- 5Cities compared
- 127 daysLongest calendar: Coeur d'Alene
- 0Year-round cities
Idaho is not one climate: Coeur d'Alene banks 127 workable deck staining days a year while Nampa gets 91 — a spread the table below itemizes month by month. Season boundaries mark the first and last month averaging 8+ workable days against the label rules (50–90°F, nights 40°F+).
If one month anchors the Idaho calendar it's September, the statewide leader in workable days. Use this page to pick the month, then the city page's 10-day strip to pick the days — and the national deck staining guide for the physics behind each rule.
Chasing the season across state lines? Step back to Deck Staining in Hawaii or push on to Deck Staining in Illinois.
Cities in Idaho
| City | Peak months | Season | Workable days/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | Sep, Jun, May | April–June | 114 |
| Nampa | Sep, Jun, May | May–June | 91 |
| Coeur d'Alene | Aug, Jul, Sep | May–September | 127 |
| Meridian | Sep, Jun, May | April–June | 114 |
| Idaho Falls | Jul, Aug, Sep | May–September | 118 |
Top 5 Idaho calendars for deck staining
The rules behind these numbers
| Check | Threshold | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Air temperature | 50–90°F | Air temperature while applying and for the first hours of dry time. |
| Overnight low | ≥40°F during the first 24 h | Overnight low during the cure window. |
| Dry before | ≤0.05" rain in the prior 24 h; watch back to 48 h | Wood must dry out after rain before it can absorb stain. |
| Dry after | <0.05" rain for 24 h after (48 h oil-based formulas want 48 h dry) | Water-based stains need roughly 24 dry hours; oil-based closer to 48. |
| Evening dew-point spread | ≥5°F from 6–11 pm | Temperature minus dew point from 6 pm to 11 pm. A small spread means dew will settle on fresh stain. |
| Daytime humidity | ≤85% | Daytime relative humidity slows dry time. |
| Wind | ≤15 mph (brush or pad only up to 20 mph) | Above 15 mph, spraying drifts; above 20 mph, dust and debris land in wet stain. |
Always follow your product label — formulas vary. The table above is the typical range across major manufacturers, not a promise about your can.
Related
Other tasks in Idaho
- Exterior Painting in Idaho
- Driveway Sealing in Idaho
- Concrete Pouring in Idaho
- Roof Coating in Idaho
- Lawn Seeding in Idaho
