How Much Does Labor Cost to Install a Stair Railing?

Labor to install a stair railing runs about $100 per linear foot in the Houston area as of 2026, whether it’s a full new railing or just swapping out the balusters. A typical 15-foot staircase works out to about $1,500 in labor, before parts. Rates vary by city. Nationally, HomeAdvisor puts installer rates at $65 to $100 an hour.

By Douglas Lovin, owner of Cheap Stair Parts, 20+ years in stair parts · Updated 10/21/26

How Installers Price Railing Labor

Most stair railing installers quote by the linear foot of railing, not by the hour. Measure along the handrail from the bottom newel to the top, and add any balcony or landing rail. Multiply by the per-foot rate in your area, and you have a ballpark labor number before you call anyone.

The per-foot price is about the same whether the installer is putting in a whole new railing or just replacing the balusters. Most of the time goes into the balusters either way: drilling, cutting and setting every one of them.

Staircase	Railing length	Labor at $100/ft
Short straight run	12 ft	$1,200
Typical straight staircase	15 ft	$1,500
Staircase with a landing	20 ft	$2,000
Staircase plus a balcony run	26 ft	$2,600

These are labor only. For what the parts cost, see how much it costs to replace a banister and spindles.

What’s Included in Railing Labor

A full railing install covers a lot of steps, which is why labor is usually the biggest part of the bill:

• Layout. Measuring, setting the handrail height and marking baluster spacing so no gap is 4 inches or more.
• Newel posts. Setting each post plumb and anchoring it solidly. This is the structural part of the job.
• Handrail. Cutting the rail and fittings to the stair angle and attaching them to the newels or wall.
• Balusters. Drilling every hole, cutting every baluster to length and setting it with epoxy.
• Finishing. Base shoes, touch-ups and cleanup.

Before you sign, ask whether the quote also covers removing and hauling off the old railing, and staining or painting the new wood. Those are often extra.

What Makes Labor Cost More

• Turns and landings. Every turn needs fittings cut and joined, which takes more time than a straight run.
• Balcony and overlook rail. More feet of rail, more posts and more balusters.
• Curved stairs. Bending handrail and curved layouts take far longer than straight rail.
• Tearing out the old railing. Old balusters that were glued in, and posts bolted into framing, take time to remove cleanly.
• Your city. Labor rates are higher in big, expensive metro areas.

How to Cut the Labor Cost

• Swap just the spindles. If your handrail and newels are solid, changing wood balusters to iron is the cheapest upgrade, and many homeowners do it themselves. See how to install iron balusters.
• Buy the parts yourself. Many installers will install parts you supply, which saves the markup on materials.
• Do the prep and cleanup. Pulling old balusters or hauling off debris yourself can shave hours off the bill, if your installer agrees.
• Get it right the first time. Measure carefully with our baluster spacing guide so you order the right parts and the job doesn’t stall waiting on a second shipment.

Bottom Line

Plan on about $100 per foot of railing for labor in the Houston area, so about $1,500 for a typical staircase, plus parts. Expect higher rates in more expensive cities. Need help figuring out which parts to buy before you get quotes? Contact us and we’ll help.