What fence staining costs
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Fence staining, typical Per linear foot | $3–$8 |
| 6-foot privacy fence, two coats Per linear foot | $3.50–$6 |
| Maintenance coat, maintained cedar fence Per linear foot | $2–$5 |
What moves the price
- Height and style. A 6-foot privacy fence has about twice the surface of a 3-foot picket fence per foot of length, and lattice or shadowbox styles add more.
- One side or both. Staining your side only is common; the neighbour's side needs their agreement and access.
- Prep. Cleaning a grey fence is quick; removing peeling paint or solid stain is slow.
- Spray or brush. Spraying is fast but needs masking and back-brushing to soak in; brushing takes longer and costs more.
- Landscaping. Shrubs and beds along the fence line slow the work and need protecting.
How a fence is stained
- Fix loose boards, leaning posts and a sagging gate first. See fence post repair and fence gate repair.
- Clean the fence and brighten weathered wood; let it dry for a day or two.
- Protect plants, hardscape and the house with drop cloths and masking.
- Apply stain top to bottom, working the full height of a few boards at a time and back-brushing sprayed stain.
- Stain cut ends and the tops of posts well; that is where water gets in.
Staining a fence in a wet climate
In the Lower Mainland the work is done in the dry months, roughly May to September, because the wood has to be dry before staining and stay dry while the stain cures. Fences on the shaded side of a yard grow green algae and moss over the winter; it has to be washed off and the boards dried first, or the stain will not bond.
The bottom few inches of the boards and the tops of the posts take the most water. Keep soil and mulch off the bottom of the fence, and make sure those end grains get a full coat.
In a townhouse strata, fences are often common property and the strata sets the colour. Check before staining your side.
New fences
New pressure-treated boards need time to dry before they will take stain, often several weeks to a few months. Water soaking in rather than beading is the sign it is ready. Cedar, which most BC fences are built from, can usually be stained sooner, and staining it in its first dry season keeps it from weathering grey.
Repair before you stain
Stain will not fix a fence that is failing at the posts. If boards are rotting at the bottom or posts lean, repair first; see fence repair cost. For decks, see deck staining cost.
Common questions
How often should a fence be stained?
A cedar fence generally needs staining or sealing every two to three years. Fences in full sun or constant shade and damp need it sooner than sheltered ones.
Do I need my neighbour's permission to stain my fence?
For your own side, generally not. To stain their side you need their permission and access. On a shared boundary fence, agree on the colour and cost first.
Is it cheaper to paint or stain a fence?
Stain is usually cheaper to apply and much easier to maintain, because it wears gradually instead of peeling.
Related guides
Compiled from published 2026 Canadian cost data (Canadian fence and painting contractors' price guides), in CAD. We update these figures as we complete jobs.