Stair Handrails

To meet building regulations, the handrail should be between 900mm and 1000mm above the pitch line of the stairs or landing. The pitch line is the line that sits on top of the stair nosing at the edge of the treads. A stair tread is the horizontal part of the step on which you place your foot. When you’re measuring the stair handrail height, don’t forget to take into account the diameter of the handrail too. For example, if you’re installing a 54mm Mopstick handrail, you’ll need to deduct 54mm from the overall height measurement.

Modern staircases often incorporate light colours and materials such as metal and glass. Usually, it's better to choose lighter coloured handrails because they create a contemporary feel. These include materials such as hemlock, pine, white primed and glass into the balustrade is also great in modern homes because it can open up the staircase, introducing light and space to the area. For more information, take a look at our guide, Choosing Modern Handrails.

A handrail for stairs should run the entire length of the staircase. To correctly measure this, you can hook a tape measure onto the nose of the bottom step and measure to the top of the staircase. To make sure the handrail is safe and code compliant, this measuring will decide the length of the handrail. For more information, see our full guide on handrail sizing.

There is no guidance that states a particular side for a wall mounted handrail to be installed. As long as the handrail is fitted correctly, it is up to you on which side you install it.

Staircases in your home must have at least one handrail. If the stairs are wider than 1m however, it is advised to install a handrail on both sides.

There are many materials and styles to choose from. At Jackson Woodturners we have a huge range to choose from with both modern, sleek handrail designs and more traditional options. If you want some tips on how to choose take a look at our blog, stair handrail designs, what are your options?

The handrail is the part of your stairs that you grip for support when moving up or down them. The bannister, on the other hand, refers to the complete railing system, including the handrail, newel posts, and spindles.

Handrails are typically mounted to the wall, and bannisters are freestanding, thanks to the support of the balusters. Many people, however, use the two terms interchangeably to refer to the part of the staircase you hold on to when using the stairs.

UK building regulations state that handrails or stair bannisters are required for any set of stairs with three or more steps. This means you can add up to two stair risers in your home if you need to ease the transition between different floor levels, but any significant step-up will require a bannister.

Yes, your stair bannister or handrail should be fixed securely and supported at regular intervals for the entire length of your staircase. This can be done directly to the wall or with brackets if you’d like to choose a wall-mounted handrail, or with spindles and posts if you’re aiming for a freestanding bannister.

No matter which option you choose, it’s important to have a strong and stable bannister to provide grip and prevent falls, especially on longer staircases.

Yes! You can have bannisters on your staircase, even if it’s curved or winding. This is likely to be more difficult to DIY, so you might want to consider getting help from a professional.

Get in touch with the expert team here at Jackson Woodturners, and we’ll help you find the perfect bespoke bannister to truly make your house a home.