What’s the Difference Between a Handrail and a Stair Rail

When most people think of railings, they typically don’t see any difference between a handrail and a stair rail, other than where they’re placed. In fact, they’re often used interchangeably. 

That’s completely understandable, and the differences are in the small details. However, when you’re trying to order custom railings, it’s important to know the difference to ensure you’re getting the right type of railing for the project. It’s just one of those nitty-gritty details that pop up once in a blue moon. 

So, what is the difference between a handrail and a stair rail? We’re going to break it down bit by bit to give you a better understanding. Let’s get started. 

The Difference in Placement 

We’ll get the easy one out of the way first. 

In terms of how things sound, a “handrail” is a generic term for a railing you can hold onto. It’s a little more complicated than that, but we’ll get into that shortly. A stair rail is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a railing designed to be placed along stairways. 

In the simplest terms, if your project is based around stairs, you’ll need a stair rail. In general, everything else needs a handrail. Of course, it’s still worth noting the subtle differences beyond that simple explanation. 

The Core Functional Difference Between Handrails and Stair Rails

There’s one core function that differs dramatically between a handrail and a stair rail beyond where it’s placed. 

Typically, a handrail is placed in an area to give people something to brace themselves on. Think of spaces that require long, uninterrupted walks with little to no space to relax. Those areas can be problematic for people who have mobility issues. 

This is why you often see handrailings along nursing home hallways and very frequently in public spaces. Larger homes sometimes have them installed, as well. 

The benefits of custom hand railings become clear in these settings, as they can be tailored to the specific needs of the users. The railing makes it a lot safer, and people are less likely to slip and fall when they have something to brace against. 

In contrast, a stair rail can provide a similar benefit, but it’s typically meant to keep people from falling off the stairs. 

Design Differences in Handrails VS Stair Rails

There are a couple of minor differences between stair rails and handrails that reflect their distinct core functions. 

Most notably, handrails are usually taller. This is because they need to be higher to provide proper leverage for those who rely on them, and on top of that, there’s more wall clearance in spaces such as hallways and long walkways. 

Stair rails are shorter, but it’s not really because height is important for stopping people from falling off the side of open stairways. It’s to help them accommodate the wall areas, which are far more cramped in most typical stairwells. 

In open stairwells, the rails are typically filled with bars, both decorative and purely function-based, to keep people and pets from sliding under the actual railing portion, as well. 

This is especially common on higher stairwells that are open on either side. Handrailings are usually mounted to the wall itself, and there is no need for ground-to-rail supports. 

Grip Design Differences

This one isn’t a requirement for either type of railing, but it is something you typically see on handrails rather than stair rails. 

Handrails are often made with grip in mind. Whether that includes texturing incorporated into the design for a better grip, using the best material for your railings to reduce slippage, or other design factors, a handrail’s core purpose requires a bit more grip. That doesn’t mean that some aren’t very simple and smooth, though. 

In contrast, many stair rails aren’t specifically designed with that in mind. 

Mounting Differences

Most standard handrails are mounted directly onto a wall. Most stair rails are mounted on the exposed side of a staircase, and they are built up with bars attached to the stairs and the rail itself mounted onto those bars. 

That’s just a very general overview, though. 

Some handrails, which you can look at more as guard rails, are built similarly to that basic stair rail configuration, because they’re meant to keep people from falling. Such as in a second-story walkway with exposure to the floor below it. However, you wouldn’t call that a stair rail, because there are no stairs involved. 

Similarly, stairwells that don’t have exposed sides, such as those leading into some basements, are often just mounted onto the wall. 

This helps contribute to some of the terminology issues, and it makes things complicated. 

When are Stair Rails Necessary? 

There really isn’t a defined point for when you have to install a handrail. Since they’re usually there to help people who need a bit of leverage walking across longer walkways, the need for one is contextual. 

However, there is one for a standard stair rail. 

Any time the stairs elevate more than 30 inches off the ground level, a stair rail is required. This is often part of building codes, as well. Although the number can vary slightly from place to place and project to project. 

In some situations, such as high-risk building projects, handrails might also be required. Although our average client is using them as a convenience and design choice rather than a code requirement or regulation. 

Why Should You Know the Difference? 

So, what is the difference between a handrail and a stair rail? To be honest, in most cases that difference won’t make much of a difference. 

However, it is important when you’re trying to order a custom railing built to your specifications, or even when you’re buying an off-the-shelf option. 

The subtle difference in terminology can impact features such as height or mounting designs in ways that can dramatically impact how the railing is implemented into your project. 

With that being said, our experienced team at Integrated Metal Designs understands that it’s a bit of a niche topic. If you’re looking for a railing for any project, whether it matches what we’ve talked about here or is something entirely different, we’re more than happy to consult with you for free and help you work out those tiny details without requiring you to know all the technicalities. 

In addition to custom handrails, we also build custom handcrafted range hoods for kitchens, combining functionality with unique design tailored to your space. 

We invite you to visit our gallery page, where you can see proof of our previous work. Our customers trust us because our craftsmanship speaks for itself – every piece reflects the quality and care we put into every project.

If you need a custom railing for your project, contact us today for a free consultation!