How to Use Gel Stain (over finished or unfinished wood)

If you’re looking to change the color of wood without stripping the previous finish, gel stain is a great option to consider.

Gel stain is made to apply over the previous finish and change the color of the wood, while still keeping the wood grain visible. It can also be used on bare wood, or over painted surfaces and laminate wood as well.

When refinishing wood furniture or wood cabinets to change the color of the wood, there are two options to stain the wood.

Option 1: You can strip and sand away the previous finish to expose the raw wood. From there, you can stain the wood with traditional stains.

Honestly, I think this technique gives the best finish, but it also is quite the labor of love. I always choose to do this when the dresser finish is in bad shape, or if I want to lighten the wood. However, sometimes it’s not necessary to completely strip the wood to refinish it.

Option 2: You can also use a gel stain that sits on top of the finished wood, but still retains the wood grain. This option works well over an existing finish that is completely intact, but it can only be used to darken the shade. (You won’t be able to lighten the color with this technique.)

Gel stain can also be used on painted surfaces and laminate. This post will describe this option and how to use gel stain in depth!

What is Gel Stain?

Gel stain is an oil-based product that is highly pigmented but does not penetrate the wood as deeply as traditional wood stains.

Instead, it sits on top of the surface of the wood which helps it to give a rich, uniform color, even on stubborn wood species that don’t always accept wood stain well (like birch, cherry and pine).

Because it does not penetrate the wood, it can also be used over prefinished surfaces like finished wood or even paint. It’s almost like a blend between stain and paint – it allows wood grain to show through like stain, while finishing very smoothly like paint!

Gel wood stain has a much thicker consistency than normal stain, so it can be used easily on vertical surfaces without dripping.

Manufacturers of Gel Stain

There are a few main wood finishing companies that sell gel stain. Each of these manufacturers are well known for their wood stain products. General Finishes and Old Masters are known for superior quality in wood finishes, but you’ll also pay for that slightly higher quality.

With that being said, I’ve also used both Miniwax and Varthane gel stains and have been pleased with the results as well.

This post contains affiliate links. Feel free to read my full disclosure policy here.

Manufacturer	Price for a Quart (2023)
General Finishes Gel Stain	$45 – $55
Old Masters Gel Stain	$38 – $42
Varthane Gel Stain	$23 – $26
Minwax Gel Stain	$20 – $25

How to Use Gel Stain

Using gel stain is an easy process, but it’s important to follow the correct steps because gel stain isn’t super forgiving.

The general steps are the same no matter what surface you are finishing, however the specifics within each step will change depending on if you are using gel stain on raw, unfinished wood or a finished surface.

Using gel Stain on Unfinished wood

Follow these steps if you are finishing furniture or cabinets or a piece that is raw, unfinished wood.

1. Lightly sand the surface – Sand the surface slightly with 150 grit sandpaper. Do not sand with any finer grits of sandpaper because it will close up the grain and make it less accepting of this stain. Remove the dust with a tack cloth or a rag dampened with water. Let the surface dry completely.
2. Apply gel stain – Using a natural bristle brush, foam brush or stain pad, apply an ample amount of stain to a section of wood and wipe in the direction of the grain. Gel stain begins to dry very quickly, so it’s important to work quickly and maintain a wet edge before apply the next section.
   • Use a lint-free cloth (paper towels or cotton terry towels work well) to evenly wipe off the excess stain.
   • Allow to dry for 12-24 hours (and possible more if needed – see the FAQs for how to know if gel stain is dry)
   • Wait until it is fully dry to apply a second coat of stain.
3. Apply a topcoat – After the stain has dried completely, apply a topcoat to protect the finish. If using a water-based clear topcoat, it’s essential that the stain is completely dried so it’s recommended to wait at least 72 hours. With an oil-based topcoat, as long as the stain is not tacky to the touch, you can apply the topcoat (usually about 24 hours).

Using Gel stain on a Finished surface

Follow these steps if you are finishing wood that has been finished in some way. This includes surfaces with a topcoat of oil or water-based polyurethane, laminate surfaces, or painted surfaces.

1. Clean the surface – If you are using gel stain over a finished surface, clean it with a 50/50 mix of denatured alcohol and water. Use a scotch pad to clean the surface and let dry for 1-2 hours.
2. Lightly sand the surface – Lightly sand with 220 grit sandpaper and remove the dust with a tack cloth or a rag dampened with water. Let the surface dry completely.
3. Apply gel stain – Using a natural bristle brush or foam brush, apply stain in the direction of the grain. Gel stain begins to dry very quickly, so it’s important to work quickly and maintain a wet edge before apply the next section.
   • Use a lint-free rag (paper towels or cotton terry towels work well) or a dry brush to evenly wipe off and distribute the excess stain. The stain will move around more across the surface of finished wood, so be sure to do this step with only light pressure.
   • Allow to dry for 48-72 hours. (Gel stain takes longer to dry on previously finished surfaces!)
4. Apply a second coat (if needed) – Sometimes, one coat of gel stain is enough. If you’re looking for a darker color or your first coat feels streaky, you should apply a second coat. Apply this as a thin coat.
5. Apply a topcoat – After the stain has dried completely, apply a topcoat to protect the finish. If using a water-based clear topcoat, it’s essential that the stain is completely dried so it’s recommended to wait at least 72 hours. With an oil-based topcoat, as long as the stain is not tacky to the touch, you can apply the topcoat (usually about 24 hours).

Common Uses of Gel Stain

Gel Stain on Laminate Flooring

Gel stain can be used to change the color of your laminate floors (to a darker shade). I used gel stain (Minwax Gel Stain in Mahogany) on my stairs that had laminate flooring planks on them to match the flooring we installed in the rest of the house. Follow the directions listed above on how to apply gel stain over finished wood to use gel stain on laminate flooring.

It’s very important to apply a protective topcoat to your floors if using a gel stain. If not, the stain will wear away as the floors are walked on. I used gel stain on my floors in 2018 and five years later they are still holding up, even with lots of daily use!

Gel Stain on Wood Furniture

I’ve used gel stain on both finished and unfinished wood furniture with success.

I finished the oak serpentine dresser for my daughter’s room with General Finishes Gel Stain in Java. On this piece, I stripped it to the natural wood before applying the stain.

The light oak dresser was refinished for my sister based on her preferences for a gray dresser. I couldn’t bear to cover the whole thing with paint, so I decided to use gel stain (again, General Finishes in Java) over the finished wood.

I’ve asked her that if she ever decides she doesn’t want this dresser anymore, to give it back to me to refinish again, because I would strip it to reveal that beautiful natural oak wood if I could get my hands on it again!

Gel Stain on Painted Wood

Gel stain can also be used over painted surfaces and can even be used to create the look of wood over paint. To achieve this look, you’ll need to paint the base coat in a brown color.

Then, apply gel stain over the paint (following the directions in the section on how to use gel stain over finished wood). Then, use a graining tool or a dry brush to create variation in the gel stain to mimic the look of wood grain.

I used this technique on my daughter’s crib to create the look of wood end caps in her vintage schoolroom nursery.

Gel Stain on Kitchen Cabinets

Gel stain can be used to darken the color of your wood cabinets. I haven’t finished a full kitchen with gel stain so I can’t speak to this project with experience. However, General Finishes has an amazing video tutorial with tricks on how to apply gel stain to cabinet doors.

Tips for Using Gel Stain

• Don’t apply it too thick – When applying the stain, you want to use a lot, but you don’t want to leave all of that stain on the surface to dry (because it probably won’t be able to dry thoroughly). Instead, be sure to use a cotton towel or another brush to remove the excess stain. It’s better to do two lighter coats to achieve a darker color rather than one thick coat.
• Thin it with mineral spirits – If the stain feels like it is applying too thick for your liking, you can apply about 5% ratio of mineral spirits to thin it out.
• Work with it – Although gel stain begins to dry quickly, you do have a little bit of work time to create the look you are going for. Because it sits on the surface, using a brush or cloth helps remove excess stain but also creates a finished look.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know when gel stain is dry?

You’ll know gel stain is dry when it is no longer tacky, has no odor, and cannot be wiped off in any way with a cotton ball. Gel stain can take quite a bit of time to fully dry, especially when used on previously finished surfaces.

It takes anywhere from 24 to over 72 hours to completely dry. If it doesn’t dry in a week, it means it will never dry and the finish will need to be stripped to remove it and start again. (This is why you don’t want to leave a thick layer to dry.)

Can gel stain be used on laminate?

Yes, gel stain can definitely be used on laminate furniture and laminate flooring. Because gel stain is made to sit on top of the surface rather than penetrate, it will work on laminate surfaces. Read how to apply over laminate in this section: How to Use Gel Stain on Finished Surfaces

What kind of topcoat can be used on gel stain?

Either a water-based or oil-based topcoat can be used over gel stain. If using a water-based finish, it’s very important to make sure the gel stain has completely dried (for at least 72 hours) before applying a topcoat.

If you love refinishing furniture, you might find this post helpful, where I compare the many different types of furniture paint and explain the best paint for painting furniture.

Can’t get enough furniture refinishing ideas? Well you’re in luck, because I’m teaming up with a few of my furniture flipping friends and they have a few new pieces to show you as well!

1. Upcycled Chest to New Coffee Table by Houseful of Handmade
2. How to Build Easy Built Ins from IKEA Bookcases by Lovely Etc.
3. Lime Washed Coffee Table Makeover with Liming Wax by Repurpose and Upcycle
4. How to Use Gel Stain to Change the Color of Stained and Finished Wood by Refresh Living