Deck staining costs $1.50 to $5 per square foot in 2026
Staining a deck costs $550 to $1,250 for most homeowners in 2026, with Angi's average around $850. That works out to $2 to $4 per square foot for a standard power wash and stain, and HomeGuide's range is $1.57 to $4.04 a foot. A typical 350 square foot deck lands at $700 to $1,400. A light recoat on a deck in good shape is only $0.50 to $1 a foot. A full strip, sand and stain is $2.50 to $5.50 a foot for the boards and $5 to $8 a foot once rails and spindles are counted. Doing it yourself costs $100 to $250 in stain and supplies plus a weekend.
What price guides say
We checked 4 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| Angi | Angi lists $2 to $4 per square foot, with most homeowners paying $550 to $1,250 and an average of $850. |
| HomeGuide | HomeGuide lists $1.57 to $4.04 per square foot to power wash, stain and seal. |
| HomeAdvisor | HomeAdvisor lists an average of $850 and $1 to $4 per square foot. |
| Remodel Calculators | Remodel Calculators lists clean and stain at $1.50 to $5.50 per square foot and recoats at $0.50 to $2.50 per square foot. |
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Prep | Recoat $0.50 to $1 a foot. Wash and stain $1.50 to $4. Sand and stain $1 to $4. Strip and stain $2.50 to $8. |
| Railings | Rails and spindles are slow work. $4 to $12.50 per linear foot of rail, or roughly double the per foot rate for the whole deck. |
| Stain type | Transparent and semi transparent oil stains cost less per gallon and soak in. Solid stains cost more and need two coats. |
| Deck condition | Gray, weathered wood needs a brightener and more stain. Peeling old finish needs stripping. |
| Labor rate | Pros charge $1 to $2.50 a foot in labor in most areas, up to $7 in high cost cities. |
What the price includes
A standard quote covers power washing, drying time, one or two coats of stain on the boards and rails, and cleanup. Sanding, stripping, board replacement and a separate sealer are extra line items. It does not include tax or extras the provider adds on the day.
DIY or hire a pro
Staining a deck is a fair DIY job. You need a pressure washer or a stiff brush, a good stain, and a few dry days. The hard part is prep and waiting, not the staining. Wash the deck, let it dry fully, and then stain with the grain. Rails and spindles take the most time. Hire a pro if the deck is large, high off the ground, peeling or gray and weathered. A pro can strip old stain, fix loose boards and finish fast. Check the weather before you start, because rain on wet stain can spoil the work.
How to judge your quote
- Ask if the price is per square foot or for the whole deck.
- Ask if washing, sanding and rails are in the price.
- Ask how many coats and which stain brand.
- A fair quote says the dry time and what rain does to the schedule.
- Compare the total with the range above: $2 to $5 per square foot for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Recoat every 2 to 3 years instead of waiting. A $300 recoat beats a $2,000 strip and stain.
- Do the wash and stain yourself if the deck is flat and small. The work is easy, the waiting for it to dry is the hard part.
- Ask a painter already working on your house to add the deck. Setup is shared.
- Pick a semi transparent oil stain. It hides wear better than transparent and needs less prep next time than solid.
Why this costs more in 2026
Deck stain is a petroleum based product, and oil jumped after the Iran war began in February 2026, so a gallon of stain costs more. Painters and deck crews are busy and charge $50 to $100 an hour. Pressure washers and crew trucks run on gas and diesel that hit record prices. Hot summers across the South also mean decks need restaining more often, which keeps demand up.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from Angi, HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor and Remodel Calculators. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much does deck staining cost?
Angi lists $2 to $4 per square foot, and most homeowners pay $550 to $1,250. HomeGuide lists $1.57 to $4.04 to power wash, stain and seal.
Is deck staining worth it?
Yes. Stain protects the wood from sun and water, so the deck lasts longer.
How long does it take?
Most decks take one to three days, with time for washing and drying. Weather can add days.
Can I pay less?
Recoat before the deck is worn. Remodel Calculators lists recoats at $0.50 to $2.50 per square foot.