Before you start
Clean the wood at least 48 hours before staining. A deck cleaner or wood brightener removes dirt, mildew, and old stain residue. Let the surface dry completely. Staining over trapped moisture leads to peeling within months.
Know exactly how much stain to buy
Stop guessing. Enter your fence or deck dimensions, pick your wood type, and get a precise gallon count. No wasted trips to the store. No leftover cans in the garage.
1.3xavg. over-buy avoided
6wood types preset
12product rates included
Your Project
Stain types compared
Not all stains work the same way. Here is a quick reference to help you pick the right product for your project.
| Stain type | Coverage (sq ft/gal) | UV protection | Grain visible | Best for | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid stain | 250–300 | Excellent | No | Weathered wood, color change | 5–7 years |
| Semi-transparent | 350–400 | Good | Partially | New or lightly weathered wood | 3–5 years |
| Transparent / clear | 450–500 | Minimal | Fully | Showcasing grain, short-term seal | 1–2 years |
| Toned / tinted sealant | 400–450 | Moderate | Mostly | Light color with some protection | 2–3 years |
Tip: If your fence or deck gets heavy sun exposure, a solid or semi-transparent stain will last longer than a clear sealant. Clear products look beautiful but need reapplication every year or two.
Getting the best results
Watch the weather
Stain when the temperature is between 50°F and 90°F with no rain in the forecast for 24 hours. Avoid direct sunlight on the surface you are working on. Stain in the shade or on an overcast day for the most even absorption.
End grain soaks up more
The cut ends of boards absorb significantly more stain than the face grain. If your fence has exposed post tops or rail ends, plan on using about 10% more stain on those areas. The porosity factor in this planner accounts for average absorption, but heavy end-grain surfaces may need extra.
New wood vs. maintenance
Brand-new wood is thirsty. It will absorb more stain than wood that has been coated before. For new projects, always plan for two coats. For maintenance on a surface that was stained within the last three years, one coat is usually enough.
Common mistakes
- Staining in direct sun causes uneven drying and lap marks.
- Not stirring the stain thoroughly leads to color inconsistency.
- Applying too thick a coat causes peeling. Two thin coats beat one thick one.
- Skipping the back side of a fence cuts its lifespan in half.
- Staining pressure-treated wood before it is fully dry (wait 2–4 weeks after installation).
How much extra should I buy?
The planner gives you the calculated amount. For real-world projects, round up to the nearest whole gallon and add one extra gallon for touch-ups and future repairs. Stain color can vary between batches, so having a matching can on hand saves a lot of frustration later.
Scenario: Staining a new cedar fence
Say you just built a 60-foot cedar fence, 6 feet tall, and you want to stain both sides with a premium semi-transparent stain. Cedar is highly porous, so the planner applies a 1.35x factor. With two coats and the complexity adjustment for posts and rails, the math looks like this:
- Raw area: 60 × 6 = 360 sq ft per side
- Both sides: 360 × 2 = 720 sq ft
- Complexity (+18%): 720 × 1.18 = 850 sq ft
- Porosity (cedar 1.35x): 850 × 1.35 = 1,147 sq ft
- Two coats: 1,147 × 2 = 2,295 sq ft total
- Coverage at 350 sq ft/gal: 2,295 ÷ 350 = 6.6 gallons
- Buy: seven 1-gal cans, or one 5-gal pail plus two 1-gal cans
Without the porosity adjustment, you would have calculated 5.2 gallons and come up short. That is the kind of gap this planner is designed to close.
Questions people ask
- Why does wood type change the amount of stain I need?
- Porous woods like cedar and redwood drink up more stain than dense species like oak. If you use the same calculation for every wood type, you will under-buy on absorbent species. This planner adjusts the math based on typical porosity for each species.
- Should I stain both sides of my fence?
- Both sides is best for long-term protection. If you need to save money, at least coat the side that faces the prevailing weather. The planner lets you toggle this choice.
- How many coats does a maintenance project need?
- One coat is usually enough if the previous stain is in decent shape and was applied within the last three years. For bare or heavily weathered wood, plan on two coats.
- What if my project has lots of posts and spindles?
- Turn on the complexity adjustment. It adds 18% to the surface area to account for the extra edges and surfaces that flat-panel calculations miss.
- Can I use this for deck sealant too?
- Yes. The product selector includes clear sealants and toned sealants alongside stains. Pick the product you plan to use and the calculation adjusts automatically.