Railings are the part of a deck you see most, and they can be 15 to 30 percent of the budget. They are also the part inspectors check most closely. This guide compares the railing styles we install across Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville, what each costs, and the code rules that decide which designs you can actually use.
Deck railing costs at a glance
| Railing type | What it is | Installed, per linear foot |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated wood | Wood posts, rails and 2x2 balusters | $50 - $80 |
| Wood with metal balusters | Wood posts and rails, black aluminum or steel balusters | $60 - $100 |
| Composite or PVC railing | Sleeved posts, composite rails, matching balusters | $80 - $150 |
| Aluminum picket | Powder-coated aluminum posts, rails and pickets | $90 - $140 |
| Cable | Only where a guard is not required, see below | $140 - $220 |
| Glass panel | Tempered or laminated glass in aluminum posts or clamps | $200 - $350 |
For a typical 16 x 12 ft deck with 40 linear feet of railing, that is about $2,000 to $3,200 in pressure-treated, $3,600 to $5,600 in aluminum and $8,000 to $14,000 in glass. Stair railings cost more per foot because of the angled parts and extra posts. The deck prices behind these numbers are in our Ontario deck cost guide.
The code rules every railing must meet
| Rule | Requirement for a house |
|---|---|
| When a guard is required | Any open side where the drop to the ground is more than 600 mm |
| Height, deck up to 1,800 mm above grade | 900 mm minimum |
| Height, deck more than 1,800 mm above grade | 1,070 mm minimum |
| Openings | No opening that lets a 100 mm sphere pass |
| Climbing | No member, attachment or opening between 140 mm and 900 mm above the deck that makes the guard easy to climb |
| Strength | Posts and infill must resist the loads in the code, which in practice means posts bolted into the frame, not screwed to the boards |
| Stairs | Handrail on stairs with more than three risers, 865 to 1,070 mm high |
These come from Section 9.8 of the Ontario Building Code. Your permit drawings and inspector have the final word. Stair rules are covered in detail in our deck stairs guide, linked below.
Why cable and horizontal railings are a problem in Ontario
Horizontal cables, horizontal slats and horizontal bars work like a ladder for a small child. The Ontario Building Code does not allow members that make a guard easy to climb between 140 mm and 900 mm above the walking surface. Other provinces moved toward allowing horizontal infill when they adopted newer national code changes, but guard climbability was one of the items that did not make it into the 2024 Ontario Building Code that took effect on January 1, 2025. So a cable or horizontal railing generally cannot be used where a guard is required on a house.
Where cable and horizontal designs can work: on a low deck under 600 mm where no guard is required, as a decorative screen that is not the required guard, or on the part of a railing above 900 mm. If a contractor offers cable railing on a raised deck, ask how it will pass inspection.
Deck railing ideas that pass
1. Black aluminum pickets
The most common railing we install. Powder-coated aluminum does not rot, needs no stain and suits almost any house. Choose an engineered system with published test reports, and mount the posts to blocking in the frame. Wide-spaced "picket look" systems are fine as long as no gap passes 100 mm.
2. Glass panels for the view
For decks facing a ravine, the escarpment or a garden you want to see from the kitchen. Glass must be safety glass, tempered or laminated, set in posts or clamps designed for it. Expect to clean it, and to see pollen and water spots. Frosted or tinted panels double as privacy screens.
3. Wood posts with metal balusters
A good middle option. You keep warm wood posts and a wide top rail, with slim black balusters that open up the view. Balusters are spaced so no gap reaches 100 mm.
4. Drink rail top
A wide flat top board, often 2x6 or 2x8 in wood or composite, turns the railing into a place to set a drink. It must not create a foothold at the climbing height, so it sits at the top of the guard, not partway up.
5. Composite railing to match the deck
Sleeved posts and composite rails in the same colour family as composite decking give a finished, low-maintenance look. Check the maker's post spacing, often 6 to 8 feet at most.
6. Mixed materials
Aluminum or glass on the view side, and a privacy screen on the side facing a neighbour. Mixing styles on purpose looks designed. Our deck privacy wall guide covers the screen side and the by-law heights.
7. No railing at all
A deck built low, with its surface no more than 600 mm above the ground on every side, needs no guard. Low decks with wide steps down to the lawn feel open and cost less. Plan the grade carefully: if the ground drops away at one corner, that side needs a guard.
Posts: where railings really fail
- Through-bolted with blocking. Posts should be bolted through the rim or joists with solid blocking behind them, or use an engineered bracket tied into the frame. A wobbly post is the most common railing failure we see.
- Not screwed to the deck boards. Surface-mounted posts on decking alone pull loose.
- Spacing. Follow the system's maximum post spacing. Aluminum and composite systems often top out at 6 to 8 feet.
- Notching. Heavily notched 4x4 posts are weak. Use 4x4s only where the system allows them, and 6x6 where the rail is long or the deck is high.
Replacing an old railing
Old decks often have railings that are too low, balusters spaced too wide, or posts that move. Replacing a railing on a sound deck is a common upgrade and usually costs the per-foot prices above plus removal. If the posts are loose because the rim joist is soft, fix the frame first. Our deck repair cost guide covers that, and changing guards on a permitted deck can need a permit.
Where the cheap railing quote is cutting
- Posts lagged to the rim with no blocking. Ask how posts are attached.
- Cable or horizontal infill on a raised deck. Likely to fail inspection.
- Glass that is not safety glass. Ask for the glass specification.
- Gaps over 100 mm. Measure between balusters and under the bottom rail.
- A 900 mm guard on a high deck. Over 1,800 mm above grade, the guard must be 1,070 mm.
- No handrail on the stairs. A flat 2x6 cap is not a graspable handrail.
Frequently asked questions
How much does deck railing cost in Ontario?
About $50 to $80 per linear foot in pressure-treated wood, $90 to $140 in aluminum picket, $80 to $150 in composite and $200 to $350 in glass, installed, in 2026.
How high does a deck railing have to be in Ontario?
At least 900 mm (about 35 inches) where the deck is no more than 1,800 mm above the ground, and at least 1,070 mm (42 inches) where it is higher.
When does a deck need a railing in Ontario?
When the walking surface is more than 600 mm (about 24 inches) above the ground next to it. Check every side, because the ground often slopes.
Is cable railing allowed in Ontario?
Not generally on a required guard for a house. The Ontario Building Code does not allow parts that make a guard easy to climb between 140 mm and 900 mm, and horizontal cables do. Guard climbability was not changed in the 2024 code. Cable can work where no guard is required.
What is the maximum baluster spacing in Ontario?
No opening in a required guard may let a 100 mm (4 inch) sphere pass through, including under the bottom rail.
What is the cheapest deck railing?
Pressure-treated wood with wood balusters, at about $50 to $80 per linear foot installed. It needs staining every few years.
Is aluminum or glass railing better?
Aluminum costs less, about $90 to $140 per foot, and needs almost no upkeep. Glass costs $200 to $350 per foot and keeps the view open, but needs regular cleaning.
Do I need a permit to replace my deck railing?
Replacing a railing like for like usually does not, but changing guards on a raised or permitted deck can. Check with your city before you start.
- Our deck building service
- Deck cost in Ontario
- Deck stairs: Ontario code rules and cost
- Pressure-treated vs cedar vs composite decking
- Deck cost calculator
Planning the whole deck? See deck ideas for Ontario backyards and what each one triggers.