The best deck stains in 2026: Consumer Reports

A wood stain that cracks, fades or lets mildew take hold within a year wastes an entire weekend of prep and application work. Solid, semi-transparent and clear stains all age differently, and price doesn't always predict which one holds up.

Consumer Reports tracked wood stains for appearance, cracking, color change and mildew resistance over multiple years of outdoor exposure, so homeowners can pick a stain that lasts.

Credit: Behr

Behr Premium Solid Color Waterproofing Stain & Sealer costs about $50 and topped Consumer Reports' overall wood stain ratings. CR found this Home Depot $HD exclusive maintained its appearance through a full three years of testing, with only a bit of fading showing up in that final year, and rated it resistant to color changes, dirt, cracking and mildew. That durability paired with reasonable pricing helped it edge out every other stain CR tested in this lineup. Homeowners looking for a long-lasting solid finish without a premium price tag may find this a solid starting point.

Credit: Cabot

Cabot Solid Color Acrylic Stain + Sealer costs about $50 and landed just behind the Behr stain for Consumer Reports' top overall score. CR found it also holds up well against cracking, color shifts, dirt and mildew growth, and maintained its appearance through a full three years of testing, with only a bit of fading in that final year, closely mirroring the top-ranked Behr stain's performance. The two stains' similar test results suggest either one offers a comparably durable choice for a solid-color finish. Shoppers deciding between the two may want to weigh availability and personal color preference over performance alone.

Credit: Valspar

Valspar One-Coat Solid costs about $43 and performed well in Consumer Reports' testing under Lowe's $LOW own paint and stain label. CR rated its appearance stellar after just one year and found it held up well through years two and three as well, without the late fading seen in some other solid stains tested. CR also found it holds up against mildew growth, cracking, dirt buildup and shifts in color as time passes. That consistent multi-year performance makes it a strong choice among solid stains in this lineup.

Credit: Behr

This Behr Deckplus stain costs about $40 and represents good value among the solid stains Consumer Reports tested. CR found its appearance held up nicely across the first couple of years, though testers noted a significant drop-off by year three. CR rated it a poor performer against dirt specifically, though it does hold up against cracking, shifts in color and mildew. That accessible price paired with strong early performance makes it worth a look for shorter-term projects.

Credit: Amazon

This Olympic Elite stain costs about $50 and earned Consumer Reports' top rating among semi-transparent stains tested. CR found semi-transparent stains generally don't perform as well as solid-color options as a group, yet this one kept its good looks across two full years of testing, and none of the other semi-transparent stains in this lineup managed that. CR also rated it resistant to cracking, color changes, dirt and mildew. That across-the-board resistance sets it apart from the other semi-transparent stains tested here.

Credit: Ace Hardware

This Ace Wood Royal stain costs about $40 and outperformed many other semi-transparent stains through Consumer Reports' second year of testing. CR found color retention, crack prevention and dirt resistance all fell short with this one, though it stood up well against mildew buildup. That narrower set of strengths puts it behind the Olympic Elite stain tested alongside it, though its lower price may still appeal to budget-conscious shoppers. Anyone prioritizing color retention or crack resistance specifically may want to look elsewhere in this lineup.

Credit: Amazon

The PPG ProLuxe SRD Semi-Transparent Wood Finish costs about $75, pricier than every other stain in this lineup, and held up well for appearance during Consumer Reports' first year of testing. CR found its two-year performance fell behind the top semi-transparent stains tested, and rated its defenses against cracking, discoloration and dirt only partially effective, though it does resist mildew. That higher price paired with middling multi-year durability makes it a harder sell than other semi-transparent options tested here. Shoppers willing to pay more may still find the first-year look appealing, but the tradeoff shows up quickly after that.

Credit: Behr

This Behr semi-transparent stain costs about $49 and matched the PPG ProLuxe SRD's one- and two-year appearance scores in Consumer Reports' testing, at a lower price. CR found it doesn't hold up against mildew growth the way the PPG stain does, and also lags on color stability, cracking and dirt. That comparable early performance paired with a lower price makes it a reasonable budget alternative, mildew resistance aside. Homes in humid climates especially may want to weigh that gap before choosing this stain over the pricier PPG option.

Credit: Behr

The Behr Premium Transparent Waterproofing Wood Finish costs about $46 and earned Consumer Reports' top rating among clear stains tested, available exclusively at Home Depot $HD. CR gave it one of the stronger scores for appearance after one year among the stains in this lineup, and found it resists dirt and color changes, though not cracking. That decent durability paired with wide availability makes it a reasonable pick for shoppers wanting a clear finish. The lack of crack resistance is worth keeping in mind for surfaces that see heavy foot traffic or temperature swings.

Credit: Olympic

This Olympic sealant costs about $25, priced lower than every other stain in this lineup, and outperformed the rest of the tested clear stains for first-year appearance in Consumer Reports' testing. CR found cracking, discoloration and dirt all posed problems for this stain, though mildew stayed at bay reasonably well. Its low price paired with solid first-year results makes it a reasonable budget option, provided a shorter refresh cycle works for the project at hand. Homeowners planning to reapply stain more frequently anyway may find the tradeoff worth the savings.