Staining a deck costs $1.50 to $4 per square foot when a professional does it, by national figures published for 2026. Decks and fences have the hardest life of any painted or stained wood. They lie flat in the sun, sit under snow for months and never fully dry on the underside.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Local labor, paint prices and the condition of your own surfaces move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
How much does it cost to stain a deck?
The national cost to stain a deck is $450 to $1,000 on average, with a national average of $730. HomeGuide's table by deck size is below.
| Deck size | National range, professional |
|---|---|
| 10 x 10 | $157 to $404 |
| 12 x 12 | $226 to $582 |
| 12 x 16 | $301 to $775 |
| 12 x 20 | $376 to $969 |
| 16 x 16 | $401 to $1,034 |
| 20 x 20 | $628 to $1,616 |
Prep changes the price. The same source lists stain and seal alone at $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot, power wash, stain and seal at $1.00 to $2.50 and strip, stain and seal at $2.50 to $5.50. Railings are extra at $4 to $12 per linear foot.
Should I paint or stain my deck?
Stain is the better choice for most decks. Stain soaks into the wood and wears away slowly. Paint sits on top as a film, and on a floor that holds snow and standing water that film cracks and peels.
Paint has one advantage. It hides badly weathered wood and gives a solid color. By the national figures deck painting costs $2 to $5 per square foot, and repainting a deck that already has paint costs $3 to $9 because of the scraping. In Michigan we usually suggest a solid stain where you want a paint-like look.
Solid or semi-transparent stain on an old deck?
On an old deck, solid stain is usually the better pick. It covers grey wood, old stain and mismatched replacement boards with one even color.
Semi-transparent stain shows the grain, so it suits newer wood in good condition. It also wears more gracefully and is easier to recoat, because it fades instead of peeling. If your old deck has clean, even boards after washing, semi-transparent is still an option.
How often does a deck need restaining?
A deck needs restaining every 2 to 3 years, by the national figure. The floor wears faster than the railings, and a deck in full sun wears faster than a shaded one.
Use the water test. Sprinkle water on the boards. If it beads, the finish is still working. If it soaks in and darkens the wood, it is time. Snow shoveling and de-icing salt shorten the life of the finish on steps and landings.
Can you paint a deck that was previously stained, or stain one that was painted?
A previously stained deck can be painted or coated with solid stain after cleaning and sanding. A previously painted deck cannot be stained until all the paint is stripped off, because stain has to soak into bare wood.
Stripping paint from a whole deck is slow and costly, so most painted decks are scraped, primed and repainted, or have their boards replaced. Going from one stain to another is simpler if you stay with the same type or go more solid.
Why is my deck stain peeling after a year?
Deck stain is peeling after a year because it could not soak in. The usual causes are damp wood, new wood that was still sealed by the mill, old finish left underneath or too much stain put on.
- The wood was not dry when it was stained.
- The surface was not cleaned or sanded, so the stain sat on grey fibers or old sealer.
- Too thick a coat was applied and it dried as a film.
- A solid stain or paint went on a floor that holds water.
The fix is to strip or sand back to bare wood and start again with thin coats.
How long should I wait before staining a new deck or pressure-treated fence?
Wait until the wood is dry enough to take stain, which for new pressure-treated lumber is often a few weeks to a few months. The treatment leaves the wood wet, and stain cannot soak into wet wood.
Do the water test before you stain. If drops soak in within a few minutes, the wood is ready. If they bead, wait longer. Wood sold as kiln dried after treatment can be stained much sooner. Do not leave new wood bare through a whole Michigan winter if you can avoid it.
Can I stain a deck while the wood is damp?
No. Damp wood will not take stain properly. Oil-based stain cannot push past the water in the wood, and the finish ends up blotchy and peels.
Let the deck dry for at least two full dry days after rain or washing, and longer in cool or humid weather. Morning dew counts as damp, so start once the boards have dried off.
Should I stain or paint my wood fence?
Stain is the better choice for most wood fences. It soaks in, does not peel and is quick to recoat. Paint looks crisp on a picket fence but needs scraping and repainting when it starts to flake.
By the national figures, painting or staining a fence costs $2 to $14 per linear foot, or $300 to $2,800 on average. A 6 foot fence is listed at $4 to $9 per linear foot. No published figure says how long fence stain or paint lasts.
Is an old pine fence worth staining, or should it be replaced?
An old fence is worth staining if the posts are solid and the boards are sound. It should be replaced if the posts rock at the ground or many boards are split or rotted.
Push on each post. Frost heave in Michigan loosens posts over the years, and a post that has rotted at the soil line cannot be saved with stain. If only a few pickets are bad, replace those, wash the fence and use a solid stain to blend old and new wood.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (313) 209-8467.