The Best Decking Paints To Transform Your Outdoor Space
Six tough paints and anti-slip coatings we'd put on a tired deck that needs a complete colour change.
Our quick verdict
Our pick of the best decking paint is the Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Paint, a tough, smooth paint that fills small cracks, locks down splinters and covers an old colour in two coats. For steps and ramps, go for the Slip Doctors Dura Grip, which gives the toughest grip of the six we looked at.
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Our Picks At A Glance
- Check price of Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Paint
Best Overall
Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking PaintMost decks needing a full colour change on softwood or hardwood boards
- Check price of Trade Paints Non-Slip
Best Anti-Slip
Trade Paints Non-SlipLarger decks that turn slippery in the wet and need a satin finish
- Check price of Ronseal Decking Rescue Paint
Best All-Rounder
Ronseal Decking Rescue PaintTired decks on a tighter budget where a quick rainproof finish helps
- Check price of TA Paints Oil Based Paint
Best Colour Selection
TA Paints Oil Based PaintMatching a deck to fences or garden buildings in a specific colour
- Check price of Paint People Firmtread Anti-Slip Deck Coating
Best Value
Paint People Firmtread Anti-Slip Deck CoatingLarge decks on a budget that need slip resistance
- Check price of Slip Doctors Dura Grip
Best Heavy Duty
Slip Doctors Dura GripRamps, steps and high-traffic decks where maximum grip comes first
Where your deck sits matters as much as the colour you pick. Boards in full sun dry quickly after rain and get by with a standard paint, but a deck under trees or beside a downpipe stays damp and turns slippery, so that's where an anti-slip coating pays its way. Tin size is the other trap, as big tins on a small balcony leave half the paint in the shed.
We repaint decks across the rentals and Airbnbs we look after, and the six below suit new boards and decks with an old colour on them.
How We Tested These Decking Paints
Many of the rentals and Airbnbs we manage have decking, and it gets a fresh coat every other year to stop it looking tired. That routine has given us plenty of chances to try different decking paints and play around with colours, from a pale blue to a warm terracotta.
We've painted brand-new boards and decks that already carried an old colour, so we judged each one on how it handled both, looking at these points:
- Application: how easily it went on by brush, roller or decking pad and whether it dragged on rough boards
- Finish: how even the colour looked and how many coats it took to get there
- Surfaces: which timbers and board profiles the paint is made for
- Grip: whether the dry surface felt safe underfoot when damp
- Drying time: how soon we could recoat and get the deck back in use
- Durability: how the paint coped with foot traffic and weather between repaints
The next two photos come from our most recent round of testing. We picked up three tins of Ronseal Ultimate Protection in Slate along with Ronseal's Decking Cleaner and Reviver for the prep, plus a tin of Paint People Firmtread to see how an anti-slip coating compared.
The write-ups for Trade Paints Non-Slip, Ronseal Decking Rescue Paint, TA Paints and Slip Doctors Dura Grip rest on the manufacturers' figures for colours, tin sizes, coverage and drying times, and we attribute those figures to the brand wherever they appear. Price came into it once we knew how many coats each one needed.
The Best Decking Paints We Recommend
Each of the six paints below is made for decking that takes regular foot traffic. We've flagged the ones that needed two coats on our boards.
Best Overall
Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Paint
Best for: Most decks needing a full colour change on softwood or hardwood boards
Check Price On AmazonRonseal Ultimate Protection is the paint we bought for our latest repaint, and our testing photos show three tins of Slate alongside Ronseal's Decking Cleaner and Reviver. It's the newer, dearer sibling of the Decking Rescue Paint further down this list, and Ronseal pitches it as the tougher of the two with a smoother finish.
You can apply it with a brush or a decking pad, and it fills small cracks and locks down splinters on tired softwood. The UV protection makes it a good fit for a deck that sits in full sun, and Ronseal quotes up to 10 square metres per litre across a choice of 10 colours. Plan on two coats, because that's what it took on our boards to get the best finish.
What we like
- Fills small cracks and locks down splinters
- UV protection for decks in full sun
- Choice of 10 colours
- Made for both softwood and hardwood decking
- Goes on by brush or decking pad
- Up to 10 square metres per litre according to Ronseal
- All-weather protection for year-round use
What to know
- Needed two coats on our decking for the best finish
- Costs more than Ronseal's own Decking Rescue Paint
Our verdict
Of all six, Ultimate Protection copes best with the mix of problems a tired deck throws up, from bare softwood to cracked boards and an old colour underneath. Two coats are the only real ask. Shoppers watching the budget can drop down to Ronseal Decking Rescue Paint for a similar look, though a damp, shaded deck needs one of the anti-slip coatings further down.
Best Anti-Slip
Trade Paints Non-Slip
Best for: Larger decks that turn slippery in the wet and need a satin finish
Check Price On AmazonDamp boards in the shade grow moss, mildew and algae, and that green film is what makes a deck treacherous after rain. Trade Paints Non-Slip deals with it using a hard-wearing polyurethane coating with grip built into the finish.
The finish is satin rather than flat, which leaves a slight sheen once it's dry. A tin goes a long way, too. The brand quotes 13 square metres per litre, generous next to the 10 Ronseal gives for Ultimate Protection, and there are 13 colours to choose from. It goes on by brush or roller, covers splinters and small splits as it builds up, and dries in 2 to 4 hours. It only comes in 2.5 or 5 litre tins, so it makes more sense on a big deck than a small balcony.
What we like
- Polyurethane coating with grip built in
- Choice of 13 colours
- Coverage of 13 square metres per litre according to the brand
- Dries in 2 to 4 hours
- Covers splinters and small splits
- Brush or roller application
What to know
- Only sold in 2.5 and 5 litre tins, which is more than a small deck needs
- Satin sheen won't suit anyone after a flat, natural look
Our verdict
A decent-sized deck that turns slippery every wet spell is where Trade Paints Non-Slip earns its place. Each tin stretches further than most here, and the 13 colours give you plenty of room to choose. The catch is tin size, since the smallest is 2.5 litres, which is a lot of paint for a small balcony or a single run of steps.
Best All-Rounder
Ronseal Decking Rescue Paint
Best for: Tired decks on a tighter budget where a quick rainproof finish helps
Check Price On AmazonDecking Rescue Paint was Ronseal's main decking paint before Ultimate Protection came along, and it's still a sound choice if you'd rather not pay for the upgrade. It works on hardwood and softwood, and on both ridged and smooth boards, so it suits most garden decks you'll come across.
According to Ronseal, it gives a long-lasting, scuff-resistant finish that's rainproof in 90 minutes, which is handy when the British weather turns halfway through a job. The paint fills small cracks and seals down splinters, and it comes in 10 colours with a rich, solid look once dry. Like its newer sibling, it needs two coats for the best finish.
What we like
- Suits hardwood, softwood, ridged and smooth decking
- Rainproof in 90 minutes according to Ronseal
- Rich colour that stands up to foot traffic and weathering
- Fills small cracks and seals down splinters
- 10 colours to pick from
What to know
- Needs two coats for the best finish
- Ronseal now sells Ultimate Protection as its upgraded decking paint
Our verdict
Decking Rescue Paint is the older formula, but it still gives a dependable finish for less money. Ronseal says it's rainproof in 90 minutes, which helps when you need the deck back in use quickly. Stretch to Ultimate Protection for the smoother finish, or look at TA Paints if ten colours feels limiting.
Best Colour Selection
TA Paints Oil Based Paint
Best for: Matching a deck to fences or garden buildings in a specific colour
Check Price On AmazonTA Paints offers 37 colours, far more than anything else on this list, so it's the one to look at if you have a particular shade in mind. It's an oil-based formula, so plan for a longer wait between coats than the quicker-drying paints here.
It's touch dry in 2 to 4 hours, but TA Paints says to wait 12 to 24 hours before the next coat, and coverage is 8 square metres per litre according to the brand. Tins come in 1, 2.5 and 5 litres, so you can buy a small tin for a step or a big one for the whole deck. The range also doubles as a matching fence paint when the deck backs onto a fence you want in the same colour.
What we like
- Choice of 37 colours
- Sold in 1, 2.5 and 5 litre tins
- Touch dry in 2 to 4 hours according to TA Paints
- Oil-based formula
- Works as a matching paint for fences
What to know
- Relatively expensive compared with the other paints here
- Coverage of 8 square metres per litre is lower than Ronseal and Trade Paints
- Needs 12 to 24 hours before a second coat
Our verdict
Colour matching is the job TA Paints does best. With 37 shades on offer, getting the deck to sit alongside a fence, shed or garden furniture in the same colour is far easier than with anything else on this list. Bear in mind that the 12 to 24 hour overcoat window turns a two-coat job into a two-day one, so pick a settled spell of weather.
Best Value
Paint People Firmtread Anti-Slip Deck Coating
Best for: Large decks on a budget that need slip resistance
Check Price On AmazonFirmtread is one of the cheapest decking paints we'd still recommend, and it's the anti-slip coating we tried alongside Ronseal Ultimate Protection in our latest round of testing. The tin in our photo is the 2.5 litre Natural Wood Tint, and the coating has particles mixed through it to add grip once it's on the boards.
It brushes or rolls on easily, and Paint People quotes touch dry in 2 to 4 hours with a recoat after 8 hours. That's quick enough to get two coats on in a single day if you make an early start, which you'll need, since our boards took two coats for the best finish. There are 9 colours to choose from.
What we like
- Grip particles mixed through the coating
- Choice of 9 colours
- Recoat after 8 hours according to Paint People
- Easy to apply by brush or roller
- Two coats possible in one day
What to know
- Needed two coats on our decking for the best finish
- Fewer colours than TA Paints or Trade Paints
Our verdict
For a big deck and a small budget, Firmtread is the sensible buy, with grip thrown in at no extra cost. The 8 hour recoat lets you finish both coats in one long day. Where slipping is a real danger, such as on steps or a sloping walkway, Slip Doctors Dura Grip offers a tougher grip, and if you'd rather not have particles in the finish, Ronseal Ultimate Protection is the smoother choice.
Best Heavy Duty
Slip Doctors Dura Grip
Best for: Ramps, steps and high-traffic decks where maximum grip comes first
Check Price On AmazonDura Grip is an epoxy coating rather than a standard decking paint, and it's built for grip first. It rolls straight onto the boards with a decent roller and dries to a commercial-grade non-slip finish that Slip Doctors describes as barefoot and paw friendly, which matters on a deck used by children and dogs.
It's one of the most expensive options in this roundup, and it doesn't cover as much ground per litre as the standard paints, so the cost adds up quickly on a big deck. The tin sizes help here, running from 1 litre through 1.8 and 2.8 to 3.7 litres, which suits painting just the steps or a ramp. Allow 12 to 24 hours to dry, and pick from 10 colours.
What we like
- Commercial-grade epoxy non-slip finish
- Barefoot and paw friendly according to Slip Doctors
- Choice of 10 colours
- 1, 1.8, 2.8 and 3.7 litre tins for small or large areas
- Applies directly to the boards with a roller
What to know
- Lower coverage than the standard decking paints
- One of the most expensive coatings in this roundup
- Takes 12 to 24 hours to dry
Our verdict
Dura Grip is the coating we'd save for steps, ramps and the stretch outside the back door where a slip would hurt. On a whole deck the price climbs quickly, so a sensible approach is to coat just the danger spots in Dura Grip and paint the rest in a standard decking paint. Its toughness is the reason to buy it, and price is the reason to use it sparingly.
Choosing The Right Decking Paint For Your Boards
The right decking paint comes down to the state of your boards, how much the deck gets used and how damp it stays. Work through each of these before you buy.
Paint, Stain Or Oil For Your Deck
Paint forms a solid film on top of the timber, so it hides old colours, patchy stain and weathering completely. Stain tints the wood and lets the grain show, while an oil soaks into the timber and keeps it looking natural. If you want a full colour change, or you're going lighter than the colour that's on there now, paint is the only one of the three that will do it.
The trade-off is upkeep. Paint sits on the surface, so it needs sanding back and recoating once it wears through on the busy routes, whereas an oil simply gets topped up. Check the main walkway each spring, as that's where paint wears through first. The same thinking applies to the rest of your garden timber, and our guide to the best exterior wood paints covers sheds, cladding and garden furniture.
How Much Grip Your Deck Needs
A deck in full sun dries quickly after rain and stays fairly safe with a standard paint. One that sits in shade, under trees or near a downpipe stays damp for longer, and that's where moss, mildew and algae build up into a slippery film. For those spots, an anti-slip coating such as Firmtread, Trade Paints Non-Slip or Dura Grip is worth the extra money.
Paint won't fix a deck that's already green. Scrub or pressure wash the growth off first, using the same method as our guide on removing green algae from a fence, then let the boards dry fully before you open a tin.
Coverage And Tin Sizes
Coverage figures vary a lot between brands. Ronseal quotes up to 10 square metres per litre for Ultimate Protection, Trade Paints quotes 13 and TA Paints quotes 8, while Dura Grip covers less than the standard paints. Measure your deck, divide by the coverage and double it for two coats, then add a little extra for rough or grooved boards that soak up more paint.
Tin sizes matter more than people think. A paint sold only in 5 litre tins makes sense for a big deck, but on a small balcony you'll end up storing half a tin in the shed. If you do, our guide to how long opened paint lasts explains how to keep it usable for the next touch-up.
Drying Times And The British Weather
Drying time decides whether you can finish the job in one dry spell. Paint People quotes a recoat time of 8 hours for Firmtread, so two coats in a day is realistic, whereas TA Paints needs 12 to 24 hours between coats and Dura Grip needs a similar window to dry. Ronseal says Decking Rescue Paint is rainproof in 90 minutes, which helps when the forecast is unsettled.
Check the forecast for the full drying period, not just the morning you paint. Dew settling on a deck that's only touch dry can leave the finish blotchy.
Prep Makes Or Breaks The Finish
Every paint on this list relies on clean, dry, sound timber. Clean the boards with a decking cleaner, sand down any raised grain or flaking old coatings and fix loose screws before you start. Bigger splits are worth filling with an exterior product from our pick of the best wood fillers, since decking paint will only bridge small cracks.
For the painting itself, a brush works the paint into the gaps between boards and a roller on an extension pole covers the flat faces quickly. Our roundup of the best paint rollers is a good place to start when choosing one for rough, grooved timber.
Decking Paint Questions We Get Asked
Is decking paint better than decking stain?
Decking paint is better if you want a complete colour change or need to hide an old, patchy finish, because it forms a solid coat over the timber. Decking stain is better if you want the grain to show and prefer a natural look. Paint needs sanding and recoating once it wears through, whereas a stain or oil can be topped up with less prep.
Do you need to clean decking before painting it?
Yes, decking must be clean and fully dry before you paint it, or the paint won't bond and will start to flake. Scrub or pressure wash off dirt, moss and algae, then use a decking cleaner to lift grime from the grain. Leave the boards to dry completely, then sand any raised fibres or flaking old coatings before the first coat.
How many coats of decking paint do you need?
Most decks need two coats of decking paint for an even, hard-wearing finish. On our own decks, both Ronseal Ultimate Protection and Paint People Firmtread needed a second coat to look their best. Bare, weathered softwood soaks up the first coat quickly, so two coats matter even more there, and a strong colour change can need the same.
Can you paint over decking that has been stained?
You can paint over stained decking as long as the old stain is sound and the boards are clean and dry. Sand back any flaking or glossy areas so the paint has something to grip, and wash off the dust before painting. An oiled deck is harder, as the oil needs to weather out first, so check the paint tin for guidance on previously oiled timber.
Which of these decking paints suits a small deck or just a set of steps?
Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Paint is the one we'd pick for most decks, but tin size matters on a small area. Trade Paints Non-Slip starts at 2.5 litres, which is a lot for a balcony. TA Paints sells a 1 litre tin, and Slip Doctors Dura Grip also starts at 1 litre, which suits steps or a ramp.
Is Ronseal Ultimate Protection worth paying more for than the Decking Rescue Paint?
Ultimate Protection is worth the extra if you want the smoother finish, since Ronseal pitches it as the tougher of the two. Decking Rescue Paint is the older formula and gives a similar look for less money, and Ronseal says it's rainproof in 90 minutes. Both need two coats for the best finish.
Can I use Slip Doctors Dura Grip on the whole deck?
You can, but the cost climbs quickly. Dura Grip is one of the most expensive coatings in the roundup and it covers less ground per litre than the standard paints. We'd save it for the steps, ramps and the stretch outside the back door, then paint the rest of the deck in a standard decking paint.
Why does TA Paints take so much longer than the other decking paints?
TA Paints is an oil-based formula, so the wait between coats is longer. The brand quotes touch dry in 2 to 4 hours but 12 to 24 hours before you can overcoat, which turns a two-coat job into a two-day one. Paint People Firmtread, by comparison, can be recoated after 8 hours according to Paint People.
Which Decking Paint We'd Pick
Ronseal Ultimate Protection is the decking paint we'd choose for most jobs, with a smooth, solid finish over old colours and bare boards once two coats are on. Ronseal Decking Rescue Paint gives a similar result for less money if you can live without the upgrade.
For decks that get slippery, Paint People Firmtread is the budget anti-slip choice and Slip Doctors Dura Grip is the heavy-duty option for steps and ramps.
Eddie spent five years as a self-employed painter and decorator before going part time to become one of the main writers at DIY Works. From garden fences to mist coats on fresh plaster, painting and decorating is his speciality.