What height should a staircase handrail be?

Stair handrails, and the different designs these come in, can enhance the staircase's aesthetics and improve safety throughout the home. However, to ensure stair handrails provide the best support, they must be fitted in accordance with UK building regulations.

This guide will look at the UK building regulations that homeowners should be aware of, and how Jackson Woodturners can help.

What handrail building regulations should you be aware of?

There are several guidelines outlined in Part K of the Building Regulations which set out the handrail requirements for staircases:

The first building code is that the railing is built at a height between 900mm and 1000mm from the pitch line of the stairs, or the floor of the landing. This is approximately 35.4–39 inches.

Staircases require at least one handrail railing:

• If the stairs are less than 1m wide: provide a handrail on one or both sides.
• If the stairs are wider than 1m: provide a handrail on both sides.

Another building code, Part K of the building regulations, states that you don’t need a stair rail on the first two steps of a staircase, such as on bullnose steps, where the newel post is positioned on the third step.

You can read the full building code requirements for staircases in Part K Building Regulations Protection from falling, collision and impact on the Government’s website.

Recommended oak bullnose step product:

White Oak Bullnose Step Left | Jackson Woodturners

How to measure the correct staircase handrail height

To meet building regulations, make sure you fit a new handrail between 900mm and 1000mm above the pitch line of the stairs. The pitch line is a virtual 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 (or ‘tread’) when you climb the stairs.

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.

Find out more information on how to measure your staircase rail here with our complete guide.

Recommended handrail product:

Oak cottage loaf handrail – 41mm groove

What height should a handrail be on a landing?

Handrail height on a landing should be the same as it is on a staircase—900mm and 1000mm above floor level, rather than the pitch of the stairs.

To enhance the look of the landing and staircase, make sure you are choosing the right handrail design. Find out more about the stair handrail design options here.

What other building regulations apply to staircase parts?

Handrails form just one part of your staircase. To ensure your staircase is safe, you’ll need to consider the other stair parts covered by Part K of the Building Regulations. Treads and risers are key staircase parts directly related to handrail height:

Staircase treads and risers

A riser is the vertical section between each tread on a staircase. It should be between 150mm and 220mm high, or 165mm and 200mm, and be at a consistent height on every step.

Building regulations define ‘the going’ of a step as the tread depth from the front to back of a step, minus any overlap from the tread above.

Some staircases have open risers, which have their own building regulation requirements. Open risers should:

• overlap treads by 16mm.
• be constructed so that a 100mm-diameter ball cannot pass through them.

Discover our entire collection of stair handrails here, and browse through the different designs, including Pigs Ear handrails and Mopstick options.

Recommended stair cladding product:

Stair Cladding Pre-Finished Oak Tread with Reversible Riser 1000mm

Frequently asked questions

How far apart should handrail brackets be?

Though there are no specific building regulations regarding stair handrail brackets, homeowners should consider how they finish the railing.

Browse through our handrail fittings here.

Is it illegal not to have a handrail on stairs?

Building regulations state that stairs less than 1000mm wide should have a handrail on at least one side. Stairs with a width of more than 1000mm should have a handrail on both sides.

Building regulations are not generally applied; so, if you do not currently have a handrail, it is not legally required.

However, if you plan to sell your house or let your property, not having the correct handrails is likely to be a problem.

Bear in mind as well that not having the correct handrails could make the staircase unsafe or difficult for people to use, particularly if a flight of stairs has open sides.

The right handrail design can also enhance the aesthetic of the staircase and improve the overall look. Find out more information about the different stair handrail designs here.

Are handrails required on both sides of stairs?

If your stairs are wider than 1000mm, you’ll need a handrail on both sides of the stairs³.

Can I remove a handrail from my staircase?

You can, but this may cause problems when you come to sell your property. To comply with building regulations, staircases should have at least:

• one handrail if your stair width is less than 1000mm
• two handrails if your stairs are wider than 1000mm.

To find out more about handrails, visit the page Your Guide to Handrails.