DIY

How Much Stain Do You Need?

Built by Kevin Glover · @gloverbuilds · Verified formula

Calculate gallons of stain for your deck, fence, or outdoor wood project by surface type, area, and wood condition.

📅 Updated April 2026 ✅ Formula verified 📖 4 min read 🆓 Free · No sign-up

In this article

Stain Coverage by Wood Type
Transparent vs Solid Stain
Application Tips

Rendement

Bois lisse : 8-12 m²/litre. Bois scié/rugueux : 5-8 m²/L. Bois ancien : 4-6 m²/L. Toujours 2 couches minimum — une seule couche est inégale et se dégrade rapidement. Terrasse de 20 m² × 2 couches : 40 m² ÷ 7 = ~6 litres.

Application

Appliquez entre 10-30°C, sans pluie annoncée dans 48h. Poncez légèrement entre les couches avec du grain 220. Pour les terrasses : le pulvérisateur + retouche au pinceau est la méthode la plus rapide et uniforme.

⚡ CalcWolf Insight

Oil-based stains penetrate deeper than water-based and last 20-30% longer on horizontal surfaces. However, water-based stains are easier to apply, dry faster, and clean up with water. For deck floors (heavy foot traffic), oil-based is worth the extra hassle.

Frequently asked questions

Combien de lasure pour une terrasse de 20 m² ?▾

2 couches : 5-7 litres selon la porosité du bois. Le bois neuf absorbe plus que le bois déjà traité.

À quelle fréquence refaire la lasure ?▾

Surfaces horizontales (terrasse) : tous les 2-3 ans. Verticales (clôture) : 3-5 ans. Si l'eau ne perle plus : il est temps de refaire.

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Kevin Glover · @gloverbuilds

Founder, CalcWolf · GLVTS · Blickr

All formulas sourced from primary references — IRS publications, peer-reviewed research, and official standards. Results are tested against independent reference calculators before publishing. Rates and brackets updated when official sources change. Editorial policy →