Standard Code Measurements for Interior Stairway Railings

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.
Stairs need railings to keep your friends and family safe.

Whether straight or curved, your interior staircases must have rails to make them safe to use. The standard codes provide information on rail heights and the proper distance between the wall and the rail.

Advertisement

Railing Height

Video of the Day

Measure railing height from the bottom of the ground at each step to the top of where the handrail will be located. U.S. codes require railings against a wall to be between 30 inches and 38 inches high, while handrails on open stairs must be 34 to 38 inches high.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

Distance From Wall

To ensure your hand has enough room to slide down the rail, the rail must be at least 1.5 inches from the wall. The railing can project into the stairway up to 4.5 inches. This means a handrail against your stairway wall must be narrow, no larger than 3 inches in diameter.

Advertisement

Continuity

Your handrails should be a continuous line that your hand can slide down without interruption with one exception: the standard codes allow stair railings to be interrupted at newell posts. However, there may be no open breaks or spaces down the staircase.

Advertisement

references