Concrete stain is a colorant applied to concrete that tints it while keeping its natural, mottled look. It usually needs a sealer or topcoat for protection.
Types of Concrete Stain
Concrete stain comes in two main families, and the label on the jug changes what you’ll get:
- Acid stain reacts with the concrete to make mottled earth tones. Results vary from slab to slab, and the final color will always vary slightly from the color chart.
- Water-based stain uses pigment instead of a reaction, so the color is more predictable and the palette is wider.
A close cousin, concrete dye, gives brighter colors but most dyes fade in sunlight.
Think of stain like wood stain on a deck. It tints what’s there instead of hiding it under a thick layer, so it won’t cover cracks or blotches the way paint does. That’s also why stain needs bare, porous concrete. Old sealer, paint, or glue keeps it from soaking in.
Concrete Stain vs. the Finished Floor
Concrete stain is the product. The finished, sealed floor is stained concrete, and the job of applying it is concrete floor staining. To compare acid stain, water-based stain, and dye side by side, see our concrete floor staining guide.
Concrete Stain FAQ
Will concrete stain peel off?
True stain soaks into the concrete, so it doesn’t peel like paint. What can peel is the sealer on top, usually when the floor wasn’t cleaned well before sealing. Water-based stain also leans on its sealer, since the color can wear in traffic once the sealer is gone.
Can you stain old concrete?
Often, yes, as long as the surface is bare and porous. Old sealers, paint, and glue have to come off first. Stain won’t hide stains or repairs already in the slab, so expect those to show.