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  • Railings

Deck Railing Systems

Deck railings are an essential part of your deck, making it both functional and safe to use. While deck railings and handrails can certainly add polish, personality, and a distinctive touch to your deck, their primary function is to prevent slips and falls when climbing deck stairs, as well as provide a safety barrier on elevated portions of the deck. Deck railings can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, composite, metal, or even glass. Styles can range from modern cable to a simple rustic deck railing or ornate curved railings.

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Like decks themselves, deck railing systems must also meet specific codes set forth by the International Residential Code (IRC). This code requires guardrails to be at least 36” high, although some states and local codes require them to be as high as 42” high. To protect children and pets from falling between balusters, the space between balusters should not be large enough to allow a 4” sphere to pass through.

You can enlist the aid of a professional contractor to help you install deck railing, but if you’re wondering how to build a deck railing and plan to do it yourself, browse through our collection of articles that walk you through how to install deck & porch railing. You’ll learn about installation best practices, the process of building handrails and DIY deck railing, as well as get inspiration with deck railing plans and images to complete the deck of your dreams.

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Deck Railing Parts
Deck Railing Types
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close up picture of decking

Deck Railing Types

How to Choose the Right Deck Railing

As one of the most visible elements of a deck, railings add support, safety and style. Get tips for choosing the right deck railing at Decks.com.

Vinyl Railing Reviews

Deck Railing Types

Vinyl Deck Railing Reviews & Comparisons

Compare Vinyl Deck Railings to wood, aluminum, and composite. Find reviews and cost information to help choose the best deck railing for your home at Decks.com.

20062214510241

Deck Railing Types

Composite vs Aluminum Deck Railing

Composite and aluminum railings are great low maintenance alternatives to traditional wood. Learn the differences between these materials with Decks.com.

Aluminum Railing 1 - Black Aluminum Deck Railing System

Deck Railing Types

Best Aluminum Deck Railings: Reviews & Benefits

Aluminum deck railings are a great low maintenance option for any home. Compare different materials and find the best aluminum deck railing system for you.

deck-railing-planter

Deck Railing Types

How to Build a DIY Deck Railing Planter Box

Railing planters are an easy way to add some color to your deck without taking up space. Follow these simple steps and get started on your railing planters today.

Composite Deck Railing Options 3

Deck Railing Types

Low-Maintenance Composite Deck Railing Options

Composite railing systems offer a low-maintenance alternative to traditional wood railings. Learn why composite is the best railing system at Decks.com.

Metal Railing

Deck Railing Types

Top 18 Deck Railing Ideas & Designs

Railings add the finishing touch to your deck. Get inspired by these deck railing ideas and styles from Decks.com and make your outdoor space unique.

Deck Gate

Deck Railing Types

How to Build & Install an Outdoor Deck Gate

In this easy-to-follow guide, we explain the process of building a deck gate and installing it on your deck.

Handrail

Deck Railing Parts

Deck Handrail

Handrails are required on at least one side of all deck stairs.

Deck Railing Codes

Railing Codes

Deck Railing Codes

Learn about the building codes that regulate guardrails. How high do rails need to be? What are the rail infill requirements?

privacy screen (1)

Deck Railing Types

How to Build a Deck Privacy Screen

Learn how to build a privacy wall on your deck out of wood.

A beautiful deck rail.

Railing Codes

Deck Railing Height Requirements

All decks greater than 30" above grade must have a guardrail.

Attaching the aluminum balusters.

Deck Railing Parts

How to Install Deck Rail Balusters

Step-by-step instructions on installing deck rail balusters. Learn how to install metal balusters with connectors.

Stair Railings.

Deck Railing Parts

Deck Stair Handrails

Learn about the code requirements for installing a grippable handrail for your deck stairs.

Snap in the stair balusters.

Railing Codes

How to Install Deck Stair Railings

Step-by-step instructions for how to install deck stair railings. Learn about the code requirements and construction tips with images.

Deckorators ALX Classic

Deck Railing Types

How to Install Metal Deck Railings

Learn about metal guard rail systems for decks.

A beautiful deck rail.

Deck Railing Types

How to Install Composite Deck & Porch Railings

Composite deck and porch railings offer a low-maintenance option for railings. Learn how to install composite railing and get ideas for your deck at Decks.com.

Deckorators Cable Railing

Deck Railing Types

How to Install Cable Deck Railing Systems

Cable rails are a modern looking rail system that preserves views. Learn how to install cable rails to meet building codes.

Deckorators CXT White Contemporary Glass Balusters

Deck Railing Types

How to Install Glass Deck Railing Systems

Installing glass rails will usually require you to build the rail frame first and take precise measurements to custom order the tempered safety glass...

Stiffen the rail with blocking.

Deck Railing Parts

Deck Rail Post Attachment

Step-by-step instructions for installing rail posts to your deck frame.

Wood Deck Railing Parts

Deck Railing Parts

Parts of a Wood or Composite Deck Railing

We discuss the different components that compose a wood deck rail system. Learn about rail posts, top and bottom rails, balusters and a top cap.

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All deck railings content
Deck Railing Types
Deck Railing Parts
Railing Codes
A Deck

Deck Railing Types

How to Choose the Right Deck Railing

As one of the most visible elements of a deck, railings add support, safety and style. Get tips for choosing the right deck railing at Decks.com.

Vinyl Railing Reviews

Deck Railing Types

Vinyl Deck Railing Reviews & Comparisons

Compare Vinyl Deck Railings to wood, aluminum, and composite. Find reviews and cost information to help choose the best deck railing for your home at Decks.com.

20062214510241

Deck Railing Types

Composite vs Aluminum Deck Railing

Composite and aluminum railings are great low maintenance alternatives to traditional wood. Learn the differences between these materials with Decks.com.

Aluminum Railing 1 - Black Aluminum Deck Railing System

Deck Railing Types

Best Aluminum Deck Railings: Reviews & Benefits

Aluminum deck railings are a great low maintenance option for any home. Compare different materials and find the best aluminum deck railing system for you.

deck-railing-planter

Deck Railing Types

How to Build a DIY Deck Railing Planter Box

Railing planters are an easy way to add some color to your deck without taking up space. Follow these simple steps and get started on your railing planters today.

Composite Deck Railing Options 3

Deck Railing Types

Low-Maintenance Composite Deck Railing Options

Composite railing systems offer a low-maintenance alternative to traditional wood railings. Learn why composite is the best railing system at Decks.com.

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Metal Railing

Deck Railing Types

Top 18 Deck Railing Ideas & Designs

Railings add the finishing touch to your deck. Get inspired by these deck railing ideas and styles from Decks.com and make your outdoor space unique.

Deck Gate

Deck Railing Types

How to Build & Install an Outdoor Deck Gate

In this easy-to-follow guide, we explain the process of building a deck gate and installing it on your deck.

Handrail

Deck Railing Parts

Deck Handrail

Handrails are required on at least one side of all deck stairs.

Deck Railing Codes

Railing Codes

Deck Railing Codes

Learn about the building codes that regulate guardrails. How high do rails need to be? What are the rail infill requirements?

privacy screen (1)

Deck Railing Types

How to Build a Deck Privacy Screen

Learn how to build a privacy wall on your deck out of wood.

A beautiful deck rail.

Railing Codes

Deck Railing Height Requirements

All decks greater than 30" above grade must have a guardrail.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Attaching the aluminum balusters.

Deck Railing Parts

How to Install Deck Rail Balusters

Step-by-step instructions on installing deck rail balusters. Learn how to install metal balusters with connectors.

Stair Railings.

Deck Railing Parts

Deck Stair Handrails

Learn about the code requirements for installing a grippable handrail for your deck stairs.

Snap in the stair balusters.

Railing Codes

How to Install Deck Stair Railings

Step-by-step instructions for how to install deck stair railings. Learn about the code requirements and construction tips with images.

Deckorators ALX Classic

Deck Railing Types

How to Install Metal Deck Railings

Learn about metal guard rail systems for decks.

A beautiful deck rail.

Deck Railing Types

How to Install Composite Deck & Porch Railings

Composite deck and porch railings offer a low-maintenance option for railings. Learn how to install composite railing and get ideas for your deck at Decks.com.

Deckorators Cable Railing

Deck Railing Types

How to Install Cable Deck Railing Systems

Cable rails are a modern looking rail system that preserves views. Learn how to install cable rails to meet building codes.

Deckorators CXT White Contemporary Glass Balusters

Deck Railing Types

How to Install Glass Deck Railing Systems

Installing glass rails will usually require you to build the rail frame first and take precise measurements to custom order the tempered safety glass...

Stiffen the rail with blocking.

Deck Railing Parts

Deck Rail Post Attachment

Step-by-step instructions for installing rail posts to your deck frame.

Wood Deck Railing Parts

Deck Railing Parts

Parts of a Wood or Composite Deck Railing

We discuss the different components that compose a wood deck rail system. Learn about rail posts, top and bottom rails, balusters and a top cap.

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Explore Articles by Topic

Footings

Footings

Information related to installing frost footings for decks

Framing

Framing

Learn structural framing methods

Decking

Decking

Learn about wood and composite decking materials

Stairs

Stairs

An in-depth look at the complex issue of how to build stairs

Railings

Railings

How to install guardrails and handrails to meet IRC code

Features

Features

An overview on water drainage, benches, planters and lights

Design

Design

The basics of deck design

Planning

Planning

Learn about permits and working with contractors

Porches and Patios

Porches & Patios

Build a covered deck to enjoy all seasons

Ledger

Ledger

Proper attachment techniques

Care

Care

Maintain your deck to maintain your investment

Materials

Materials

An overview on water drainage, benches, planters and lights

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