Deck staining costs $550 to $1,250 for most homes, an $850 national average per Angi – while HomeGuide puts the typical job at $450 to $1,000 and Fixr at $550 to $850.1,2,3 Pro rates run $1.50 to $5 per square foot; DIY materials alone cost $0.50 to $1 per square foot.1,2,3*
$850
national average, Angi
$2 – $4
per sq ft, pro, Angi
$0.50 – $1
per sq ft DIY, HomeGuide
$20 – $50
stain per gallon, 200 – 300 sq ft
Quick math: most decks are 300 to 400 sq ft per Angi. A 350 sq ft deck at the shared $2 to $4 pro rate costs $700 to $1,400 – our multiplication, squarely inside all three published ranges. DIY materials for the same deck at HomeGuide’s $0.50 to $1 per sq ft run $175 to $350, so hiring out roughly doubles to quadruples the bill.
Published prices at a glance
Three references, all fetched and read October 2026:
| Measure | Angi1 | HomeGuide2 | Fixr3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical total | $550 – $1,250 (avg $850) | $450 – $1,000 | $550 – $850 (avg $750) |
| Per sq ft, pro | $2 – $4 | $1.57 – $4.04 | $2 – $5 (incl. sanding + seal) |
| Per sq ft, DIY | – | $0.50 – $1 | – |
| 12×12 deck (144 sq ft) | $275 – $575 | $226 – $582 (DIY $59 – $176) | $290 – $720 |
| 12×20 deck (240 sq ft) | $475 – $950 | – | $480 – $1,000 |
| 16×24 deck (384 sq ft) | $775 – $1,550 | – | – |
| 24×24 deck (586 sq ft) | $1,150 – $2,350 | – | – |
| Stain per gallon | – | $20 – $50 (200 – 300 sq ft) | – |
| Sealing (separate job) | $550 – $1,300 | – | included in rate |
Where they disagree: the per-square-foot bands overlap but do not match – Angi’s $2 to $4 excludes prep while Fixr’s $2 to $5 bundles light sanding and sealing, so Fixr quotes look higher for the same deck. Whole-job averages reflect that: Angi’s $850 versus Fixr’s $750 on slightly different scopes. The cleanest cross-check is the shared 12×20 size: Angi says $475 to $950, Fixr $480 to $1,000 – nearly identical. For DIY, HomeGuide’s $0.50 to $1 per sq ft is the only published materials-only rate.1,2,3
What pushes the price up
Prep work: power washing, sanding and stripping old stain are the big swing items – a deck that needs full stripping lands at the top of every band. Some pros bundle prep (Fixr), others bill it separately (Angi).1,3
Wood type: hardwoods need specialized stain; softwoods drink extra coats – both raise material and labor costs per Angi.1
Railings and detail: spindles, stairs and lattice add slow brush work; a flat platform deck is the cheapest shape to stain per HomeGuide.2
Sealing: as a separate job, sealing runs $550 to $1,300 per Angi – bundling it with staining in one visit is usually cheaper than two trips.1
Three worked examples (we did the math)
| Project | Cost basis | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 12×20 deck (240 sq ft), pro, Angi rate | 240 x $2 – $4 – our math | $480 – $960 (Angi: $475 – $950, Fixr: $480 – $1,000) |
| Same deck, DIY, HomeGuide rate | 240 x $0.50 – $1 – our math | $120 – $240 materials (pro: $360 – $960) |
| Stain gallons for 240 sq ft | 240 / 200 – 300 sq ft per gallon (HomeGuide) – our math | 1 – 2 gallons, $20 – $100 |
These are example projects, not quotes – deck size, condition, wood type, prep and railings set the real number.
Related guides and tools
Deck cost | Pressure washing cost | Fence cost | Deck cost calculator | Fence staining cost | Hardwood floor refinishing cost
Interior Painting Cost
Exterior Painting Cost
FAQ
How much does it cost to stain a deck? $550 to $1,250 for most homes per Angi ($850 average); pros charge $1.50 to $5 per square foot depending on the reference and whether prep is bundled.1,2,3
Is DIY deck staining worth it? Materials run $0.50 to $1 per sq ft per HomeGuide – a 240 sq ft deck costs $120 to $240 DIY versus $360 to $960 pro. You trade 2 to 3 days of labor for the savings; prep quality decides how long the finish lasts.2
How often should a deck be stained? Every 2 to 3 years for most stains; transparent finishes may need yearly refreshing while solid stains stretch longer. That is our rule of thumb, not from the cited sources.1
Should staining and sealing be done together? Yes where possible – many stains include sealant, and pros bundling both in one visit avoid a second mobilization. Booked separately, sealing alone costs $550 to $1,300 per Angi.1,3
Sources
- Angi – How Much Does It Cost to Stain a Deck
- HomeGuide – Cost to Stain a Deck
- Fixr – Cost to Stain a Deck
*Prices are 2025-2026 national averages from the cited sources and vary by deck size, condition, wood type, prep work and region. Get at least three itemized quotes.