Stringline for Fencing: Choosing Colour, Tension and Setup

For keeping fence posts on a physical straight line, stringline is still one of the simplest tools on the job. The important part is setting it up well, keeping it visible and understanding what it does — and does not — tell you.

What stringline is good at

A taut line gives you a physical alignment reference between fixed points. That makes it useful for post faces, boundary runs and keeping a sequence of posts visually straight.

Choose colour for contrast

Grettz stringline is available in high-visibility colours. There is no universal “best” colour: choose the one you can see most clearly against the ground, vegetation, paving, timber and lighting on the job.

Why the braid matters

The Grettz range uses an 8-strand braided construction designed for strength, consistent handling and everyday site use. Whatever line you use, tension it sensibly and check the reference rather than assuming a long span has remained exactly where you set it.

Laser or stringline?

They answer different questions. Stringline gives you a physical straight run. A laser can transfer a height or level datum. A tape establishes spacing. Fencing often benefits from all three rather than trying to replace one with another.

The bottom line

Choose a visible colour, establish firm end points, tension the line appropriately and use it for alignment. If you also need repeatable height references, add the appropriate laser rather than asking the stringline to do a different job.

Read next

See Laser Levels for Fencing: Laser, Stringline or Both? or our laser selection guide.