Staining is the recurring cost that comes with a wood deck. It is a small number next to building one, but it repeats every few years, and the price swings with the method - a quick stain and seal is a fraction of a full strip and refinish. Knowing which method a quote covers matters as much as the per-square-foot figure.
This guide collects what the named sources - HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor, and Angi - list for deck staining and refinishing, per square foot and by method, plus what changes when you do it yourself. For the cost of the deck itself, our deck cost guide is the pillar this sits under.
Pricing note - reviewed August 7, 2026: Every figure on this page is quoted from a named published cost guide, each opened on August 7, 2026. These are national published ranges, not local quotes or Plank Compass averages - deck work is priced job by job, and prices vary by market, size, material and site. Confirm the itemized total on site with a licensed, insured builder.
How Much Does It Cost to Stain a Deck?
HomeGuide lists the average cost to stain a deck at $1.57 to $4.04 per square foot, with most homeowners paying someone $450 to $1,000 for materials and labor. Its national-average box shows $730, with a $300 minimum and a $2,300 maximum. On the labor line alone, HomeGuide lists $1 to $3 per square foot, not including materials.
As a total-project figure, Angi and its sister brand HomeAdvisor both list deck staining at $550 to $1,250. They are the same company, so read that as one figure rather than two guides agreeing, and it happens to sit inside HomeGuide’s stated range. The bigger variable is not which company you ask, but which method the job calls for.
Stain vs Seal vs Refinish vs Paint
The word staining hides four different jobs, and HomeGuide prices them separately per square foot. A basic stain and seal is the cheap end; a strip and refinish is the expensive end because of the prep.
HomeGuide lists stain and seal at $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot, power wash, stain and seal at $1.00 to $2.50, power sanding, stain and seal at $2.00 to $4.00, and strip, stain and seal at $2.50 to $5.50. It lists painting at $2.00 to $5.00 per square foot including the railing and spindles. Railings and handrails add $4.00 to $12.00 per linear foot on top.
Published guide figures by deck finishing method
| Method | HomeGuide (per sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Stain and seal | $0.50-$1.50 |
| Power wash, stain and seal | $1.00-$2.50 |
| Power sanding, stain and seal | $2.00-$4.00 |
| Strip, stain and seal | $2.50-$5.50 |
| Painting | $2.00-$5.00 |
| Railings and handrails | $4.00-$12.00 per linear foot |
Sealing on its own is a related job. HomeGuide lists sealing and waterproofing at $1.00 to $3.50 per square foot for the planks, plus $5 to $8 per linear foot for rails and spindles, and puts a standard 12-by-24 deck at $550 to $1,300 to seal. Angi and its sister brand HomeAdvisor both list sealing a deck at $550 to $1,330, again one figure from one company rather than two. For a full redo, HomeGuide lists refinishing at $3.00 to $6.50 per square foot, including sanding or stripping the old stain and applying new stain and sealer, and lists clean and restain at $1.50 to $4.00 per square foot. Angi lists painting a deck at $500 to $2,000 as a total.
Deck Staining Cost by Size
Because staining is priced per square foot, the total scales cleanly with the deck. HomeGuide publishes both a do-it-yourself and a hire-it-out figure for two common sizes: a 12-by-12 deck runs $59 to $176 to do yourself or $226 to $582 to hire, and a 20-by-20 deck runs $164 to $422 yourself or $628 to $1,616 hired.
Published guide figures by deck size
| Deck size | HomeGuide (do it yourself) | HomeGuide (hire a pro) |
|---|---|---|
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $59-$176 | $226-$582 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $164-$422 | $628-$1,616 |
Railings and spindles sit on top of the deck surface as their own line. HomeGuide lists them at $4.00 to $12.00 per linear foot for staining and at $5 to $8 per linear foot for sealing, which is why a deck with a lot of railing costs more to finish than its square footage alone suggests. That is also why the same-sized deck can land anywhere inside these ranges: the amount of railing, the number of spindles, and the prep method all move the number.
DIY vs Hire
Doing it yourself changes the math to mostly materials and time. On the materials side, HomeAdvisor lists deck stain at around $30 per gallon and sealer at $30 to $40 per gallon, and the size figures above show the hired price running well above the do-it-yourself materials on the same deck. Across all methods, HomeGuide lists the cost to pay someone at $0.50 to $5.50 per square foot, from a basic stain and seal at the low end to a strip, stain and seal at the high end.
Those figures are about cost, not technique - this guide does not cover how to prep or apply a finish, only what the work runs. The hired numbers buy the labor HomeGuide lists at $1 to $3 per square foot plus the prep method the deck needs, which is why the strip-and-refinish jobs above cost several times a basic stain and seal. Compare finishing crews in Seattle through our directory, and if the boards themselves are failing rather than just graying, our deck repair cost guide covers that instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to stain a deck?
HomeGuide lists $1.57 to $4.04 per square foot, or $450 to $1,000 to hire someone for materials and labor, with a $730 national average. Angi and its sister brand HomeAdvisor both list a total of $550 to $1,250.
Is it cheaper to stain or seal a deck?
They overlap. HomeGuide lists a basic stain and seal at $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot and sealing and waterproofing at $1.00 to $3.50 per square foot for the planks. As totals, HomeAdvisor lists sealing at $550 to $1,330, above its $550 to $1,250 staining figure.
Should I stain my deck myself or hire a pro?
On cost alone, HomeGuide lists a 12-by-12 deck at $59 to $176 to do yourself versus $226 to $582 to hire, and a 20-by-20 at $164 to $422 versus $628 to $1,616. HomeAdvisor lists stain at around $30 per gallon and sealer at $30 to $40 per gallon for the do-it-yourself route.
How much does it cost to refinish or paint a deck?
HomeGuide lists refinishing at $3.00 to $6.50 per square foot, clean and restain at $1.50 to $4.00, and painting at $2.00 to $5.00 per square foot including railings and spindles. Angi lists painting a deck at a total of $500 to $2,000.
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