Best Exterior Home Stains of 2026

The OLYMPIC WaterGuard Wood Stain is a convenient all-in-one product that combines stain and sealant, ready for immediate use without mixing. It offers reliable waterproofing to keep your deck or fence protected from moisture damage, helping you maintain your outdoor wood surfaces longer. The stain creates a tough, protective layer that resists wear and tear, ensuring your wood looks great over time. Plus, it includes UV defense to shield your wood from sun damage, preserving its color and preventing fading. This makes it a practical choice for anyone wanting easy, lasting protection for their outdoor wood projects.

Ready Seal 512 Exterior Stain and Sealer is a convenient and low-maintenance solution for wood surfaces. It does not require a primer and can be applied with a sprayer, roller, or brush. This "Goof Proof" product will never leave runs, laps, or streaks, and can be applied in any temperature range. After application, no sanding or stripping is required for re-application. Its dark color will reach its true shade in about 14 days.

The Sherwin-Williams Redwood Stain offers strong protection for both new and weathered wood, helping you maintain and enhance your outdoor surfaces. It dries quickly, allowing you to apply a second coat in just two hours and have your project ready to use within a few hours, which saves you time and effort. Cleanup is hassle-free with soap and water, making maintenance simple. Plus, it covers a large area efficiently—up to 300 square feet per gallon on smooth surfaces—so you get great value and fewer refills. This stain is perfect for fences, furniture, and other wood items outside your home.

The NK Norkan Ready Seal is a convenient all-in-one product that both stains and seals your outdoor wood surfaces, enhancing their natural look while protecting them. You won’t need to worry about extra steps like priming or thinning, making the application process simple and quick. Its formula is designed to resist damage from UV rays and harsh weather, helping your wood maintain its color and strength over time. Plus, the self-blending feature means you’ll get a smooth, even finish without streaks or lap marks, so your deck or fence looks professionally done with less effort.

The SaverSystems Wood Stain is a semi-transparent outdoor stain that beautifully showcases the natural grain of your wood while providing essential protection. It effectively guards against harmful UV rays, preventing your decks, fences, and siding from fading over time. This versatile product serves as both a stain and a sealer, penetrating deep into the wood for enhanced durability. Additionally, it can be applied to damp wood, allowing you to save time between cleaning and staining, making your outdoor projects quicker and easier.

KILZ Wood Stain is a semi-transparent exterior stain that provides long-lasting UV protection and waterproofing for wood in changing outdoor conditions. Its 100% Acrylic formula shields wood from rain, snow, and sun damage. This stain can be used on properly prepared new to moderately weathered and unsealed exterior wood surfaces, including decks, shingles, wood patio furniture, railings, siding, shakes, and fences. With superior coverage, one gallon of this stain covers approximately 250-300 square feet with the first coat and 500-600 square feet with the second coat. The fully cured coating can be washed after 72 hours. KILZ has been making premium primers and paints for 40 years, and this experience is leveraged in every gallon of KILZ Paint. This stain is warrantied up to 3 years on decks and up to 5 years on fences and siding.

Thompsons Multi-Surface Waterproofer is a great solution to prevent water damage. It beads and waterproofs various surfaces, including terra cotta planters, birdhouses, mailbox posts, and other small exterior surfaces. This product allows wood to gray naturally, which is perfect for those who want to maintain the natural look of their wooden surfaces. It is recommended to use this product when mildew and biological factors are not a problem. With this product, you can enjoy the convenience of preventing water damage and prolonging the lifespan of your outdoor items.

The Ready Seal Exterior Stain is designed to give your wood surfaces a rich, lasting color without extra steps. When you first apply it, the stain looks very dark, but it settles into its true tone over about two weeks, so you get a natural finish. You don’t need to use a primer, which saves you time and effort. The stain can be applied with a sprayer, roller, or brush, giving you flexibility in how you work. Plus, it’s made to blend itself without leaving streaks or runs, so your project looks smooth and even without extra brushing or touch-ups.

The Varathane Gel Stain is perfect for anyone looking to finish wood, metal, or fiberglass surfaces with ease. Its thick, no-drip formula helps you apply the stain smoothly on both horizontal and vertical surfaces, reducing mess and frustration. The water-based stain has a low odor, making it comfortable to work indoors on furniture, doors, or trim without strong fumes. Plus, it dries quickly—within just one hour—so you can finish your projects faster. With even and rich color coverage, this stain helps you achieve a professional look while covering a large area efficiently.

GF Exterior 450 Wood Stain is a premium quality, water-based wood stain designed for outdoor projects with vertical surfaces such as garage doors, entrance doors, and furniture. It contains U.V. absorbers to protect the finish from the sun while allowing the wood to change color naturally. You can apply it with a brush, roller, or spray, and clean up with soap and water. GF Exterior 450 Wood Stain is perfect for your outdoor wood projects that require a high-quality, long-lasting finish.