Metal Stair Railing Cost in Houston: What to Expect Per Foot

A custom steel stair railing around Houston runs about $65 to $135 per linear foot installed. Our straight vertical-picket design starts at the bottom of that range. A typical two-story home, stair plus a landing guardrail, lands between $1,200 and $3,500.

What is in the price

• On-site measure and template of your stair
• Fabrication in our shop to your exact rise and run
• Steel top rail, or a wood top rail if you choose one
• Anchoring into studs, the stringer, or concrete
• Finish: matte black paint, color, or clear coat on raw steel
• Installation, usually in one visit

What adds to it

• Turns and landings. Every corner is a separate fabricated section.
• Wood handrail. Oak or poplar, stained to match the floor, adds about $15 to $30 per foot.
• Horizontal bars. More welds per foot than vertical pickets, so a bit more.
• Curved stairs. Custom rolled steel, priced by the job.
• Removing old railings. Pulling wood balusters and patching is usually a small add.

Vertical pickets or horizontal bars?

Vertical pickets are the classic look and the safer one for kids, since there is nothing to climb. Horizontal bars are the modern look you see in new builds in Cypress and Katy. Both meet code when spaced right; we build to the 36 inch guardrail height with gaps under 4 inches.

Timeline

About a week of shop time after we measure, then installation in a day. Painters and flooring should be done before we install so the railing does not get splattered.

Exterior handrails

Porch steps, front stoops and ramps are a smaller job. A short exterior handrail set in concrete starts around $450 and is often same-day.

Get a price on your stair

Text a photo of the stair from the bottom, and one from the top, to (281) 507-9324. We can usually give a ballpark from the photos and a firm price after a free measure. See our stair railings page for examples.