How Long Does Your Stair Handrail Need to Be?
Good morning, afternoon, or evening fellow DIY-ers. As a new homeowner, I understand the constant list of house projects. From painting the living room to building a new patio, the list never seems to end.
One DIY project I’ve seen a lot of is adding or replacing handrails around the house. These could be for your front entrance, an interior staircase, or a new back deck. When beginning this type of project, one of the first questions you may ask yourself is, “How long does the handrail need to be?”.
The answer to this question depends on a couple of things, like location and the type of stairs the handrail is being installed on. But we here at Simplified Building have helped thousands of DIY-ers design and configure new handrails for their homes.
So, allow us to help better explain how long your stair handrail should be, how our products can help you build the handrail you need, and how we can assist you with planning and implementing your new handrail.
What Length Should Your Handrail Be?
TLDR: Your railing should be the length of your stairs. ”Thanks, Captain Obvious."
To answer this question further, yes, a stair handrail needs to cover the length of the stairs themselves, but for safety and ease of access, we recommend going the length of one stair tread or 6 inches beyond the top and bottom of the stairs (when applicable).
Why do we recommend this? Well, as you approach a stair, you will feel more secure if you can grab hold of the railing before you begin going up or down the stairs.
Ensuring the safety and security of the user is the top priority and having that extra bit of handrail at the top and bottom of the stairs will provide greater stability for all users.
Now, when I say “applicable”, I refer to the space you have available when installing a new handrail. For example, say you want to mount a railing to your home like the picture below.
This will require you to extend the length of the handrail a bit more than one stair tread or 6 inches.
Additionally, let’s say you are installing a new railing in an interior staircase. You wouldn’t want your railing jutting out into a hallway because that can create its own hazard.
How to Measure Your Handrail Length
Now that we’ve gone over what length your stair handrail should be. Let’s discuss measuring and calculating how long your handrail needs to be.
Let’s start simple, you have a standard 3-step stairs that go up to your front entrance. The easiest way to get a measurement is to lay a tape measure from the top step to the bottom step (or vice versa) and get the measurements. Ensure the tape is straight and flat to get the correct angle.
Your steps measure 4 feet from the bottom to the top. So, you'll need a 4-foot-long handrail, easy enough. With our recommendation of 6 inches or one stair length past the top and bottom, you would, at the very least, add another 12 inches (6in + 6in) or 1ft of length to that handrail.
Another way to measure the length of the handrail you need is by doing the same process of measuring from the top step to the bottom step and then adding the length of one stair tread.
For example, say your stairs are 24 inches long, and each stair length is 8 inches. You would then add the 8 inches to the 24 inches to make a 32-inch or 2ft 8in long handrail.
In any event, after calculating the length of pipe you need, it is best to order it a bit longer than needed. Longer pipes allow you to trim or cut it to best fit your application.
Stair Handrails Made from Pipe and Fittings
Now that we know how long our handrail needs to be and how to measure it, what kind of handrail should you install? Whether you have standard stairs, inconsistent sizes, curves, or landings, our pipe and fittings system will provide the handrail solution you need.
Pipe and fittings make the whole system modular. This makes for easy customization and simple installation. You can make your handrail rise, turn, and mount to any surface.
If you have standard stairs, we’ve got you covered.
If you have inconsistent size stairs, we’ve got you covered.
If you have curves or landings in your stairs, say it with me, we’ve got you covered.
Our handrails can also be installed by anyone with a few simple tools like a drill and a hex key. If you need to swap out a fitting or change the angle or height on part of your railing, it’s as simple as can be. With no welding throughout the railing, you can change any part on the fly as you need.
Our handrails are also made from galvanized steel, which makes them anticorrosive and weather-resistant. You can install a new handrail out front in the northeast where you get brutal winters, or you can put one in your backyard during the middle of monsoon season. The durability and strength of our handrails will last through all types of weather. You won’t have to worry about fixing or replacing your handrail for years and years to come.
How to Order Your New Stair Handrail
I know what you’re thinking, “How do I order one of these handrails?!”.
Well, it’s as simple as clicking “Add to Cart” on one of our handrail kits.
With our handrail kits, you can purchase from a variety of styles and finishes RIGHT NOW. Some of our handrail kits even go up to 19ft! Making your ability to purchase the size you need that much easier.
When purchasing one of our handrail kits, you can always contact one of our design experts to help you figure out the style and size you want. We’re here to help you!
Custom Stair Handrails
If you need a more custom design for your handrail, the other path to ordering your new handrail is to contact our design team. We have a very simple 4-step process to go from concept to completion.
- Send us your pictures and sketches. This includes any sketches, photos, or measurements you have.
- Speak with an expert. Our team will walk you through our system to design the right handrail for you.
- Review your solution. You’ll receive a personalized quote with all the specifics of your project and any necessary changes can be made.
- Project completion. Your expert will have your handrail ordered straight away and shipped ASAP. We’ll stay connected with you to ensure full delivery.
It is important to note again that when ordering a new handrail, you select, or order longer than you think you need. We can be as sure as we can with our measurements, but something could be off. It’s always easier to cut pipe down to size than to buy more pipe to try and extend the handrail length.
In Review
With these tools and processes, installing your new stair handrail will be an enjoyable and simple process.
If you have any additional questions, please reach out to our team who would love to assist with your plans and help get your new handrail ordered today!
