New stair railings cost $20 to $60 per linear foot for wood or $50 to $250 per linear foot for metal, including labor and materials, according to HomeGuide1. A typical 25-linear-foot project totals $500 to $6,300 installed1. Replacement adds labor to remove the old railing and adapt the new one to the previous placement1. Because a banister is a fall-safety component, railing height and spacing are governed by local building code – confirm requirements with your building department, and have a secure installation handled or checked by a professional.
Railing cost per linear foot by material
HomeGuide publishes installed prices per linear foot; Fixr publishes materials-only prices. The scopes differ, so the columns are not like-for-like:12
| Material | HomeGuide installed (per lin. ft) | Fixr materials only (per lin. ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | $20 – $60 | $10 – $40 |
| Stainless steel | not listed | $25 – $60 |
| Wrought iron | $65 – $135 | $50 – $300 |
| Cable | $60 – $500 | $60 – $200 |
| Glass | $100 – $600 | $100 – $500 |
These are separately published publisher estimates with differing scopes and ranges.
Labor cost
HomeGuide puts installation labor at $300 to $1,000 for an average 25-linear-foot project, and reports these hourly options:1
| Installer type | HomeGuide rate (per hour) |
|---|---|
| Staircase installer | $60 – $100 (about 5 to 10 hours per railing project) |
| General contractor | $50 – $100 |
| Handyman | $50 – $80 |
Wall-mounted handrails fall on the lower end of installation prices because they are simpler to fit, while railings attached by balusters carry higher labor and material costs, by HomeGuide's account1. Balusters – the vertical posts supporting the handrail – average $1,200 to $1,500 to install1.
Replacement and refresh options
HomeGuide reports replacement costs anywhere from $500 for a simple wooden railing to $15,000 or more for a modern cable or glass railing1. For a cosmetic update instead, hiring a painter to refinish or paint a railing runs $20 to $70 per hour over a 3 to 5-hour project, also by HomeGuide's figures1. If the staircase itself is being replaced rather than just the railing, HomeGuide puts a full staircase replacement at $2,000 to $7,000 or more1.