Best Wood Stain for Fence Protection: 5 Top Options

We surveyed 75 homeowners, DIYers, and residential contractors about the exterior wood stain products they use for fences. Their responses indicate that most people value durability, lifespan, color and consistency when selecting a fence stain product.

Most DIYers chose Wood Defender Fence Stain as their #1 choice. Residential contractors think Behr Penetrating Oil is the right stain for outdoor projects.

Here’s how to choose the best wood stain for your fence:

• Durability, lifespan, color and consistency are the 4 most important criteria for selecting a fence stain product.
• Look for exceptional coverage on wood surfaces. Products like Wood Defender require one coat, and apply well to vertical and horizontal surfaces.
• Match your stain to your wood species. Some products, like Seal-Once, are particularly well-suited for cedar fences.
• Know the difference between clear, solid, and semi-transparent stain. These 3 finishes affect how your exterior wood looks.

What’s the best wood for fences in your area? Check out our updated top 5 picks, and see where cedar, redwood and pressure-treated pine rank.

How We Chose the Best Wood Stain for Fence Protection

We relied on the insight of real homeowners with recent experience staining their fences. We coupled those reviews with the expertise of home building contractors, who used decades of experience to suggest wood fence stain products.

What’s the best wood for fences in your area?

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Homeowners and professionals were asked to grade fence stains on 4 criteria:

1. Durability: How well does your wood fence stand up to harsh weather, insects, rot and UV damage after staining?
2. Lifespan: How long does an application of your stain last before you need to re-apply?
3. Color: Is the fence stain available in a variety of finishes and colors — and does the stain color last on exterior wood surfaces?
4. Consistency: Does the stain go on in even, consistent brush strokes? Does it adhere consistently to wood grain?

We did not ask respondents to rate wood stain products on price. 

We think it's more important to get the job done right — ultimately, paying more for a great stain means you'll stain your fence less often.

Scope of Survey

We gathered 75 responses from the following individuals for our wood fence stain study:

• 57 homeowners with DIY fence staining experience
• 13 residential contractors with active licenses
• 5 active building inspectors

These 5 exterior wood stain products were mentioned most often by our respondents as top picks for exterior fences:

1. Wood Defender: top choice of DIY homeowners
2. Behr Penetrating Oil: top choice of professional contractors
3. Ready Seal: top stain for first timers
4. Seal-Once: best stain for rainy climates
5. Expert Stain & Seal: best “up and comer” brand to watch

🥇 Wood Defender Fence Stain: Top DIY Wood Stain

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“Wood Defender or nothing,” one respondent to our survey wrote. DIY homeowners showed a fierce loyalty to Wood Defender products, noting their superior UV resistance and ease of application as top features.

Wood Defender features transparent and semi-transparent wooden fence stain and seal products, designed for consistent coverage in a single coat. It performs particularly well on redwood and cedar fences.

Wood Defender also carries a semi solid latex exterior stain.

We like that Wood Defender stain offers warranties of 2-3 years on its products. Homeowners who experience mildew and fungal issues on their exterior wood surfaces find success with Wood Defender 200 Series products.

Pros and Cons of Wood Defender

Pros:

• Exceptional stain coverage and durability
• Smooth application, both with brush strokes and spray application
• Variety of clear, semi-transparent and solid stain products
• 2-in-1 stain and seal technology
• Semi-transparent products available in 19 color stains

Cons:

• Cost range ~15-20% higher per gallon than listed competitors
• Good spread rate (100-250 sq. ft./gallon), but does lose to some competitors

🥇 Behr Penetrating Oil: #1 Professional Wood Stain Choice

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This oil-based stain was a surprise entry on our list — but not due to the brand. Behr is a trusted paint and stain brand known for quality exterior performance. 

Behr Penetrating Oil offers 2-in-1 wood stain and sealer, with the added benefit of waterproofing. Professionals we surveyed noted its consistent application on both vertical and horizontal surfaces, as well as its nearly automatic rain resistance.

“I like that the Behr stain works for fences and decks and outdoor furniture,” one contractor said. “I give homeowners a consistent color on all their outdoor wood, and they love it.”

Behr also wins on spread rate. Expect their wood stain and sealer to cover 350-400 square feet per gallon.

Pros and Cons of Behr Penetrating Oil

Pros:

• Outstanding coverage rate per gallon (350-400 sq. ft./gallon)
• Consistent application on fences, decking, outdoor furniture, and wood shakes
• Available in premix colors and can be tinted to custom colors
• Good performance on new and gently-aged wood, especially light colors
• Competitively priced vs. other high-performance products

Cons:

• Slightly less effective on aging or older wood fences
• Only available in 4 semi-transparent colors

Proper prep work ensures your wood stain penetrates and protects your fence. Use our simple DIY guide to cleaning your fence before staining.

🥇 Ready Seal: Top Choice for First Timers

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“There was literally no way for me to mess it up,” one homeowner remarked about using Ready Seal. And that’s the point — Ready Seal offers “goof proof” wood stain products.

Ready Seal is designed for simplicity. No primer, no diluting, no thinning, no back brushing. Spray, roll or brush Ready Seal on with confidence, and don’t concern yourself with a particular temperature range. 

So what’s the drawback? Ready Seal doesn’t provide quite the coverage excellence of Wood Defender or Behr Penetrating Oil. You’ll have to apply 2-3 coats to achieve best results. Thin fence wood may experience some bleed through of Ready Seal products. 

Of note: Ready Seal consistently ranked well with cedar fence owners.

Pros and Cons of Ready Seal

Pros:

• “Goof proof” application and use — easy for new users
• Well regarded by cedar fence owners
• Good penetration to protect against moisture
• Simple application without priming, thinning or back brushing
• 2-in-1 wood stain and sealer

Cons:

• Requires 2 coats for optimal coverage
• Thin fence wood may experience product bleed through
• 8 semi-transparent color stains

🥇 Seal-Once: Best for Rainy Climates

Homeowners in rainy climates like the Pacific Northwest need an exterior wood stain with exceptional performance against moisture. Seal-Once offers high-quality moisture resistance for exterior wood fences, and the warranties to go with it.

“Our products are warranted to prevent long-standing water accumulation for up to 10 years on vertical surfaces and up to 6 years on horizontal surfaces,” Seal-Once states. Its nano-technology prevents water damage well below the surface of your wood.

Seal-Once’s water-based stain is known for its eco-friendly properties. Its non-toxic construction features low VOC levels — it’s safe around your pets and family even in heavy rains.

One drawback: wait for a 3-4 day stretch of clear weather before applying Seal-Once. It tends to be a bit drippy on application, and it takes a few days to fully permeate and adhere to your fence. If you’re expecting rain in 2 days, hold off on application.

Pros and Cons of Seal-Once

Pros:

• Designed for marine sealing, great for wood fences in damp and rainy climates
• Ultra-low VOC levels, non-toxic and family safe
• Good color consistency
• Good reviews on cedar fences and decks

Cons:

• Slightly drippy on application, needs 3-4 days of clear weather to fully adhere
• Some users note a slight white patina after 2 years

🥇 Expert Stain & Seal: Best Up-and-Comer

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Expert Stain & Seal is the most intriguing exterior wood stain brand in our review process. It isn’t as well-known of a product as its competitors on this list — but every respondent who mentioned Expert Stain & Seal had it in their top 2 overall wood stains.

“I have my whole block using Expert Stain & Seal,” replied a contractor who uses the product on his own fence.

The brand offers clear stain, semi-transparent and solid stain. They also offer an essential oil blend that serves as a protective additive to exterior paint and stains. 

Homeowners who want a solid stain should look at Expert Stain & Seal. They offer 9 unique deck and fence stain color options, more than most brands we researched. However, Expert offers less transparent and semi-transparent options (4 each) than other brands.

Pros and Cons of Expert Stain & Seal

Pros:

• Highly regarded by vocal consumer base
• Excellent solid stain product line
• Offers solid, semi-transparent and clear stain products
• Good coverage on new and old wood surfaces

Cons:

• Less product options for transparent and semi-transparent stain
• Cost range ~15-20% higher than other competitors in the space
• Less online product review history than entrenched competitors

How to Choose a Wood Stain Finish for Your Fence

Once you decide on the best exterior wood stain brand for your fence, you have to pick a specific finish.

There are 3 primary types of wood stain finishes:

1. Clear stain: A transparent finish that augments (but does not change) the natural color of your wood.
2. Semi transparent stain: Offers a slight enhancement to the natural color of your wood without changing its inherent color.
3. Solid stain (or color stain): Use a stain color that changes the appearance and patina of your wood surfaces.

5 Red Flags When Buying Exterior Wood Stain

Be wary of 5 red flags when buying exterior wood stains for fences.

1. Deck only stains: If the product doesn’t offer specific benefits on its label or website for fencing, look elsewhere. Deck stains aren’t always great fence stains!
2. Lack of UV protection: Fence stains are exposed to the sun, so UV protection is crucial. If this isn't explicitly mentioned, it's a red flag.
3. Harmful chemicals: Some stains contain harmful chemicals. Look for products labeled as environmentally friendly or low VOC.
4. Inconsistent color: Read reviews! If reviews or images suggest inconsistent wood stain colors, take this into consideration.
5. High price: The exterior wood stain products on our list cost between $40-65 per gallon. Be cautious of products that cost more than this.

Conclusion

Choose a fence stain product that protects the natural wood surface and permeates deeply to defend against moisture damage, mildew and infestation. 

• Wood Defender and Behr offer the best stain for most homeowners. Ready Seal, Seal-Once and Expert Stain & Seal are good options in the right circumstances.
• Know the difference between stains! Do you want a clear, solid or semi-transparent fence stain? Your location and climate dictates whether to use an oil based stain or water based stain.‍
• Spend on quality to save on time and reapplication. Quality fence stain products cost more upfront. Cheap ones don't — but you'll lose that savings over time with frequent reapplications and poor performance.