Best Wood Stains of 2026 (and a Few of the Worst)

The top solid wood stains offer the best coverage and typically last the longest; however, they can conceal the desirable grain of some woods and, over time, can accumulate layers that are prone to peeling and cracking.

These semi-transparent wood stains color the wood but allow the grain to show through, making them ideal for woods you want to showcase (such as western red cedar). However, these products tend not to be as durable as the best solid stains, and our data suggest that this type of stain will likely last only two to three years on a deck.

Clear wood stains score significantly lower than other types of stains, so you should compare the clear stains in our ratings to others of the same type. However, you may want to use one if the primary goal is to accentuate the grain on a hardwood such as ipe while adding some protection against water. Because they don’t last as long, though, be prepared to restain your deck more frequently than with other types of stains.

As a category, transparent wood stains, or clear sealers, don’t fare well in our tests. At the bottom of the ratings for this category of stain, you’ll find Olympic WaterGuard for Wood, Thompson’s WaterSeal Clear Wood Sealer, and Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck Clear Sealer. None of them resist cracking, dirt, mildew, or color changes.

Valspar’s One-Coat Clear and Olympic Maximum Sealant aren’t much better, tying for the second-lowest Overall Score in CR’s tests. None can provide even a single year of effective protection in our testing.

In the semi-transparent category, Behr Deckplus Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Wood Stain (Home Depot), Cabot Semi-Transparent Deck & Siding, and Olympic Maximum Semi-Transparent are the bottom dwellers in Overall Score. However, the Cabot does a bit better for first-year appearance. None are resistant to dirt, cracking, color change, or mildew.

Decks take the biggest beating of any outdoor wood surface. They must withstand heavy foot traffic and support the weight of items such as grills and outdoor furniture. Snow, salt, leaves, and rain can easily collect on a deck, breaking down the protective layer of wood stain. While any stain recommended by CR may suffice, it’s best to stick to those with particularly high ratings for their appearance after three years in our tests. Those tend to be solid stains rather than semi-transparent or clear stains.

If your deck is exposed to direct sunlight, look for stains that resist color change over time. If you have a covered deck or if your deck is in a shady spot, look for a stain that resists mildew, which tends to grow in damp, shaded areas. And if you frequently move items like a grill, deck chairs, or a table from one spot to another, select a stain that resists cracking in our tests.

If you’re curious about which brand makes the best deck stain, you should know that the bigger differences are actually between the different types of stains, not the companies that make them. Even big-name brands like Olympic, Behr, and Valspar, which make highly rated solid deck stains, also make some semi-transparent and clear options that don’t hold up in our tests.

To ensure that your deck stain lasts a long time, your best bet is to choose one that performs well in our tests and apply it correctly. And, of course, if you’re tired of staining and restaining your deck, you can look into composite decks. They offer years of maintenance-free, good-looking appearance, without ever needing a coat of stain.

Finishes vary according to how much of the wood’s natural grain they show. The best opaque treatments tend to last the longest. But you may prefer a semi-transparent or clear finish for aesthetic reasons.

Solid wood stains: Just like regular paint, solid wood stains hide the wood’s grain. With the longest lifespan of the three stain types, the best solid stains should last 3 to 5 years on a deck. But the paint-like qualities of solid stains have a drawback: They might build up a film, especially after several coats, which can peel, chip, and crack just like paint. 

Semi-transparent wood stains: These color the wood but allow the grain to peek through, making them a good choice for showcasing wood. But even the best semi-transparent stains in our tests aren’t as tough as the top solid stains, and our data say that this type of stain will probably last only two to three years on a deck. 

Clear sealer: This type of stain contains water repellents but little or no pigment. It’s ideal for accentuating the wood’s natural grain. Because they generally don’t deflect UV rays, the wood will turn gray over time, like a weathered cedar-shingled house—and clear sealers earn the lowest scores in our tests. You’ll probably need to reapply annually. Five of the eight clear sealers in our tests earn the lowest scores—and the other three still aren’t great.

To test wood stains, CR’s engineers apply two coats to pine boards and then place them on the roof of our headquarters in Yonkers, N.Y. They face the boards south and angled down, as on a roof, to intensify the effects of the sun and weather for up to three years.

One year of testing tells you how a stain will do after a year on your deck or about three years of weathering on vertical surfaces (siding or fences). For more information on the best ways to assess and apply wood stains, see our wood stain buying guide.