How Much Does It Cost to Stain Cedar Siding? [2025 Data]
Staining cedar siding costs on average $3,300, but can increase depending on the size of your project and type of stain used.
The cost to stain cedar siding is $3,300 on average, but can run between $400 and $11,000 depending on the size of your project and the type of stain used.
Cedar siding can add natural beauty to your home, offering a timeless blending of the siding with nature. Staining cedar will make it appear more vibrant and alive and can also increase the wood’s natural lifespan.
Factors That Impact the Cost to Stain Cedar Siding
Assuming you have already installed the cedar siding, the cost to stain cedar siding depends mainly on the square footage of the area and local labor costs.
Square Footage of Home
You should expect to pay between $2 and $ 5 per square foot for the materials and labor. Consider that larger projects have the benefit of scale, which means you can use larger containers of staining material, and the tools you use will become a small aspect of the overall cost.
| Home Size (Square Feet) | Estimated Coverage (Square Feet) | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | 1,300 | $2,600–$6,500 |
| 1,500 | 1,600 | $3,200–$8,000 |
| 2,000 | 1,900 | 3,800–$9,500 |
| 2,500 | 2,100 | $4,200–$10,500 |
| 3,000 | 2,300 | $4,600–$11,500 |
| 3,500 | 2,500 | $5,000–$12,500 |
Labor
Labor is by far the most expensive part of staining cedar siding. The good news is that the work isn’t particularly specialized, so expect to pay between $25 and $65 an hour when you hire a painting pro. The project may need significant prep work, so discuss with a painter if that’s something you can do yourself to save on the project’s cost. Local exterior painting professionals can apply the stain, wipe away excess, and repeat as necessary. While sealant isn’t required, many painters seal everything they stain because it greatly enhances the cedar’s weather resistance, natural color, and lifetime.
Type of Cedar Siding
Cedar stains are all similarly priced, so the real choice you need to make is whether you want to use natural, semitransparent, or opaque stains. Many choose to side their houses with cedar to reflect the nature surrounding them, which is why natural and semi-transparent stains are more popular as they allow the natural wood grain to shine through.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Stain Cedar Siding
You can save on the cost of labor by staining your cedar siding on your own because you’ll just have to pay for the materials. For almost all staining jobs, you’ll need the items listed below. You can use many of them for the majority of the project regardless of size, which just means the more square footage you stain, the less expensive the materials are.
| Tool or Material | Cost |
|---|---|
| Container of cedar stain | $49 |
| Stain brush | $18 |
| Rags | $26 |
| Goggles or safety glasses | $9 |
| Gloves | $11 |
Before you decide to stain your entire house, buy a cedar plank and practice on it first. This gives you a chance to test your stain and determine how many coats you want to add. It also gives you an idea of whether you are up for the physical demands of the project. Remember, you can always hire a painting pro to tackle this job for you. You’ll pay a bit more, but you’ll save yourself the time and energy of doing the job yourself and you may be happier with the finished product.
Ways to Save Money While Staining Cedar Siding
Saving money when staining cedar siding comes down to the size of the work being done and whether or not you can do it yourself. You may be able to shave small expenses, but nothing will make as big of a difference as DIYing the job or working alongside a pro. Some ways to save money are:
Buy the stain in bulk.
Do the work yourself.
Get multiple quotes.
Hire in the off-season.
Prepare the surface yourself.
Wait to buy stain until it’s on sale.
Use leftover stains from previous projects.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Oil-based stains are preferred over latex or water-based varieties because your home's cedar siding must constantly withstand the weather conditions in your location. These stains provide better penetration into the wood to more effectively protect it from UV rays and water infiltration. Oil-based stains are available in transparent, semi-transparent, opaque, or solid-color selections to achieve the look you desire.
If you buy new cedar, the process of cutting it usually roughs up the surface enough that it doesn’t require sanding. However, if you buy older cedar or you’re repurposing it from another application, it’s a good idea to sand it. This helps the stain settle into the grain, and results in a more uniform appearance.
The general consensus is that two coats of stain are required and since the cedar is siding, a third coat of sealant is always a good idea. This helps protect the wood and stain, so you won’t need to resand and restain for at least a decade. Each stain after the first will darken the wood, so be aware of that when choosing a colored stain.
You should stain your home's cedar siding every three to seven years for maximum protection and to maintain its appearance. Homeowners who live in harsh climates with high humidity and lots of direct sunlight should plan staining every three years, while those who live in milder locations can plan on seven. In particularly harsh climates, consider using an opaque stain variety for the longest-lasting protection.
You can spray stain your home's cedar siding. However, you'll achieve the best results by spraying first and back-brushing or back-rolling the surface after spraying to help work the stain into the wood. This method can be faster than rolling or brushing alone because you won't have to carry the stain product with you as you go after spraying.
