Tools · Railing

Deck railing cost calculator

Linear feet × per-foot installed rate. Most GTA homeowners replacing railing on an existing deck want this number on its own, separate from the whole-deck price. Pricing reflects current GTA contractor schedules; sources and limitations below the tool.

Railing cost estimator

Linear feet × material gives you the installed range. Updates live.

Railing length

40 linear ft

Measure the deck perimeter that needs railing — typically three sides on a deck attached to the house. A 12 × 16 ft deck is usually ~40 linear ft of railing.

Railing material

Wood

$35–$60/linear ft

Pressure-treated or cedar pickets.

Aluminum

$70–$110/linear ft

Powder-coated, low-maintenance.

Glass panels

$130–$220/linear ft

Tempered glass, unobstructed view.

Cable

$95–$160/linear ft

Stainless cable in metal or wood frame.

Adjustments

Subtract a 4 ft stair openingMost decks have one stair drop, which removes ~4 linear ft of railing from the run.

Estimated railing cost

$2,500 – $3,950

36 linear ft of aluminum, before HST

Installed pricing from GTA contractor schedules, 2024–2025. Posts, top/bottom rails, and basic terminations are included in the per-linear-foot rate. Custom returns, complex stair rakes, or curved sections can run higher.

How the railing math works

Railing is priced per linear foot, installed. The per-foot rate already includes the post, top rail, bottom rail (or shoe rail for glass and cable), infill, and basic terminations. The calculator multiplies the rate by the railing length you enter, then subtracts a 4-ft stair opening by default — almost every deck has one stair drop, and you don’t install railing across the opening.

The four materials in the dropdown reflect the choices most GTA deck builders quote in 2026. Pressure-treated or cedar wood railing is still the cheapest, but it’s also the only option that needs refinishing every few years. Aluminum is the most common middle choice — powder-coated picket panels in black or bronze, low maintenance. Glass and cable are aesthetic upgrades that effectively double the railing cost on a typical deck; both require the right deck height and post spacing to actually deliver a clean look.

What’s included and what isn’t

Included: posts, rails, infill, anchors into the deck frame, standard end terminations, and labour. Excluded:

Curved railing sections — those are typically custom-shop work and price out separately
Compound stair rakes that need site-bent metal or notched picket panels
Engineered guard systems above 6 ft drop, which often need a stamped detail
Lighting integrated into post caps or rails (see the main calculator’s lighting line item)
HST

Linear-foot estimation, if you don’t have the number yet

For an existing deck, walk the perimeter that’s not against the house and measure each run. For a deck you’re planning, the shortcut is length + (2 × width) − 4 ft when the deck is attached to the house and has one stair drop. A 12 × 16 ft deck against the house works out to about 36 linear ft of railing; a 14 × 20 ft works out to about 50.

When this tool isn’t the right one

If you’re estimating a whole new deck, use the full deck cost calculator — it folds the railing math into materials, framing, stairs, and features in one pass, so the per-foot figure isn’t the whole story.

If you’re replacing the railing as part of a larger renovation, also check the demolition cost tool — removing old wood railing has a real labour cost that’s usually quoted separately from the new install.

Where the per-foot rates come from

Rates are anchored to public GTA contractor pricing schedules collected through 2024–2025, cross-checked against installed quotes seen on real residential projects, and padded modestly for 2026 conditions. They’re ranges (low and high) on purpose: a contractor running a clean rectangular deck with standard post spacing will quote the low end, and one fitting a non-standard footprint or premium hardware will quote the high end. Both are defensible.