Cedar Stain Color Chart | The Real Way To Choose

Picking a stain for cedar feels like a guessing game until you know how the system actually works. No singular “cedar stain color chart” covers every brand; you choose from individual manufacturer catalogs. The key is understanding which charts matter and why the sample on your own cedar boards beats any picture online every time. What follows is the practical route to a color you’ll actually like once it’s dry.

The Problem With A Universal Cedar Stain Color Chart

If you search for a master chart expecting one PDF of every cedar color, you’re going to come up empty. Stain manufacturers produce their own catalogs for their own product lines. An Olympic color code like SC-1014 Cedar won’t match a PPG ST-156 Cedar, even though both are named “Cedar.” The wood itself also shifts the outcome — oil-based stains absorb differently than water-based ones, and an old weathered board picks up color differently than fresh Western Red Cedar.

What does exist are branded tools that show real stain on real wood. The most useful of these is the EXPERT Stain & Seal Fan Deck, which costs $40 as of 2026 and contains 18 hand-stained Western Red Cedar boards in actual production stain. The colors range from Redwood and Natural to Barnwood and Stale Gray, giving you a honest preview of how cedar takes a finish.

Where To Find The Major Cedar Stain Color Charts

Three brands carry the most common cedar-specific color offerings. Each chart serves a different finish type, so match the chart to your project.

Olympic Wood Stain Cedar Colors

Olympic’s exterior line includes cedar color code SC-1014, available in transparent through solid finishes. Their advisory guide suggests three specific colors designed to let grain show while adding protection. This is the chart to check if you want a tinted look that still shows the wood’s character.

PPG Proluxe Semi-Transparent Cedar Colors

PPG offers two cedar codes in its semi-transparent family: ST-156 (Cedar) and ST-216 (Natural Cedar). Other related options include Spiced Red (ST-052) and Chestnut Brown (ST-201). These semi-transparent stains work well on cedar decks and siding where you want rich color without hiding the grain entirely.

Behr’s 2025 Cedar Wood Stain

Behr named Cedar Wood Stain its 2025 Exterior Stain Color of the Year. It comes in a solid finish for a full, opaque look. If you prefer solid coverage, this is the current chart to start with. Behr also offers over 1,600 custom computer-matched colors if none of the pre-set options fit.

How Cedar Stain Colors Compare — Brand By Brand

This table covers the most common branded options. Notice that the same cedar color name across brands won’t look the same on your deck — that’s why testing is essential, not optional.

Testing A Stain Before You Commit

The single biggest mistake people make is trusting a chart or online image as a final promise. Cedar takes stain differently depending on its age, texture, and whether the wood is oil-based or water-based. Ready Seal, for example, is a true semi-transparent oil-based stain and sealer — it takes on the wood’s own qualities, so the same color can look different on two fence boards.

You need to test on your actual project surface. The EXPERT Stain & Seal Custom Sample Kit is available in 3, 6, or 19 color samples using real production stain, and you can brush it right on your deck or fence. That test piece will be the only accurate preview you get.

Common Mistakes People Make With Cedar Stain Charts

Beyond skipping the test, three other errors cause most color surprises. First, assuming a color chart is a final accurate color rather than a general idea. Second, ignoring wood condition — staining over weathered gray cedar versus fresh-milled cedar changes the hue significantly. Third, mixing finish types without reading the can; water-based stain on a surface designed for oil-based stain won’t penetrate properly, leaving uneven coverage. Natural lighting when comparing fan decks avoids the second set of surprises from indoor lighting distortions.

Choosing The Right Finish For Your Cedar Project

Your finish choice determines which chart to pull from. Transparent users should stick to Olympic’s or Valspar’s transparent offerings. Semi-transparent shoppers have the widest range — PPG, Olympic Elite, and Cabot all produce strong semi-transparent cedar lines. Solid finish buyers can rely on Behr’s Cedar Wood Stain or the custom-matching system.

How To Get A Reliable Stain Color: Step By Step

1. Pick your finish type — transparent, semi-transparent, or solid — based on your cedar’s condition and how much grain you want visible.
2. Choose the brand whose chart offers the color family you want. Use the first table above to find the right product line for your finish.
3. Order a sample kit or fan deck from that brand. The EXPERT fan deck ($40) gives you 18 real-stained cedar boards for comparison in natural light.
4. Apply the sample to a hidden spot on your actual project wood. Let it dry fully — oil-based stains darken as they cure — then check it in morning, noon, and evening light.
5. Buy the full quantity once you’re satisfied. Mix all cans together in a five-gallon bucket before applying to ensure uniform color across the entire surface.

If you’re deep into the selection process and want to compare top-performing products head-to-head, our tested roundup of the best color stain for cedar breaks down which brands hold up best and which colors outperform others on real decks.