maple wood stains

A Guide on Best maple wood stains for 2023

Maple wood stains are essential for your toolbox, especially if you have maple wood furniture. Think of a maple stain like a bandage in your home-bound first aid box, quickly treating and restoring your prized maple. But, getting the right stain is always tough for woodworkers.

Different maple stain colors come in handy for damaged furniture because the stains give your furniture an entirely new look. So, if you know how to stain maple wood, you can renew your kitchen cabinets and floorboards without replacing them entirely.

Read on as we explore some of the best maple wood stains in the market and compare them to find you the perfect fit.

Product ImageProduct NameSimpleWoodWorking
Rating
What We LikeWhat We Didn’t LikeLink
Minwax Maple Gel StainMinwax Maple Gel StainBest For All-Purpose– Thick consistency prevents a mess
– Leaves a smooth finish on maple and non-wood projects 
– It is great for beginners
– The consistency might cause a stressful cleanupCheck Price Here
Tried and True Natural Maple Wood StainsTried and True Natural Maple Wood StainsBest For Kitchen Projects– It is 100% food and kitchen safe 
– It is free from harsh chemicals and synthetic additives
– Start staining without any prep
– It may be slow to dry
– Consistency is rather thin
Check Price Here
General Finishes Water-based Maple Wood StainsBest For Flexibility– Non-combustible to protect indoor stained furniture 
– Flexible because it can easily take other compounds
– Low odor, allowing to work indoors without PPE
– Watery consistency may be hard to work with
– Color may be too dark, might need a pre-stain conditioner 
Check Price Here
Cabot Solid Color Decking StainCabot Solid Color Decking StainBest Maple Wood Stains For Floorboards– Deeply pigmented formula is perfect for high-traffic areas 
– Low-smell wood stain with little environmental impact
– Watery consistency may be hard to work with
– Color may be too dark, and might need a pre-stain conditioner 
Check Price Here
SamaN Water Wood-Based StainSamaN Water Wood-Based StainBest For Value– Contains VOCs safe for use around pets and children
– Rich pigment allows woodworkers to achieve the perfect shade in one coat
– Shade may be too dark for softwood, but better with pre-stain and a tighterCheck Price Here

Best For All-Purpose – Minwax Maple Gel Stain

Minwax 260204444 Gel Stain, Aged Oak, 1/2 Pint

The Minwax Maple Gel Stain is the best product for all-purpose applications. Its thick gel formula is perfect for spreading on maple surfaces that need a facelift. Hobbyists and professional woodworkers use it for doors, cabinets, floorboards, and even maple accessories.

It is made with a non-drip formula, so you can easily stain vertical surfaces like kitchen cabinets and shelves. And, its thick consistency keeps it closer to the wood, allowing you more control as you stain.

The Minwax Maple Gel Stain delivers a rich finish, inspiring hobbyists to use it on non-wood surfaces like steel, fiberglass, and veneer. However, it works best when you pre-treat the wood with a wood conditioner.

What We Like

  • Its thick consistency prevents a mess when working with vertical maple surfaces.
  • It leaves a smooth finish on maple and non-wood projects 
  • It is great for beginners who want the best control as they stain

What We Didn’t Like

  • The consistency might cause a stressful cleanup 

Best For Kitchen Projects – Tried and True Natural Maple Wood Stains

Tried & True Dark Walnut Stain & Finish, Pint - Linseed Oil Wood Stain, Perfect for Home Improvement, Furniture, & Kitchen Wood Projects, Natural Wood Stain & Oil Finish, Pigmented Danish Oil

The Tried and True Natural Wood Stain is the best maple cabinet stains in the kitchen projects category. It checks all the right boxes to make it ideal for kitchen cabinets, shelves, and even floorboards. 

For instance, the Tried and True Natural Wood Stain is free from dyes, synthetic powders, and solvents, making it safe around food. It also doesn’t contain any heavy metals or petrochemicals, you can skip the ventilation and PPE and dive straight into staining.

The stain is great as a standalone product or combination, and it’ll do well with an epoxy or oil-based poly coating. 

What We Like

  • It is 100% food and kitchen safe 
  • It is free from harsh chemicals and synthetic additives
  • You can start staining without any prep (protective equipment or ventilation 

What We Didn’t Like

  • It may be slow to dry
  • Consistency is rather thin

Best For Flexibility – General Finishes Water-based Maple Wood Stains

General Finishes Water Based Wood Stain, 1 Pint, Whitewash

General Finishes is famous for producing some of the most remarkable maple wood stains and finishes in the market. Their water-based wood stain is no different, impressively staining all kinds of indoor maple furniture. 

The General Finishes Water-based Wood Stain offers rich pigments you can spray or apply by hand. It was formulated for indoor use only, but its pigment quality makes it all worth it. Plus, it has a low odor profile, and is non-combustible, squashing any safety concerns.

If you’re looking to create a custom color, you can seamlessly combine another water-based stain. Or, you can mix in a water-based topcoat and proceed to tint and tone the shade.

What We Like

  • It is non-combustible to protect indoor stained furniture 
  • It is flexible because it can easily take other compounds like stains and topcoats 
  • It has a low odor, allowing you to comfortably work indoors without PPE

What We Didn’t Like

  • Its watery consistency may be hard to work with
  • The color may be too dark, so you might need a pre-stain conditioner

Best Maple Wood Stains For Floorboards – Cabot Solid Color Decking Stain

Cabot 140.0001880.007 Solid Color Decking Stain, Redwood

One of the main causes of worn-out floorboards is heavy foot traffic. The Cabot company remedies this issue with the Cabot Solid Color Decking Stain. Their maple wood stains are uniquely designed to resist wear from constant foot traffic, making it perfect for corridors and walkways.

The Cabot Solid Color Decking Stain has a pigmented acrylic formula which prevents scuff marks on the floorboard surface. Since these walkways will receive plenty of traffic, it is important to use stains that are safe for humans and the environment. Fortunately, the Cabot Solid Color Decking Stain contains low VOCs and has a low smell profile, allowing it to also cater to homes and offices.

What We Like

  • Its deeply pigmented formula is perfect for high-traffic areas 
  • It is a low-smell wood stain with little environmental impact

What We Didn’t Like

  • The coats may be heavier, resembling paint more than a stain. Luckily, consequent coats take less stain.

Best For Value – SamaN Water Wood-Based Stain

SamaN Interior Water Based Wood Stain - Natural Stain for Furniture, Moldings, Wood Paneling, Cabinets (Olive TEW-201-12, 12 oz)

The SamaN Water Wood Based Stain is the preferred choice for woodworkers who want a balance of value and performance. It is a high-quality wood that you can use as is or mix with other maple wood stain colors. 

The maple varnish is super easy for a beginner to use without any pro tools, making it practical for day-to-day repairs at home. Plus, the SamaN Water Wood Based Stain is odorless and safe for use around children and pets.

The stain doesn’t leave overlapping marks, so the wood surface maintains uniformity and the cleanup is quick and easy. Also, its formula makes it possible for woodworkers to stain surfaces without using a conditioner.

What We Like

  • It contains VOCs which make it safe for use around pets and children
  • Its rich pigment allows woodworkers to achieve the perfect shade in one coat

What We Didn’t Like

  • The shade may be too dark for softwood, but better with pre-stain and a tighter

Our Top Pick – Tried and True Natural Maple Wood Stains

After reviewing some of the best maple wood stains in different categories, we settled on the Tried and True Natural Wood Stain. It is a flexible gap filler for wood floors, creating a smooth, uniform finish without heavy odors and chemicals. The stain is perfect for homes, offices, and schools, where the harsh smell of maple wood stain is intolerable.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure to learn more.

Leave a Comment

Scroll to Top