Deck Stain Calculator
Enter the deck floor area, the railing run, coats and your stain price. The calculator gives gallons - stain covers about 350 square feet per gallon per coat - plus cost and honest brushing hours.
The prep is what decides whether the job lasts its two-to-three-year cycle: pressure-wash first, because stain over gray dead fibers peels with them, and the forecast needs two dry days either side. Transparent shows grain and fades fastest; solid hides and lasts longest.
How to use
- Measure the floor and add the railing run - it drinks stain too.
- Two coats on bare or gray wood, one on a recent refresh.
- Pressure-wash first and wait two dry days after.
Frequently asked questions
How much stain do I need for my deck?
About a gallon per 350 square feet per coat, with rough bare wood drinking more. The calculator adds the railing run - rails and balusters can add a third again to the job.
How often should a deck be stained?
Every two to three years for transparent stains, three to four for solid color - sun and foot traffic decide more than the calendar. When water soaks in instead of beading, the deck is asking.
Can I stain over old stain?
Only over sound, clean stain of the same opacity family - peeling or gray areas need pressure-washing and stripping first, or the new coat peels with the old within a season.
Is it better to spray or brush deck stain?
A sprayer is three times faster but pushes stain into back-brushing anyway, so most DIYers brush by pad and win the control. Either way the two-dry-day forecast matters more than the applicator.