Wood stains

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Wood stains

What's behind our wood stain Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 29 models in wood stains to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Overall score is a weighted average of each year's appearance for up to three years of testing.
Appearance after 3 years
Appearance after three years summarizes performance after one year of our accelerated weathering (i.e. equivalent to one year on a deck or three years on a vertical surface). Testing stops when appearance falls to fair or poor at which time, the product must be reapplied.
Appearance after 6 years
Appearance after six years summarizes performance after two years of our accelerated weathering (i.e. equivalent to two years on a deck or six years on a vertical surface). Testing stops when appearance falls to fair or poor at which time, the product must be reapplied.
Appearance after 9 years
Appearance after nine years summarizes performance after three years of our accelerated weathering (i.e. equivalent to three years on a deck or nine years on a vertical surface). Testing stops after three years, whether or not the product appearance falls to fair or poor. Products that at this point still rate at least good for appearance are considered superior products.

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Recommended wood stains

Recommended wood stains are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended wood stains

Wood stain buying guide

To find the wood stain that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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Wood stains Ratings

Find out which Wood stains scored the best on our tests. Our tests are based not only on government and industry standards but also on standards our specialists think should apply, which re-create the experience you will have with the product.

Latest wood stain ratings

Wood decking has a warmth that synthetic decks lack. But you pay a price in maintenance. To see how well each wood stain we tested protects, we coated sections of a deck with various wood stains. If you're looking for information about wood stains, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ wood stain reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our wood stain buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and wood stain reviews to help you choose the best wood stain for your needs.

Ratings & recommended wood stains

Wood stains (29)

Our three-year tests in sun, snow, and rain yielded several top picks that can protect both your deck and your house. The Ratings rank stains by overall score; the best stains are listed below by specific attributes. Match stain to your local conditions. Pick a mildew-resistant stain if your home is in the shade and a dirt-resistant one if it's in an urban area.

CR Best Buy

These products offer the best combination of performance and price. All are recommended.

Recommended

These are high-performing products that stand out for the reasons below.

Wood stain buying guide

Wood decking has a warmth that synthetic decks lack. But you pay a price in maintenance: Wind, rain, summer sun, and winter snow can take a noticeable toll on its finish in only a few months. Some deck treatments can lighten your workload by lasting longer before they have to be reapplied.

To see how well each deck treatment we tested protects, Consumer Reports built a deck behind its Yonkers, N.Y., headquarters and coated sections with various deck treatments and wood stains. Then we left the deck exposed to whatever Mother Nature dished out. The best we tested still remained close to their original color after three years, picked up only a little dirt and mildew, and effectively protected the wood from cracking. The worst looked ratty and provided little protection after just one year.

While the longest-lasting products were often the most expensive up front, their longer life should save you money over time. Don't buy strictly by brand; different products from the same manufacturer often performed differently. What's more, a product that worked well for you last time may not do as well this time, as manufacturers keep reformulating to address cost and performance, and to comply with government safety standards.

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