Behr Outdoor Wood Stain Colors: Verified Codes by Finish (2026)

Behr outdoor wood stain colors depend on the finish you choose first: Transparent has 3 pre-mixed tones, Semi-Transparent has 60 colors, Solid Color has over 1,600 custom colors, and DeckOver has 54. Code mix-ups are common: Redwood is ST-330, not ST-133 (that one is Yellow Cream). This guide lists checked codes, coverage math for a 200 sq ft deck, and Behr’s dry-time and weather limits.

How Behr’s Finishes Limit Your Color Choices

Picking a color is really picking a product line, because each line has its own palette. Transparent finishes have almost no color range by design. Solid color stains can be tinted to more than 1,600 shades. The table below compares the four lines that homeowners usually shop for, using the numbers on Behr’s own product pages.

Finish	Colors Behr offers	Grain visible?	Behr’s “up to” life (deck / fence and siding)
Premium Transparent Waterproofing Wood Finish	3 pre-mixed (Natural No. 500, Cedar Naturaltone No. 501, Redwood No. 502) plus 6 custom	Yes	4 years / 6 years
Premium Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Stain & Sealer	60 colors	Yes, through a tint	6 years / 8 years
Premium Solid Color Waterproofing Stain & Sealer	1,600+ custom colors	No, the film hides grain and minor flaws	10 years / 25 years
Premium Advanced DeckOver	54 solid custom colors	No, it resurfaces cracked wood and concrete	Not compared here

Two details matter more than the headline numbers. First, every line rates a deck lower than a fence (4 vs 6, 6 vs 8, 10 vs 25 years). Decks take direct sun, standing water, and foot traffic, so treat the deck figure as the realistic one for horizontal boards. Second, these are Behr’s best-case claims, not guarantees. If you want product-level detail, our reviews of Behr semi-transparent stain and Behr DeckPlus solid color stain cover application and peeling reports.

Behr Semi-Transparent Colors With Their Real ST Codes

Semi-Transparent is the line most people mean when they search for Behr deck stain colors. Behr’s list has 60 shades, and each carries an ST code. The table groups a useful selection by color family. The family is my grouping from each color’s name, so confirm the actual tone on a swatch or a test board before you buy a full gallon.

Family (grouped by name)	Colors and Behr codes
Browns	Coffee ST-103, Cordovan Brown ST-104, Russet ST-117, Chocolate ST-129, Cappuccino ST-142, Adobe Brown ST-148
Cedar and redwood names	Cedar ST-146, Red Cedar ST-152, Redwood Naturaltone ST-122, Redwood ST-330, Cedar Naturaltone ST-533
Grays and gray-browns	Drift Gray ST-137, Harbor Gray ST-143, Castle Gray ST-147, Coastal Gray ST-249, Aged Grey ST-259, Cape Cod Gray ST-365, Taupe ST-153
Light and neutral	White Pine ST-257, Desert Sand ST-145, Chatham Fog ST-154, Golden Beige ST-158

Behr lists 60 Semi-Transparent colors, and its Premium Semi-Transparent stain is rated for up to 6 years on decks and up to 8 years on fences and siding. Source: Behr Premium Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Stain and Sealer, behr.com

Behr’s Transparent line is separate and much smaller. Its three pre-mixed tones use plain three-digit numbers (Natural 500, Cedar Naturaltone 501, Redwood 502), not ST codes. Solid Color pre-mixed shades use five-digit numbers, such as Chocolate 50129 and Russet 50117, and the line is otherwise tinted from a base. Tell the paint counter both the name and the product line, because the same name can exist in more than one line.

Code Mix-Ups to Avoid (Redwood Is Not ST-133)

While checking this page against Behr’s published color lists, several codes that are commonly printed on color charts turned out not to match. An earlier version of this page printed them too. Here is what Behr’s lists actually show.

Name people look for	Code printed on some charts	What Behr’s list shows
Redwood	ST-133	ST-133 is Yellow Cream. Semi-Transparent Redwood is ST-330, Redwood Naturaltone is ST-122, Transparent Redwood is No. 502
Natural	ST-102	ST-102 is Slate. Natural is a Transparent color, No. 500
Cedar Naturaltone	ST-105	ST-105 is Padre Brown. Cedar Naturaltone is ST-533 (Semi-Transparent) or No. 501 (Transparent)
Driftwood	ST-152	ST-152 is Red Cedar. I found no color named Driftwood in the 60-color list; Drift Gray is ST-137
Saddle Brown	SC-141	ST-141 is Tugboat. I found no Saddle Brown in the Semi-Transparent list

The practical lesson: order by name and code together, and compare the chip at the store with the name on the can. Do not assume that a number means the same color in the ST and SC lines. The one pair I confirmed is Taupe, which is SC-153 in solid and ST-153 in semi-transparent.

Behr’s 2026 Exterior Stain Color of the Year: Taupe

Behr named Taupe its 2026 Exterior Stain Color of the Year. It is described as a soft blend of brown and gray: in solid (SC-153) it gives a uniform look across decks, fences, and siding, and in semi-transparent (ST-153) the wood grain shows through a warm gray-brown veil. It is available in Premium Semi-Transparent, DECKplus, Solid Color House & Fence, and Advanced DeckOver, exclusively at The Home Depot. Details are on Behr’s Taupe page.

Choosing a Color: Start With the Wood’s Condition

The wood decides the finish, and the finish decides which colors you can use. Work in this order.

Wood condition	Finish that fits	Why
New, clean, sound boards	Transparent or Semi-Transparent	The grain stays visible, so the wood’s own tone becomes part of the color
Gray but sound, uneven tone	Semi-Transparent in a mid or deep shade	A tint does not hide gray patches, so light shades tend to look blotchy
Old stain, mixed colors, patchy wear	Solid Color	Behr says the film hides grain and minor imperfections
Cracked, splintered, or rough boards	Advanced DeckOver	Behr says it conceals cracks and splinters up to 1/4 inch
Concrete patio or pool deck	Advanced DeckOver	Behr lists it for concrete as well as wood and composite

The tone guidance in the second row is general finishing logic, not a Behr claim. Cedar, redwood, and pine start from different colors, and a semi-transparent tint adds to that color rather than covering it. That is why a swatch rarely matches the finished deck.

Test before committing. Stain a hidden board or the underside of a rail, let it dry fully, and look at it outdoors in the light it will get all day. If you are weighing Behr against another brand, our Behr vs Cabot deck stain comparison and our guide to the best deck stain by deck condition help narrow it down.

How Much Stain a 200 Sq ft Deck Needs

Behr publishes coverage per gallon for the first coat and a larger figure for the second, because the first coat soaks in and the second does not. Adding the two coats together gives a gallon estimate. The figures below are my arithmetic from Behr’s published coverage for 200 sq ft of deck boards only, with no railings or stairs.

Finish	Behr coverage per gallon	Gallons for 2 coats on 200 sq ft
Semi-Transparent	250 to 300 sq ft (1st coat), 500 to 600 sq ft (2nd coat)	About 1.0 to 1.2 gallons
Solid Color	200 to 400 sq ft (1st coat), 400 to 800 sq ft (2nd coat)	About 0.75 to 1.5 gallons
Advanced DeckOver	Up to 75 sq ft per gallon in 2 coats	About 2.7 gallons

Rough or weathered boards soak up more than the label range, so buy at the high end and add a little for railings. DeckOver costs far more per square foot of coverage because it is a thick resurfacing coating, not a stain. Our guide to applying stain on a deck covers applicator choice, order of work, and how to back-brush.

Dry Times and Weather Limits From Behr’s Labels

Color is the fun part, but the failures come from timing. These are the numbers from Behr’s product pages for the lines covered above. A dash means I did not find that figure on the pages I checked.

Finish	Application temperature	Recoat after	Light foot traffic	Full cure
Semi-Transparent	40 to 90 F	1 to 2 hours	–	72 hours
Solid Color	35 to 90 F	1 to 2 hours	24 to 48 hours	72 hours
Advanced DeckOver	–	4 to 6 hours (dry to touch in 4)	24 to 48 hours	72 hours

• The wood must be completely dry. For Semi-Transparent, Behr says not to apply if rain is expected within 24 hours.
• After cleaning, let the surface dry at least 24 hours before coating, and use a cleaner such as Behr No. 63 Wood Cleaner to remove mill glaze when stripping is not needed.
• Cool temperatures and high humidity add drying time, especially for DeckOver.

New pressure-treated lumber adds another wait, covered in our guide on when you can stain pressure treated lumber. For the gap between coats, see when to apply a second coat of stain. If you are still choosing between water-based and oil-based products, our oil vs water based deck stain guide explains the trade-offs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many colors does Behr outdoor wood stain come in?

It depends on the finish. Behr lists 3 pre-mixed Transparent colors plus 6 custom ones, 60 Semi-Transparent colors, more than 1,600 custom Solid Color shades, and 54 solid custom colors for Advanced DeckOver.

What is the Behr Redwood stain color code?

In Behr’s Semi-Transparent line, Redwood is ST-330 and Redwood Naturaltone is ST-122. In the Transparent line, Redwood is No. 502. ST-133 is often printed as Redwood on charts, but Behr’s list shows ST-133 as Yellow Cream.

What is Behr’s 2026 exterior stain color of the year?

Taupe, sold as SC-153 in solid and ST-153 in semi-transparent. Behr describes it as a soft blend of brown and gray. It is available in Premium Semi-Transparent, DECKplus, Solid Color House & Fence, and Advanced DeckOver, exclusively at The Home Depot.

How long before you can walk on a newly stained deck?

Behr’s solid color and DeckOver labels say to wait 24 to 48 hours for light foot traffic and 72 hours for a full cure. Cool, humid weather can lengthen that. Keep furniture off until the surface is no longer tacky.

Can you pick a Behr stain color from a screen?

Only as a starting point. Screen and printed swatches cannot show how your wood’s own tone and the afternoon light will change a semi-transparent stain. Stain a hidden board, let it dry fully, and judge it outdoors.

Before buying, decide the finish from your wood’s condition, copy the name and code together from Behr’s list, and test one board. Doing those three things prevents most wrong-color surprises.