Top Deck Stain Brands That Transform Your Outdoor Space

Choosing the right deck stain is essential for preserving the beauty and longevity of your outdoor wood surfaces. With so many options available, determining the best brands can be quite challenging. High-quality deck stains not only protect against harsh weather conditions but also enhance the natural grain and finish of the wood. Below, we've compiled a list of the top recommended brands that consistently receive praise for their durability and aesthetic appeal.

Illustration of deck stain

Best brands of deck stain in 2025

Behr

Behr is a leading brand in the paint and stain market, particularly renowned for its high-quality deck stains. As of 2024, Behr holds a significant 36% brand consideration rate and a 27% dollar share in the paint market, making it one of the most preferred choices for consumers. Their deck stains, such as the BEHR PREMIUM(r) Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Stain & Sealer, offer durable protection against the elements, lasting up to 6 years on decks and 8 years on fences and siding. The brand's products are widely available, with Home Depot, which has a 31% dollar share in the paint market, being a major retailer. Behr's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction is evident in its detailed preparation and application guidelines, ensuring long-lasting results.

Cabot

Cabot is a renowned brand in the wood stain industry, particularly for its high-quality deck stains. Their products, such as the Cabot Semi-Solid Stain + Sealer, offer advanced waterproofing and UV protection, available in 100 colors to suit various design preferences. Cabot's stains are formulated to provide a durable, long-lasting finish that resists cracking, peeling, and blistering, making them a favorite among homeowners and professionals. The brand's wood toned stain and sealer, with its low VOC formula, is also highly regarded for its natural finish and ease of application. With a strong presence in the market, Cabot's products are tested and rated highly by consumer reports, ensuring they meet stringent quality standards. For more detailed product information, visit their website: Cabot Exterior Stains.

Valspar

Valspar is a leading brand in the wood stain industry, offering a range of exterior wood stain and sealer products that provide all-weather defense, UV protection, and are rain-ready in just four hours. Their products, such as the Valspar One-Coat Clear, Transparent, Semi-Transparent, and Solid Stain & Sealer, ensure long-lasting protection and come in a vast array of colors. Valspar's stains are designed to enhance the color and texture of wooden surfaces while resisting mold and mildew. The market for wood stains, which includes Valspar, is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2024 to 2034, indicating strong demand for such products. Valspar's commitment to quality and durability makes it a top choice for deck stain and sealer needs.

Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams is a leading brand in the wood stain market, particularly for deck stains, with a significant market share and growing demand. As of 2024, Sherwin-Williams holds a 13% market share in the paint market and is gaining ground, with a 0.5% increase year-over-year. The company's premium deck stains are designed to protect and enhance the beauty of wood and composite decks, offering durability and a wide range of colors. In the U.S. wood stain market, Sherwin-Williams is one of the key players, contributing to the forecasted revenue growth to $4.9 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 7.5% from 2024 to 2034. For more information, you can explore their premium deck stains and products.

Thompson's WaterSeal

Thompson's WaterSeal is a leading brand in the exterior wood waterproofing and staining category, known for its innovative products like the Penetrating Timber Oil introduced in 2015. This product features a unique triple blend of fast-absorbing oils that nourish and beautify exterior woods, including hardwoods, with just one coat. It minimizes lap marks and color-streaking, provides year-round water damage protection, and resists mildew and UV damage. The brand offers various opacities such as clear, transparent, and semi-transparent, and a range of colors including Cedar, Redwood, Mahogany, Teak, and Walnut. Thompson's WaterSeal products are available at The Home Depot and cover approximately 150-350 square feet per gallon.

Olympic Stains

Olympic Stains, a renowned brand under PPG, is a leading producer of high-quality deck stains, offering products like Olympic ELITE and Olympic Maximum, which feature innovative hybrid formulas combining the benefits of both water-based and oil-based stains. These products are known for their low VOC and nationally compliant standards, making them a preferred choice for environmentally conscious consumers. In 2024, the wood stain market, which includes Olympic's products, is estimated to be valued at $2.4 billion in the U.S., with a forecasted CAGR of 7.5% from 2024 to 2034. Olympic's stain lines are particularly popular for their fast-drying, multi-coat, and protective barrier properties. The brand's commitment to quality and innovation has made it a top seller in the wood coatings market. For more details, explore their product range like Olympic Quick Cover.

TWP

TWP (Total Wood Preservative) is renowned as one of the best producers of deck stain, consistently ranked the top choice by consumer magazines and professionals for over 20 years. The TWP 100 and 1500 series are EPA-registered wood preservatives, offering superior protection against UV damage, wood rot, and water absorption, with a semi-transparent formula that enhances the natural wood color and repels moisture. These stains are known for their excellent longevity on both vertical and horizontal surfaces, and they do not peel like film-forming stains. The TWP 1500 series can be shipped to all 50 states, complying with low VOC standards, while the TWP 100 series is restricted in certain states due to VOC regulations. With a coverage rate of about 150-300 feet per gallon, TWP stains are a professional's top choice for all exterior wood projects. For more information, visit their official website.

DEFY Wood Stain

DEFY Wood Stain is a leading brand in the wood stain market, particularly renowned for its high-quality deck stain products. Utilizing advanced nano-technology, DEFY Extreme Wood Stain offers exceptional durability and weather resistance, preventing wood graying and water intrusion while resisting fungal growth. This water-based, VOC-compliant, and eco-friendly formula ensures easy soap and water cleanup. DEFY products are made in the USA, specifically in Richmond, Indiana, and are praised for their ease of use and long-lasting finishes. The DEFY Extreme Wood Stain is available in several colors and has been tested to outperform other national brands. For more information on their products, visit DEFY Wood Stain official website.

Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore is a renowned brand in the wood stain market, particularly noted for its high-quality deck stains. Their Woodluxe® Exterior Stains offer premium protection and beautification for outdoor wood surfaces, including decks, fences, and furniture, available in 75 colors for semi-solid stains and over 3,500 colors for solid stains. The brand's products are favored for their durability and ability to withstand the elements, making them a popular choice for home renovations and new constructions. With a market share of 5% in the paint industry as of 2024, Benjamin Moore continues to be a trusted name among homeowners and DIY enthusiasts.

Flood Wood Care

Flood Wood Care is renowned for its high-quality deck stains, particularly the Flood CWF-UV5, which is a premium oil-based wood finish that protects exterior wood from water and sun damage. This product, fortified with Penetrol(r), provides superior penetration and maximum protection, although it may be challenging to apply and shows signs of peeling around tighter wood grains. Despite this, it maintains its color reasonably well over time. The Flood Company has been a significant player in the wood coatings market, with products like Tropitech Spa-N-Deck, a 100% acrylic coating, gaining traction in various geographic areas. As part of the broader wood stain market, Flood's products contribute to the sector's projected growth, with U.S. sales of wood stains estimated to reach $4.9 billion by 2034.