How this calculator works
Staining is the rare outdoor project where the materials barely matter to the bill — it’s almost all coverage math and labor. This tool handles both.
How the gallons are figured
We take your deck area, multiply by the number of coats, and divide by the product’s coverage rate to get gallons (rounded up). Semi-transparent stain covers about 200 sq ft per gallon per coat; clear sealer and solid paint go a little further. Older, sun-dried boards soak up the first coat, so the real first-coat coverage is often lower than the label promises — buy a spare quart.
DIY vs. hiring out
Because the product is cheap, the DIY estimate is essentially gallons plus a small supplies budget for brushes, a pad applicator, and tape. The pro estimate adds application labor priced per square foot and adjusted for your state, since that’s where nearly all the cost lives. The result block shows the materials-vs-labor split so you can see exactly what you’d be paying someone else to do.
Whatever you choose, finish on a stretch of dry, mild days — stain applied over damp wood or in beating sun won’t bond, and you’ll be redoing it next season.
2026 deck finish price per gallon
Coverage varies by product and how thirsty your boards are. A gallon of stain covers roughly 200 sq ft per coat; sealer and solid paint stretch a little further.
| Option | Low (per gallon) | High (per gallon) | Typical (per gallon) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-transparent stain | $30 | $60 | $42 |
| Clear sealer | $22 | $50 | $32 |
| Solid stain / deck paint | $35 | $70 | $50 |
Estimated cost by state
Typical installed range for staining a 320 sq ft deck (2 coats, semi-transparent), professionally applied, adjusted by each state's construction cost index. Your actual project scales with the size and options you enter above.
| State | Estimated low | Estimated high |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $415 | $909 |
| Alaska | $556 | $1,215 |
| Arizona | $464 | $1,015 |
| Arkansas | $425 | $930 |
| California | $541 | $1,184 |
| Colorado | $473 | $1,036 |
| Connecticut | $517 | $1,131 |
| Delaware | $464 | $1,015 |
| District of Columbia | $483 | $1,057 |
| Florida | $449 | $983 |
| Georgia | $435 | $951 |
| Hawaii | $618 | $1,353 |
| Idaho | $469 | $1,025 |
| Illinois | $556 | $1,215 |
| Indiana | $493 | $1,078 |
| Iowa | $483 | $1,057 |
| Kansas | $454 | $994 |
| Kentucky | $454 | $994 |
| Louisiana | $440 | $962 |
| Maine | $464 | $1,015 |
| Maryland | $464 | $1,015 |
| Massachusetts | $570 | $1,247 |
| Michigan | $488 | $1,068 |
| Minnesota | $541 | $1,184 |
| Mississippi | $430 | $941 |
| Missouri | $522 | $1,142 |
| Montana | $483 | $1,057 |
| Nebraska | $464 | $1,015 |
| Nevada | $493 | $1,078 |
| New Hampshire | $483 | $1,057 |
| New Jersey | $570 | $1,247 |
| New Mexico | $435 | $951 |
| New York | $531 | $1,163 |
| North Carolina | $449 | $983 |
| North Dakota | $488 | $1,068 |
| Ohio | $512 | $1,120 |
| Oklahoma | $444 | $972 |
| Oregon | $502 | $1,099 |
| Pennsylvania | $493 | $1,078 |
| Rhode Island | $527 | $1,152 |
| South Carolina | $454 | $994 |
| South Dakota | $449 | $983 |
| Tennessee | $454 | $994 |
| Texas | $440 | $962 |
| Utah | $469 | $1,025 |
| Vermont | $478 | $1,046 |
| Virginia | $444 | $972 |
| Washington | $527 | $1,152 |
| West Virginia | $454 | $994 |
| Wisconsin | $512 | $1,120 |
| Wyoming | $454 | $994 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to stain a deck?
For a typical 320 sq ft deck with two coats, materials run about $120–$240 in stain plus supplies — call it $150–$310 to DIY. Hiring a pro adds labor and usually lands between $450 and $1,000 depending on prep, railings, and your area, since staining is mostly a labor job.
How many gallons of stain do I need?
Divide your deck area by the product's coverage (about 200 sq ft per gallon per coat for semi-transparent stain), then multiply by the number of coats and round up. A 320 sq ft deck at two coats needs roughly 4 gallons. Bare or weathered wood drinks up the first coat, so buy a little extra.
Is it cheaper to stain a deck yourself?
Much cheaper — the product is inexpensive and almost all of a pro's price is labor. The trade-off is a weekend of cleaning, sanding, taping, and waiting for dry weather. If your deck is one level and in decent shape, it's one of the friendlier DIY jobs.
How often should a deck be re-stained?
Plan on every 2–3 years for semi-transparent stain, a bit longer for solid stain or paint, and sooner if water stops beading on the surface. Sun exposure and foot traffic decide the interval more than the calendar does.
Stain, sealer, or paint — what's the difference?
Clear sealer is the cheapest and lets the grain show but offers the least UV protection. Semi-transparent stain adds color and lasts longer. Solid stain and deck paint hide the grain and last longest, but once you go solid it's hard to go back to a natural look.
Disclaimer: Estimates are for planning only and reflect typical ranges, not quotes. Actual costs vary with site conditions, design complexity, local permits, and contractor availability. Pricing approach: national averages cross-referenced from public cost guides, adjusted by a state construction cost index — see our methodology.
Price data sources: HomeGuide — Cost to Stain a Deck (2026): professional power-wash, stain and seal $448–$1,010; sanding prep $30–$50/hour — https://homeguide.com/costs/cost-to-stain-a-deck; Angi — Cost to Stain a Deck (2026): professional application labor $1–$2.50 per sq ft — https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-it-cost-stain-deck.htm; Fixr — Cost to Stain a Deck: semi-transparent ≈$20–$52/gal, semi-solid ≈$40–$45/gal, solid ≈$30–$45/gal; premium deck stains reach $80/gal — https://www.fixr.com/costs/stain-deck; Angi — Deck Sealing Cost: oil- or water-based sealer $20–$40/gal, stain-and-seal hybrids $30–$60/gal — https://www.angi.com/articles/deck-sealing-cost.htm; Home Depot / Lowe's retail pricing — Behr Premium (~$43/gal semi-transparent, ~$50/gal solid), Thompson's WaterSeal (~$25–$30/gal), pro-grade TWP/Defy ($60–$75/gal); Manufacturer coverage rates: a gallon covers roughly 150–300 sq ft per coat (a 5-gallon pail ≈875 sq ft per coat); sealer and solid stain go further than semi-transparent. Last updated: September 2026.