The Best Wood Stains

The Best Wood Stains
  • John Taylor

There are few projects more satisfying than giving worn wood furniture a new lease on life with the perfect stain. The best part is that it's a project that doesn't require a ton of skill or experience. You can start by practicing on old pieces of wood, and once you have the technique down, you'll be ready to take on the real thing. When choosing a wood stain, it's important to keep the piece's function in mind. Will you be using this furniture indoors or outdoors? What color works best in your space? What kind of accents do you want in your wood grain? We researched a wide variety of wood stains to help you with these decisions, so check out this list of our favorites to find the one that's right for you.

General Finishes Oil Based Gel Stain

No stain, no gain

With an easy application, a wide assortment of colors, and a drip-preventing formula, this is one of the best wood stains you can find.
Best Overall

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General Finishes’ topcoats and stains are super user-friendly, letting you achieve a “hand-rubbed” look without all the elbow grease. Application is easy with a foam brush or lint-free cloth. And since this stain is a gel formula, it can flow out evenly across wood surfaces, reducing runs and drips. Its oil-based properties prevent uneven penetration of the grain, giving you consistent color control. General Finishes’ option applies beautifully on the first coat, so sanding is not required, but for deeper coloration, it sands out evenly as well.

Pros:

  • Available in 15 natural wood colors
  • Comes in volumes ranging from a half-pint to a full gallon
  • Creates a more even appearance on difficult woods such as aspen or pine

Cons:

  • Dries slowly
  • Tends to go on darker than the picture on the can shows

Varathane Premium Fast Dry Wood Stain

Quick-dry, no lie

Formulated to dry fast, this wood stain is great for weekend DIY projects.
Quickest Drying

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Varathane’s premium fast-dry wood stain uses a one-coat, oil-based formula designed to dry quickly, making it ideal for use on all interior wood projects, including furniture, cabinets, doors, trim, and paneling. After one application, Varathane dries to the touch in as little as one hour and covers up to 70 square feet per half-pint can. This high-performance stain system is enhanced with nano-pigment particles that assist in the quick-drying process and create rich and beautiful tones in your wood. We love that Varathane also seals wood pores as it covers, eliminating the need for wood conditioners.

Pros:

  • A vast assortment of over 20 shades
  • Can be varnished within one hour of application
  • Quart-sized cans available for larger projects

Cons:

  • Only apply when the temperature is between 60 and 90 °F
  • Darkens as it dries — apply one coat at a time

Minwax Polyshades

Seal the deal

Eliminate the need for multiple coats of two separate products with this stain and sealer all in one.
Best All-In-One

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Minwax, a trusted name in stains and sealers for decades, offers an all-in-one product that makes wood projects simpler than ever. Minwax enhances the wood grain in your favorite furniture pieces by combining rich stain color with long-lasting polyurethane protection in one easy step. Better still, Minwax Polyshades can be used over polyurethane finishes, which means you can change the color of finished wood without first sanding off the existing finish. We especially appreciate the PolyShades Color Transformation Guide, an online tool that can help you easily change the color of your stained or polyurethane finished wood.

Pros:

  • Cleans up with mineral spirits
  • Great color options to choose from
  • Available in satin or gloss finish

Cons:

  • For use on interior wood surfaces only
  • Two or more thin coats are recommended for best effect

KILZ Exterior Waterproofing Wood Stain

Water stains

With an acrylic formula that is mildew-resistant and provides UV protection, this is an ideal wood stain for your outdoor furniture.
Best For Outdoors

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KILZ 100% acrylic stain formula protects wood from rain, snow, and sun damage for up to five years, making it perfect for outdoor tables and chairs, fences, siding, shingles, and decks. It’s a semi-transparent stain that provides a mildew-resistant finish and UV protection. Each one-gallon can provides up to 250 square feet of coverage for the first coat and up to 500 square feet for the second coat, making it an economical option as well.

Pros:

  • You can use it with a brush or a pump sprayer for large projects
  • Goes on thick
  • Formulated to avoid streaks and drips

Cons:

  • Only available in cedar and redwood colors
  • Cannot be applied on top of other sealers

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s in wood stain?

Every wood stain consists of four basic ingredients: volatiles, pigments, resins, and additives. The volatile carries the solids into the wood surface, while the pigments are typically small particles of iron oxides that provide the color. Resin is the “glue” component of wood stain that binds pigments together and then binds those pigments to the wood substrate.

What’s the difference between a wood stain and a varnish?

Wood stain is designed to deeply penetrate wood, while varnish is a coating that remains on the top layer of surfaces to form a protective barrier. Though you can buy varnishes that include pigments to enhance or color the wood, varnishes are designed to provide wood with weather protection and durability, so they are often used on outdoor furniture.

How do I get wood stain out of my clothes?

Mix a quarter of a cup of ammonia with one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent and two cups of warm water. Dip a sponge or a clean cloth into the solution and use it to blot the stained area. To prevent the stain from spreading, work from the outside edge towards the center of the stain.

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