Love & Renovations

Four of the Best Black Wood Stains

Finding a good black wood stain can be tricky - there are so many options! So, I tested four black wood stains on different types of wood.  Now, you can skip the testing and go purchase with confidence!

Wood Types

I tested on poplar, red oak, and select pine. You'll find them in that order from top to bottom in each of the following images.

This creates a charred wood look. It’s not a true, deep black, but it creates an aged & weathered effect.

1

1

Varathane charred wood accelerator

There's a slight sheen with this product because of the built-in poly. It has a lot of brown tones in it, but is a beautiful color. 

2

2

MINWAX POLYSHADES  CLASSIC BLACK

This stain leans a lot more brown than black. It seems quite a bit lighter than the other stains, but still rich and beautiful. 

3

3

BEHR STAIN + POLY  TRUE BLACK

This really feels like a true black stain. You can barely see the grain on any of the wood, and it looks like a true black on all of them. 

4

4

VARATHANE EBONY

Wood Types

On the following page, you'll see red oak first, then poplar, and finally select pine. 

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