8 Best Stains for Pine in 2024, According to Experts

6 / 8

The best thing about Ready Seal stains is that they apply in any temperature, making them ideal for outdoor areas like patios and fences. “Goof-proof” application means there’s no need to worry about blending, priming or sealing—using the stain is as simple as applying, wiping and allowing to dry. After 14 days, the stain lightens to the permanent color, so be sure to wait a full two weeks before adding another coat.

“Just had a new fence installed and we used this to seal it,” writes verified purchaser Jon B.” Beautiful color. The new fence looks so much better with this product on it. Your new fence will definitely turn heads with this product on it. Even had people stop and ask what I used because they loved the color of it. I highly suggest this sealant. And the best way we found to apply it was with a medium size foam roller and foam brushes and to keep the roller nice and saturated with sealant.”

Pros

• Doesn’t require primer
• Applies using sprayer, roller or brush
• Water-resistant and UV-blocking

Cons

• Some reviewers report needing more product than usual

7 / 8

For stubborn yellow pine, try a gray shade from Saman Interior’s catalog of stains to neutralize the tone. The odorless stain is safe to use around pets thanks to minimal odor and low VOCs. Because it’s less transparent than other stains, it covers yellow pine in just a coat or two and easily matches existing wood stain.

“I used this to stain some 2×12 inch maple boards being used as shelf risers inside of a cabinet,” says Amazon reviewer J.C. “Honestly, I just bought this product because it was the cheapest all-in-one stain I could find. I was pleased with the result. The color was exactly as pictured in the Amazon listing, a dark warm walnut. I put on four coats and waited two hours in between each. It is a milky color when it’s wet but dries clear. You definitely need multiple coats to get a rich color. This product worked well for my small project. The color ended up matching the stain inside my cabinet perfectly.”

Pros

• Odorless and low VOC
• No sanding or stripping required
• Over 20 colors to choose from

Cons

• Dries quickly, so work fast

8 / 8

Don’t worry about following up a floor stain with floor finish. Minwax floor finish and stain is a one-step solution that adds color, seals and protects high-traffic areas from scuffs and stains. It comes in gloss and satin finishes and a few basic stain shades. Apart from the limited prep needed, the finish works on finished floors. There’s no need to strip the wood with sanding before application.

Verified Amazon reviewer Jodi B. writes, “We had hardwood floors that had been covered by carpet for at least 30 years. Thought we’d pull the carpet up and the floors would be immaculate just like all the reno shows on TV. Well guess what? We were severely wrong! This was so easy to use, fast to apply and the results are amazing! We applied this product right over the poly (no additional sanding) and couldn’t be happier with how this came out.”

Pros

• Goes on bare wood or over an existing finish
• Prior sanding not required
• Protects floors from scuffs and stains

Cons

• Limited color choice

Why You Should Trust Us

As a DIY expert, I grew up on a rural self-sufficient homestead property where I learned the skills to build my own home from the ground up. I work with wood, stone and metal to find practical DIY solutions to many everyday problems.

Emily Way is an associate shopping editor for Family Handyman with experience researching products and recommending the best designs to consumers. She researched and updated this piece. Way consulted Brandon Miller, product manager at Rust-Oleum for Varathane. Fine furniture makers, professional contractors and DIYers alike trust Varathane for premium wood-finishing products that are specially formulated to make every step of the process simple and successful.

How We Found the Best Pine Wood Stain for Every Application

Wood stain for pine is available at almost every home improvement store, meaning that narrowing down the selection takes serious research. That’s why we consulted with home improvement experts and DIY enthusiasts. We learned what to look for in a pine stain, what to avoid and how pine stain needs differ between projects. We scoured Amazon’s top sellers, narrowing down our list to the top 15 pine stains on the site. After that, we combed through user reviews to see what real folks like and dislike about each wood stain and whether the price reflects the results. We are confident that these are the best stains for every pine project, from fences to floors.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7p63MoqOyoJGjsbq5wKdlnKedZLmqv9NomZ6rpGK9qrrEZq6op5RiwLWtyKeqaA%3D%3D