mesh, bolted to the post with tension bands. At line posts and along the top rail, tie wires.