Best decking paint and decking stain

We've found the best decking paints and decking stains to protect your patio and keep it looking tip-top for years to come. 

We tested popular paints and stains from brands including Ronseal, No Nonsense and Cuprinol, costing from £20 upwards. 

During our tests, some decking stains start to show signs of wear and tear after only a few weeks. However, the best decking stains looked as good as new and repelled water even at the end of an intense period of testing. We've found one Best Buy. 

Decking paints and anti-slip decking paint have proved more hardy in our durability tests, and there is less visible difference between the best decking paints so far. See our results below. 

The best decking paints

To date, we've seen no difference in the staying power of the decking paints we've put through our tough tests, so we can't currently recommend one over the other.

Our advice at the moment is to go for whichever of the decking paints we've tested that you find at the best price and in the shade you're after. That's why our results below are ranked alphabetically. 

You can compare prices at a glance in our table below or read on for our full reviews.

Our tests are ongoing to see if more differences in staying power present themselves, and we'll update our results accordingly.

 Liberon Extreme Decking Paint

Our score and verdict 96%, Durable paint

• Resistant to scuffing and scrubbing
• Water resistant
• Easy to apply

Cons

• Colour choice is limited
• Only available in 2.5L tins

Need to know 10 sq m coverage per litre, leave 8 hours between coats, 48 hours drying time, colours available: light silver, dark silver, medium brown, light brown, gun metal

You can pick this paint up at B&Q, but it's only available in 2.5L tins, enough to cover a 25 square metre decking. 

In our tests so far it has proven resistant to frequent footfall and scuffing, and even scrubbing with a tough outdoor brush. 

We think it's a good option, albeit the colour selection is a bit more limited than some of the other paints we tested.

Also, see our pick of the best fence paint

 Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Paint

Our score and verdict 96%, Tough and durable

• Super durable
• Water resistant
• Decent colour selection
• You can buy it in 2.5L or 5L tins

Cons 

• Can look a bit streakier than others after only one coat (two recommended). 

Need to know 10 sq m coverage per litre, leave 4 hours between coats, 48 hours drying time, colours available: bramble, charcoal, chestnut, deep blue, warm stone, English oak, slate, willow, sage, blackcurrant

Ronseal decking paint is available in almost every hardware store and available in a wide range of ten colours, so you should be able to find one that suits you. 

You can also buy it in either 2.5L or 5L tins.

The paint has so far proved resistant to footfall, rough scuffing and vigorous brushing over the winter, so you can be confident it will still look good after enduring winter conditions. 

We did notice that this paint was a bit streakier than others after only one coat. But as with all of the paints we tested, two coats is recommended. The decking looked just as good as the rest when the second coat was applied. 

 Trade Paints Garden Timber Decking Non Slip

Our score and verdict 96%, Best colour selection

• Massive selection of colours
• Water resistant
• Tough and durable
• Easy to apply

Cons

• Online only
• Only available in 5L tins

Need to know 13 sq m coverage per litre, leave 4 hours between coats, 16 hours drying time, colours available: more than 100 shades. See full list at paints4trade.com.

You won't find this decking paint in stores. You'll need to order it online, but it does come in a huge range of colours to suit your preference. 

Unfortunately, you can only buy it in 5L tins. 

It has proven highly resistant to footfall, scuffing and vigorous washing in our tests.

It's also easy to apply to your deck. 

 V33 Colour Guard Decking Paint

Our score and verdict 96%, limited colours available

• Tough and durable paint
• Water resistant
• Easy to apply

Cons 

• Limited colours
• Only available in 2.5L tins

Need to know 10 sq m coverage per litre, 16-24 hours drying time, colours available: light silver, dark silver, gun metal

This is tough paint that proved resistant to scuffing, footfall and rigourous brushing. 

It's also easy to apply to wood, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting a good finish. 

The colour selection is limited though, so you may need to look elsewhere if your tastes go beyond shades of grey. You can also only buy it in 2.5L tins

The best decking stains

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best decking stain test results below. 

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Our tests are ongoing to see if more differences in staying power present themselves, and we'll update our results accordingly.

The decking stains we tested

All the decking stains we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best decking stains from our tests.

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Cuprinol Anti-Slip Decking Stain

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Need to know 12 sq m coverage per litre, dry in 4 hours, colours available: American mahogany, black ash, Boston teak, cedar fall, city stone, golden maple, Hampshire oak, silver birch, urban slate, Vermont green, natural, natural oak

Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Stain

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Need to know 13 sq m coverage per litre, rainproof in 90 minutes, colours available: walnut, cedar, charcoal, country oak, dark oak, medium oak, stone grey, slate, rich teak, blackcurrant, rich mahogany, sage, willow

Wickes Decking Stain

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Need to know 12 sq m coverage per litre, dry in 4 hours, colours available: carbon grey, coal, natural oak, nearly natural

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How we test decking paints and stains

All of the decking paint and decking stain is applied to pieces of decking according to the manufacturers instructions and then left exposed to the elements over the winter. 

In addition to this each decking paint and stain is tested for: 

• Durability At regular intervals over the winter, each piece of deck is trampled on and roughly scuffed. Decking paints stand up well to this rough treatment, but some decking stains start to wear off after only a few weeks of repeated testing. You'd be pretty annoyed if this happened to your deck after spending hours sprucing it up. 
• Waterproofing At regular intervals over the winter, each decking paint and stain is checked for waterproofing to see if water still beads on the surface of the deck, rather than soaking into the wood. Most decking paints and stains will remain water resistant after one winter.
• Weathering After a winter outside in tough conditions, each piece of decking is examined for wear and tear. 
• Ease of application Each paint and stain is assessed for how easy or difficult it is to achieve a nice finish. Some decking paint and stains look thin and streaky after even two coats, but the best will make your decking look fantastic after just one coat. 

We regularly revisit the decking paints and decking stains on sale to see if there are any more popular versions that need testing and when we find them we do.

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Is it better to paint a deck or stain it?

Decking paint is a bit more durable than decking stain, but it's also much more of a faff when you do need to replace the paint. These are the other key pros and cons of each:

Decking paint

• Pros Available in almost any colour you like, lower maintenance than decking stain and has a longer life expectancy, thicker finish can hide flaws in the wood, can be easier to clean.
• Cons Covers the grain of the wood, can look worse than stain when it starts to deteriorate, old paint needs to be totally removed before repainting – which is a big job.

Decking stain

• Pros Easy to apply to wood and takes less skill, the wood grain is still visible, looks more natural, further coats can be applied with less preparation.
• Cons Doesn't cover flaws or cracks in the wood, requires more regular maintenance – you might have to repaint it every year or two.

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How to paint decking

• Old bare decking is likely to have a build-up of dirt, dust, mould and algae on it, so you'll need to properly clean it first with a specific deck cleaner.
• An old painted deck will need even more preparation. You'll need to remove any loose paint and lightly sand the deck to prepare the surface before you can apply more paint. 
• Before applying new decking stain or paint, make sure the decking is clean, free of dust, and dry. 
• Next apply the paint or stain according to the instructions. Most recommend at least two or three coats, with a four-hour drying time between applications. 
• Use a pad applicator for the quickest results, and a brush around the edges. Seal the ends of the wood if they're exposed. 

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