Your backyard deck is the prime spot for outdoor fun, whether you’re on your own relaxing with a good book and a cool drink or hosting a casual get-together with family and friends. You can enjoy your deck for many years to come when you maintain your deck’s wood finish and protect it from the elements with a coat of deck stain.
“Wood stain acts as a sealer for your deck, helping to keep out both moisture and pests, such as termites, which can lead to damage like mold, mildew, and wood rot,” says Michael Clarke, founder of Pulled, a digital platform that helps homeowners find and hire service providers for home projects.
The winter can be an especially brutal time for your deck—snow and rain sinks deep into the wood and freezes, causing the planks to split. Leave a deck untreated and it could crack and even collapse if the damage has progressed, Clarke says.
“Regular staining also enhances the appearance of your wooden deck and ensures it maintains its beauty and character,” Clarke explains.
According to Terry Koubele, owner of Five Star Painting, there are several factors to consider when choosing a deck stain:
- Climate: To keep your deck protected longer against rain, snow, and direct sunlight, Koubele recommends solid or semi-solid stains rather than transparent or semi-transparent ones. “Solid [stain] is going to give you the longest protection,” he says.
- Wood Type: If your deck is made from cedar or another softwood, you should be fine with any of the deck stains available at your local home improvement store, says Koubele. But if it's made from teak or another type of hardwood, you’ll need a stain designed for that wood.
- Desired Level of Transparency: If you want to see more of the natural wood grain in your deck, consider transparent or semi-transparent stains. While solids and semi-solids will still let some of the natural grain through, they have a deeper, more opaque color. It all comes down to personal preference, though it’s important to remember that transparent and semi-transparent stains won’t protect wood as well against the elements—especially UV rays—as solids and semi-solids can.
- Color: “The darker you go [with deck stain], the faster it’s going to fade where the sun hits,” notes Koubele. You should also consider that the stain will look different as it dries and absorbs into the wood. To avoid surprises later, Koubele says you have to “believe” that the color swatch of the stain will be the actual final color of your deck.
Our Top Picks
Best Eco-Friendly:
Vermont Natural Coatings Exterior Penetrating Wood Stain at Buildwithrise.com (See Price)
Best Semi-Transparent:
Valspar One-Coat Semi-Transparent Stain and Sealer at Lowe's ($48)
Best Clear:
Best Oil-Based:
Best Water-Based:
Best for Cold Weather:
Olympic Maximum Solid Color Stain and Sealant in One at Home Depot ($44)
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Why You Should Get It
There's a wide selection of opacities and colors, so you'll be able to find the exact look you want for your deck.
Keep in Mind
The manufacturer recommends 14 days for the stain to fully cure, meaning the stain has seeped into the wood to dry and fully achieve its color.
The best deck stain for most homeowners is Arborcoat by Benjamin Moore, which is easy to apply and provides excellent protection against the elements. The brand is known for its high-quality paint, so it's not too surprising that you'd rely on its products for your wood staining needs, too.
Unlike other stains that have a limited range of colors and finishes, Arborcoat comes in thousands of colors in translucent, semi-transparent, semi-solid, and solid finishes. This water-based stain gives your deck's exterior an outstanding defense against UV rays, so whatever color stain you choose will keep its rich looks season after season.
The stain keeps mildew at bay when moisture starts to seep into the wood and will also help your wood deck stand up to peeling, scuffing, and staining, making it a great choice for high-traffic backyards. It's worth noting that it takes up to 14 days for the stain to fully cure and show its true color.
If you do need a touch-up, it's easy to do with this stain without your deck's finish looking uneven or streaky, so be sure to keep any excess on hand for when you need it.
It's also simple to re-treat your deck when you use Arborcoat as your base because it covers older, previously stained wood to create a smooth finish. You'll likely come back to Arborcoat through the years to keep your deck looking great.
Product Details: Base: Water | Coverage: 300 to 400 square foot per gallon | Dry Time: One hour to touch
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Why You Should Get It
It's made from a natural blend of oils.
Keep in Mind
You'll need to wipe away excess stain with a cloth to create an even finish.
When you're looking for superior protection for your wood deck that won't break the bank, this Preserva Wood stain and sealer is a great choice whether you are building a new deck or updating an existing one.
If your deck is made from porous wood like cedar, fir, or redwood, this organic oil-based stain will settle deep into the grain to protect it. You'll be able to enjoy the look of that natural grain with this clear stain for many years, thanks to its solid shield against damage from moisture and UV rays.
It's not just for decks, either; get an extra gallon or two to finish and protect fences and unpainted wood siding as well. This stain goes a long way—a gallon can cover 400 square feet of smooth boards or 200 square feet of rough fencing slats.
As you apply the stain, you'll want to wipe off an excess with a cloth to create a smooth finish. The blend of natural oils in this product results in a durable exterior that offers rich color and a superior defense against moisture.
Product Details: Base: Organic oil | Coverage: 100–500 square feet, depending on smoothness of wood | Dry Time: 12 hours to touch
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Why You Should Get It
This non-toxic stain cures within 48 hours and has a neutral odor.
Keep in Mind
Avoid using this product on IPE, mahogany, or other exotic decking.
If you're looking to make more sustainable choices for your outdoor area, the Vermont Natural Coatings PolyWhey Exterior Penetrating Wood Stain is the best environmentally-friendly deck stain. We love that this stain is eco-friendly and available in 14 different tints.
If you are sensitive to strong-smelling chemicals or simply want a non-toxic option, this stain is the ideal choice. Made in the USA from renewable resources, this biodegradable product contains low VOC levels and a neutral smell, so it won’t irritate your senses as much as traditional stains. It also provides a waterproof barrier and is mold and mildew resistant.
You also don’t have to wait a long time for the stain to dry—it can be walked on in 2-3 hours after the second coat, and it is fully cured within 48 hours of application. For best results, apply when temperature is between 50°F and 80°F and the air humidity is between 40% and 60%.
One gallon of stain covers up to 300 square feet, but if you need more or less you can purchase a quart or 5-gallon pail. You can use the whey-protein based stain on decks, gardening beds, fences, and more. While you can use this stain for a variety of woods, avoid using it on IPE, mahogany, or other exotic decking.
Product Details: Base: Whey protein | Coverage: 300 square feet | Dry Time: 2-3 hours for foot traffic, 48 hours to fully cure
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Why You Should Get It
If you have an older wood deck, Behr's solid stain can hide imperfections and make it look like new. It's also good for composite decks.
Keep in Mind
Although it's an all-in-one stain and sealer, the manufacturer recommends two coats for optimal weatherproofing capability.
This all-in-one solid stain and sealer from Behr can transform the look of both new and older wood decks while also providing advanced weatherproof protection. UV rays, rain, and snow are no match against the 100%-acrylic formula. In fact, two coats of this solid stain can protect your deck for up to 10 years—and up to 25 years if you use it on fences and siding.
No primer is needed when you choose from one of the hundreds of colors of Behr's solid stain. It covers imperfections beautifully, making it a great choice for reviving the look of older decks. It's even perfect for sprucing up composite decks.
It's simple to apply, and because it's made from an acrylic base rather than oil, all you need is soap and water to clean up. You can even apply it in lower temperatures—the temp just needs to stay about 35°F for 12 hours after application.
The stain dries to the touch in two hours and is ready to resist rain in four hours. Behr recommends applying two coats for the best protection from the elements.
Product Details: Base: Acrylic | Coverage: 400 square feet per gallon (two coats recommended) | Dry Time: Two hours to the touch
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Why You Should Get It
One coat provides a protective shield that still allows you to enjoy the natural wood grain of your deck.
Keep in Mind
Semi-transparent is just that—it will only add subtle color to your deck.
A single coat of Valspar Semi-Transparent Exterior Stain and Sealer is all it takes to build up your wood deck's defense against the elements. This semi-transparent stain lets the beauty of the natural wood stand out while also protecting it from harmful UV rays.
It provides lasting color that won't fade in the sun, and it protects the wood from cracking and peeling in the cold weather. In fact, you can apply this product when the temperature gets as low as 50 degrees.
This two-in-one stain and sealer creates a finish that keeps mold and mildew at bay, making this all-in-one choice perfect for siding, furniture, and fences, too. The manufacturer offers a four-year guarantee on this product for decks and six years for fences and siding.
It's easy to apply and cleanup is even easier—all you need is soap and water. Although it says it's "rain ready" in just four hours, allow it to dry longer for optimal results.
Product Details: Base: Water | Coverage: 400 square feet per gallon | Dry Time: Dry to the touch in four hours; ready for furniture and foot traffic in 24 hours
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Why You Should Get It
This clear stain enhances the beauty of the natural wood while also providing a sturdy defense against the elements.
Keep in Mind
The stain is truly clear, so it's not a good choice if you're trying to cover up any imperfections in the wood planks.
Cabot Clear Wood Protector won't change the look of your wood deck at all, keeping the wood natural. What it will do is penetrate deep into those planks to build a superior waterproof defense.
Mold, mildew, and algae don't stand a chance with Cabot. While other wax-based clear stains simply coat the outside of a wood plank, this clear exterior wood stain is water based, so the wood absorbs it easily for better protection.
This clear stain from Cabot is a good option for DIYers looking to finish a deck for the first time. Cleanup is easy with a little soap and water. This is also a good way to protect other hard porous surfaces in your yard, such as brick, concrete, and stone.
Product Details: Base: Water | Coverage: 250 square feet per gallon | Dry Time: Dry to the touch in one hour, but wait 24 hours to walk across the surface.
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Why You Should Get It
You can apply this stain to your deck no matter what type of wood it's made from.
Keep in Mind
The manufacturer says the wood can't have more than 12% moisture content, so make sure your deck is good and dry before applying.
This two-in-one sealer and stain seeps into the wood fibers of your deck or other exterior wood surfaces to prevent cracking, peeling, and chipping over time. The product is easy to apply because it absorbs quickly into the wood so you don't have to worry about streaky coverage.
Its oil base is free from linseed or vegetable oils, which are known algae and fungus starters in wood. The drying time is quick—it's ready for rain in just minutes—and the result is an attractive flat finish.
Don't be concerned about the temperature rising or falling when you're staining your deck; you can apply the stain from 0 to 100°F. No need to worry about what type of wood you have either—Ready Seal is appropriate to use on all soft and hard woods.
Just make sure the wood has completely dried after washing or a rainstorm since the stain shouldn't be used on wood that has more than a 12% moisture content. When it's time to apply a fresh coat, there's no sanding or stripping needed, making deck maintenance a breeze.
Product Details: Base: Oil | Coverage: 185 square feet per gallon | Dry Time: One hour to the touch
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Why You Should Get It
The water-based formula makes it environmentally friendly.
Keep in Mind
You can't apply this stain over existing stain; you'll have to strip any existing stain first. The wood really soaks this stain up, so coverage is not as extensive as you will get with other stains, particularly oil-based products.
If you're looking for an environmentally friendly product with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the Defy Extreme Semi-Transparent Exterior Wood Stain fits the bill. This water-based stain is 100 VOC compliant, and it settles into the wood to create a protective shield, making it a great option for fences, siding, furniture, and other outdoor surfaces aside from your deck.
Two coats of Defy create a beautiful matte finish that puts the natural wood grain on display—just prep the wood by cleaning it before you apply. If your deck has an existing layer of stain, you'll have to strip it before applying a layer of Defy.
This water-based stain is made with zinc, which protects your deck from sun and UV ray damage. You'll keep the color of your deck longer (no premature fading), and you can go for at least one or two additional seasons without adding another coat of this stain.
When it's time to apply that maintenance coat, the manufacturer recommends using Defy Wood Brightener first to improve the wood's absorption of the stain and restore the deck's surface.
Product Details: Base: Water | Coverage: 200–300 square feet per gallon | Dry Time: Two to four hours to the touch; wait 24 hours before using the deck
Best for Cold Weather
Olympic Maximum Solid Color Stain and Sealant in One
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Why You Should Get It
No more worrying about drying out wood before staining or rain in the forecast; you can apply this stain even if the wood is damp.
Keep in Mind
If you're staining over a previously stained deck, test an area first to see if the stain soaks in and dries. If not, you'll have to strip it first.
Staining a deck isn't the most difficult of home projects, but timing it with the weather forecast can be a real chore. That issue is solved when you choose Olympic Maximum for your next exterior wood finishing project, be it your deck, siding, fence, or furniture.
Its weather-ready formulation can be applied when the temperature drops to 35 degrees and when it goes as high as 120°F. This semi-transparent stain can be used on all types of wood, whether old or new, treated or untreated. Just apply one layer and your deck or other wood surfaces are rain-ready in only eight hours.
This two-in-one stain and sealant has plenty of UV protection and stands up to heavy foot traffic. It also offers waterproofing, forming a seal that resists mold, mildew, and water damage.
Plus, cleanup is easy—simply use soap and water. You'll feel confident with the long-lasting results, especially with Olympic's 10-year warranty for decks and 25-year warranty for fences and siding.
Product Details: Base: Various, depending on opacity | Coverage: 500 square feet | Dry Time: One hour to the touch; rain ready in 8 hours
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The Bottom Line
Overall, we chose the Benjamin Moore ARBORCOAT Exterior Stain as the best deck stain because it’s easy to apply, high quality, and provides protection against the elements.
What to Know About Deck Stains Before Shopping
Opacity
Unlike paint, stain allows you to see the natural grain and texture of the wood. How much or little coverage the stain provides is referred to as its opacity. Clear stain has no color, making it a good choice if you want to reveal the wood in its full, natural beauty while also protecting it.
Clarke says that transparent stains work well for pricier hardwoods like IPE and mahogany, which have a rich grain and texture that you wouldn't want to cover up with a more opaque stain. If you want to add a tint to your deck, you can opt for a semi-transparent stain that offers some color but plenty of grain to be seen, too.
Semi-solid stains offer more color with less wood grain peeking through. This is a good option for older decks or if there are imperfections in the wood that you'd rather cover up. Solid stain is the most opaque of the stains. You'll get a deep, rich color, but none of the natural grain will come through.
Color
Aside from clear, stains come in a variety of colors, depending on the brand. "It's best to consider a deck color that is the same shade as your home's trim," Clarke says.
"This will highlight your deck's structure and character while making it stand out against the color of your house for a unified look and feel."
Type
When shopping for exterior stains, you'll need to know the age and current condition of your deck, along with what type of stain was used previously. "Choosing a more expensive stain is better if your deck is old and you won't have the time to reapply new stain often," Clarke says.
While personal preference plays a role in the opacity and color you want for your wood deck, the type of deck stain you need depends on the type of wood that was used to construct it. Semi-solid and solid stains are better for pine, cedar, and other softer woods that are more budget-friendly.
Temperature Restrictions
When the weather is too hot (above 90°F) or too cold (below 40°F), it can affect the drying time of deck stains. Between 40 and 90°F is a wide range, but even more important than temperature is the humidity level. The lower the humidity, the better your stain coat will dry and cure.
Dry Time vs. Cure Time
Be sure to read the label on whichever deck stain you choose to see what the manufacturer suggests for dry time. Keep in mind that a deck that is dry to the touch is likely not ready to be walked on.
A deck that is fully dry and ready for foot traffic may not have fully cured, which means the stain has fully seeped into the fibers of the wood to display its true color.
Your Questions, Answered
What is the best deck stain?
The best deck stain is the Benjamin Moore ARBORCOAT Exterior Stain because of its high quality and protection against natural elements. For a more eco-friendly choice, we also love the Vermont Natural Coatings PolyWhey Exterior Penetrating Wood Stain, which is non-toxic and made from renewable resources.
What's the best temperature for staining a deck?
It shouldn’t be too hot or too cold when you’re staining a deck, otherwise it will delay the stain’s drying and curing time. An ideal range would be between 50 and 80°F, though some stain manufacturers say you can stain your deck even when the mercury climbs to 90°F.
Plan to stain your deck when there's no rain in the forecast for at least a few days and the humidity is low. Clarke says to allow 72 hours for a deck to fully cure, even if the stain can's label states a quicker timeline (some say it'll be ready in around four hours) for the best results.
Timing is "critical" for staining a deck, Clarke says, especially because some deck stains on the market have a longer drying period. Unlike paint, which might be fine when dry to the touch, deck stain needs to cure before the deck is ready for foot traffic.
Clarke recommends that homeowners in regions where frequent rain and high levels of humidity are in the forecast pick a stain that promises a quick curing time—this info should feature prominently on the label.
Should I use an oil-based or water-based stain?
If your deck is already treated with an oil-based stain, you should use another one for the newest coat. If you use a water-based stain on top of an oil-based stain, it is likely to peel off as water-based stains don't have the same density as their oil-based counterparts.
Should you decide to switch the type of stain, you would have to sand down the entire deck, which adds a good deal of work to the project.
You might not be able to purchase oil-based stains in your area, as oil-based paints and stains are banned in some regions because their ingredients may release high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as they dry.
California is especially strict on these standards, Clarke says, so you won't find oil-based stains there.
How many gallons of deck stain will I need?
A gallon of deck stain can usually cover about 200 square feet of deck space, but Koubele says to check the label of whatever stain you’re using for more specific guidelines. The current condition of the wood will likely determine actual usage. For example, new wood absorbs a lot of stain on the first application as opposed to restaining wood that’s already been treated.
As with all supplies for a home project, it’s better to err on the side of caution and buy a bit more than you need. You’ll always want some extra on hand for touch-ups, plus you can usually return unused supplies to the store without a problem—just keep that receipt and check with the store’s return policy first. Otherwise, if you run out of stain in the middle of the project, you run the risk of that color/transparency being out of stock at your local home improvement store.
Do I need a professional to apply my deck stain?
DIYers can take on the job of deck staining, but patience and care are required to make it a success. First, consider the current condition of the deck and how much prep work is necessary before you can begin staining.
The size of the deck is also important. A small deck might be done in an afternoon, but if you have an expansive, multilevel deck, experienced professionals can do the work much faster and better than first-time DIYers learning as they go. Timing is also everything, as you’ll need a dry spell in the forecast before, during, and after the work.
If all this sounds too overwhelming for your schedule or current DIY skills, hire a pro to stain your deck. Yes, it will cost you in labor, but putting the task off will shorten your deck’s lifespan and ultimately cost more money to replace it.
Who We Are
Barbara Bellesi Zito writes about home and garden topics for various lifestyle publications. Having teamed up with her husband to stain their own wooden deck, she can confirm it's a DIY-friendly project when the weather is right.
To compile this list, she researched a wide range of deck stains from top brands based on their color and opacity selection, ease of application, and ability to withstand the elements. She also consulted Michael Clarke, a landscape architecture and horticulture expert and the founder of Pulled, and Terry Koubele, owner of Five Star Painting, for additional insight.
