How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Deck? (2023 Estimates)

How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Deck?

When talking about painting costs for a particular painting project, it all comes down to the square footage and how much prep work (supplies) it requires to do the job right.

So for the sake of this article, we're going to break down the typical costs you'll incur if you're doing the paint job yourself, as compared to the typical cost of hiring a professional painter.

It's also important to know that before we dive into the cost calculations that things like mildew or peeling paint can make refinishing a wood deck much more time-consuming because you'll be spending more time on the pre-work clean up.

This means more power washing and prep work for you, so make sure you factor the current state of your deck into your overall cost estimates.

Average Deck Painting Cost?

If you'rea handyman looking to DIY your deck, your costs are going to be much different than they would be when hiring a painting contractor.

While painting your decking yourself is definitely an undertaking, deck painting in and of itself isn't that complicated.

With proper technique and prep work, you can save yourself a pretty penny on labor costs and give your deck that "new deck" look all on your own.

But, before you commit to DIY deck painting, it's important to know what painting costs you'll incur if you're doing it all yourself.

For instance, there are some tools you'll need in addition to a good paint and a good sealer. 

If you have these things on hand already, then your total cost will likely just include the gallons of paint and sealer you'll need to buy to do the job, which will be based on the size of the deck in question.

But, I'm going to go through and make an itemized list of the average price of all these items below so you can get a sense of how much to budget for your painting project:

• Drop Cloths - $10
• Power washer (rental) - $56/day
• Power washer (to own) - $120
• Belt sander (rental) - $25/day or...
• Pole Sander - $25
• Paint Sprayer (rental) - $40/day
• Paint Brushes (For Detailing) - $10
• Disposable Painter's Masks - $20 
• Disposable Painting Gloves - $8
• Safety Goggles - $12
• 1 Gallon of Paint - $36
• 1 Gallon of Sealer - $36

You probably won't need to purchase everything on this list if you've painted before, and if you're lucky enough to already have a power washer for pressure washing your deck that'll save you some cash.

Otherwise, you can rent one for 4 hours for about $56 or $80 for a full day from Home Depot.

The same goes for a belt sander (which we'd highly recommend over sandpaper and a hand sander since it'll save your time and your back).

In fact, you can rent most of the tools you'll need to get the job done right from your local Home Depot or Lowe's for a fraction of the price compared to buying them.

That said, the estimated total cost of all of the painting supplies on this list for painting (or staining) a deck about:

$340 - $460

This range is based on the assumption that you'd need to buy or rent all of the painting supplies, plus 1 gallon of deck paint or deck stain as well as 1 gallon of sealer. 

(This is based on the average deck size of about 300 to 400 sq ft which is what one gallon of paint/stain will typically cover.)

Important Note: Make sure you get a true deck paint, exterior paints that are going to be exposed to the elements need to be chosen very carefully otherwise you risk

Your final cost will ultimately depend on how big your deck is and any other project costs you might have.

However, if you're looking to stain your deck that's a slightly different process, but many of the costs will stay the same. Let's go over the differences below!

Average Deck Staining Costs?

Now if you're looking for a cost guide on staining a deck, that's going to be a bit different.

While deck stain isn't that much different than deck paint, it's a slightly different process that requires a few different things.

Take a look at the list below to see the price comparison:

• Drop Cloths - $10
• Power washer (rental) - $56/day
• Power washer (to own) - $120
• Belt sander (rental) - $25/day or...
• Pole Sander - $25
• Pump Sprayer - $50 or...
• Stain Applicator w/Extension Pole - $18 
• Paint Brushes (For Detailing) - $10
• Stain Rags - $10
• Disposable Painter's Masks - $20 
• Disposable Painting Gloves - $8
• Safety Goggles - $12
• 1 Gallon of Wood Stain - $36

Based on the items listed here, staining your deck yourself will cost about:

$200 - 450

If you've never worked with stain before, I'd highly recommend watching the video below to get a feel for this process so you get the highest quality finish on your deck possible.

The type of stain you choose is important and it will determine the overall cost of your project as well.

The overall cost of your deck stain job will also depend on how much deck surface you're refinishing, whether you have to stain a deck railing and what type of wood grain you're working with.

NOTE: When you're done with your stained rags, do NOT put them in a pile in direct sunlight if you used oil-based stain as they can spontaneously combust and start a fire. Be sure to hang them to dry with plenty of space between each other.

Read More >> What Are The Best Pump Sprayers For Spraying Stain?

Average Deck Painting Cost If You Hire a Painting Contractor?

Now let's talk about how much it'll cost you to hire a professional painter to paint or stain your deck for you.

One thing to note here is that every professional painting company prices their work differently and charges different rates. 

So for the sake of this article, I'm going to price this out based on the national average cost per square foot, and I'm going to base the total on the national average size of a deck (300-400 square feet).

Typically, painting contractors will charge you based on the linear foot because it's easier to estimate the costs of labor and materials that way.

Keep in mind, if you're hiring someone to paint a significantly larger deck it'll cost more. 

The national average cost for painting per square foot ranges from $2-$5.

This means it'll probably cost anywhere from $600 to $2,000 to hire a professional painter to paint or stain your deck.

What Is The DIY Cost To Paint Per Square Foot?

Now let's break down the estimate DIY costs a bit more.

This is where the quality of deck paint or deck stain you choose factors in because certain paints cost more than others.

The best way to estimate the amount of paint or stain needed to refinish your deck is to look at the gallon of paint you're using to see how much coverage it offers.

Then, estimate the size of your deck's size using a square footage cost calculator like this one to determine the exact surface area you're working with how many gallons of paint total are needed to provide the right amount of coverage.

Important Note: One thing to pay attention to when estimating your overall costs is how time-consuming this project will be. At a certain point, depending on how much free time you have and how experienced you are with home improvement, it might be more cost-effective to hire a professional to do the job for you.

Read More >> What Are The Best Professional Airless Paint Sprayers?

How Can You Save Money When Painting A Deck?

Lucky for you, if you decide to go the DIY route there are several things you can do to lower your painting estimate and save money on your painting project.

Types of Paint

One of the best ways to save money is to choose the type of paint you're using carefully.

Obviously, if you choose to go with the highest-quality paint it's going to cost you more.

The same goes for stain. If you're planning on buying all new stains of the highest quality, it's going to cost you more than if you went with something a little less expensive.

For instance, if you choose to go with a solid stain (which looks more like paint but still seeps into the wood grain) it'll probably cost you more. This is because a solid stain tends to look better than paint in the long run and it fades rather than peeling or chipping as deck paint does.

Whereas if you went with a more semi-transparent stain that offers a more natural look to the wood grain, it's going to cost a bit less.

Read More >> What Are The Best Paint Tool Extension Poles?

Renting vs. Buying Supplies

Did you know you can actually rent certain painting supplies rather than having to buy them?

Most Home Depot stores and Lowe's stores have a rental program where you can rent out certain painting and home improvement supplies. So if you know you'll only need those supplies for this particular project, that can be a much more cost-effective way to get the things you need.

Here's another thing that blew my mind when I learned it: some libraries rent out basic home improvement supplies!

Check with your local library to see if they have any tools like paint rollers and paint trays on hand that you can borrow. That'll save you lots of money on your painting project and you'll still be able to get the job done right.

Obviously, the cheapest route here is to see if any of your friends and family have some painting supplies they could lend you for the day.

Sales And Dented Cans

Another way you could try to save money on paint is by waiting for your local hardware store to run a sale. Even if they knock off a few dollars on a can of paint, this can save you a bunch of money if you know you have a bunch of square footage to cover.

You can also see if they have any dented or otherwise blemished cans that they could sell to you for less. 

Most people don't want to buy dented cans (just like ugly fruits and veggies) but the paint inside is the same stuff, and if you can get it for a bit cheaper that's more money left over for you!

Final Thoughts On Deck Painting Costs

Now that we've broken down the individual costs for painting a deck, these cost calculators should give you a good starting point.

While every painting project is different, knowing the range of costs before you start is always helpful so you can find all the areas of the budget that you can cut back on.

Whether you're going to DIY your deck or plan to hire a professional, I wish you the best of luck.

As always, happy painting!