Deck Railing has a range in cost equal to variety of options available, drink rail or deck board top rail is an additional railing accessory or item that vastly changes the apperance of the rail, and affects the price. DekPro Prestige with drink rail

Deck Railing Cost Comparison & Railing Product Types

All Collections

Classic DesignRail Kits

Classic DesignRail Kits

Elevation Cable Rail | RDI

Elevation Cable Rail | RDI

Westbury VertiCable C80 Railing Collection

Westbury VertiCable C80 Railing Collection

CableFX | Horizontal Cable Railing

CableFX | Horizontal Cable Railing

Key-Link American Vertical Collection

Key-Link American Vertical Collection

DesignRail | Feeney Create Your Own Railing

DesignRail | Feeney Create Your Own Railing

Feeney: Build Your Own (Cable Infill)

Feeney: Build Your Own (Cable Infill)

Feeney: CableRail Kits (Cable Infill)

Feeney: CableRail Kits (Cable Infill)

Horizontal Cable Railing Systems

Horizontal Cable Railing Systems

Vertical Cable Railing Systems

Vertical Cable Railing Systems

Jam Advantage Railing Collection

Jam Advantage Railing Collection

Westbury Aluminum deck railing level handrail ands stair handrail with two inch post kits and c10 tuscany aluminum rail kits

Deck Railing Explained

  • Manufactured exterior railing is an exterior rated structural barrier that stands at least 36-inches tall (42 inches is required by code in some areas) and is installed around the perimeter of exterior decks, patios, porches, gazebos, walkways, walls, ledges, edges, and really anywhere it is wanted or needed.
  • Exterior railing can be used for the interior areas as well, and comes in several infill options. Most manufactured rail systems employ posts, which must be properly attached before rail infill can be installed between. For specific information about railing collections please see the links below
Vertical Cable Railing Systems

Vertical Cable Railing Systems

Horizontal Cable Railing Systems

Horizontal Cable Railing Systems

Aluminum Railing Systems

Aluminum Railing Systems

Vertical Cable railing is one of the best valued railing types with a cost under horizontal cable yet still it has a fantastic view

How much does Railing Cost?

  • Railing has a large range in price and varies depending on the type of railing.
  • Aluminum systems with all aluminum components and vertical baluster infill have a range of about $50-$70 per lineal foot.
  • Cable systems typically cost $90-$110 for vertical cable, and above for horizontal cable and glass.
  • Price depends largely upon options such as post size, stocking profiles, stocking colors, best usage of materials.

  • The type of railing has the largest impact on price.
  • Each type of railing has a general range in price and tend to fall in order from least expensive to most expensive: Wood, Iron, Vinyl, Aluminum, Vertical Cable, Composite Rail, (Horizontal Cable and Glass are often comparable in price depending on scope)
  • Is there a big difference in price? Yes, there can be a large difference in price between types of railing products and even manufactures. The large array of product materials, quality of manufacturing, thickness of metal, availability of products, and other factors all contribute to a diverse price range.
All Railing PRoducts
Railing, Guardrail, and Handrail Collections

Railing, Guardrail, and Handrail Collections

Fiberon Deck Capped Decking made from recycled plastics and wood fibers to make an encapuslated and scalloped decking board

What is the Cheapest type of Railing?

  • Traditionally, cedar wood was primarily used for railing. Cedar has a beautiul look about it; however, yearly staining is costly in both time and resources. Cedar needs regular staining to keep from rot and decomposition which can dramatically cut the lifespan of the rail. In addition, 2021 saw record cedar prices, with the expectation they would only become more dramatic.
  • Treated Wood has also seen record prices, but is still the cheapest railing to purchase. Unfortunately, treated is not well suited for railing as it has a tendency to warp, twist, splinter, and crack. when not installed correctly treated will pull fasteners out of postion and should never be used with baluster connectors.
  • Wood railing may be the least expensive to purchase, but will cost the most in maintenance. Throughout the life of a deck, say 20 years, wood railing will either need be replaced completely, or will require maintenance yearly if not bi-annually. For this reason wood railing is of the most expensive types of railing.

Iron railing type rail solid welded iron powder coated and heavy. Is a great priced railing option but needs to be maintained with paint to preserve logevity

So what is the real difference between products?

Cost Comparison

  • Well, some deck railing systems have a better value than others.
  • Treated may be the least expensive, but it's value is not very high.
  • Vinyl products can be high in quality, but inexpensive ones can become brittle, and vinyl many not be the best against high winds.
  • Iron is incredibly strong, but it is not steel and will rust if not properly taken care of. Aluminum is the best suited metal for railing as it has lower cost than steel, and will not rust like iron.
  • Cable systems as well as glass systems use aluminum posts and rails to accomplish their "look".
  • Composite railing has a much bulkier feel to it, and is more often used for traditional or classic rail profiles.

What has the Best Value?

  • Metal railings such as Iron and Aluminum are in a range somewhere between ($40-$70/foot) and are the best valued products for entry level railing.
  • Of course Aluminum out preforms Iron and even though it is more expensive, because it will not rust, it is the best valued railing.
  • Not all railings are of the same quality though. Westbury Tuscany is a much higher quality railing system than any other thin-guage aluminum rail systems.

Aluminum Railing

DekPro exterior deck railing kits and posts on composite deck classic landing and stair case at the end of the deck toward the yard, all aluminum dekpro is great for back decks either partially shaded or without shade

How much does Aluminum Railing Cost?

  • The Price for Aluminum Railing Systems or Collections like Tuscany C10 Railing Series range from $50/lnft to $70/lnft (not including labor)
  • Aluminum Railing price does depend on use of material or (how much material is waste) Post size: 2”, 3”, or 4”, Collection, Gauge of Aluminum, and Shipping Costs.
  • Currently, the lowest priced all-aluminum railing system is Outlook by Keylink.
  • Aluminum Railing is a Great Choice, that keeps value through durability.
  • Iron is strong but can rust, Aluminum will not.
  • Wether you choose iron or aluminum railing. Touching up railing with paint is easy and effective, anyone can do it.
  • There are several collections of All-Aluminum railing; with a range in top rail profile, color selection, and price. Aluminum Railing collections usually have a “face-mount" or "base mount" post option. This means the post is installed on the top of the deck and requires adequate blocking of the frame under the post locations.
  • Westbury’s Tuscany C-10 is undoubtedly the most popular aluminum railing systems, but other lines such as DekPro Prestige, and AL13 Home are beautiful looking systems, with a slightly different approach. See all the types of railing on the railing page below

Aluminum Railing Collections

See top selling aluminum rail collections and compare products

Jam Advantage Railing Collection

Jam Advantage Railing Collection

Westbury Tuscany Aluminum Railing Collection

Westbury Tuscany Aluminum Railing Collection

DekPro Prestige Railing Collection

DekPro Prestige Railing Collection

Aluminum Railing Systems

Aluminum Railing Systems

Aluminum Rail Kits

5 foot level rail c10 tuscany kit black fine texture

Tuscany 36 in. Level Aluminum Rail Kit

From $174.92
From $174.92
DekPro Prestige level rail kit with railing top rail bottom rail insertable baluster pickets and rail bracekt hardware

DekPro Prestige 38 in. Aluminum Rail Kit

From $224.64
From $224.64 $238.46
Stair rail kit 6' tuscany c10 rail with fixed pitch stair brackets bronze

Tuscany 36 in. Stair Aluminum Rail Kit

From $191.34
From $191.34
Advantage 8 foot level railing kit in textured black

Advantage 36 in. Aluminum Level Rail Kit

From $175.33
From $175.33
Advantage 36 in. Stair Rail Kit

Advantage 36 in. Stair Rail Kit

From $216.40
From $216.40
Key Link Bronze Aluminum Outlook Railing infront of a hay field green and tan landscape. railing is attached installed to column posts as well as aluminum keylink posts

Outlook Aluminum 36 in. Rail Kit by Key-Link

From $186.50
From $186.50

Cable Railing

Cable railing has become the most popular and most sought after style of railing! The wire railing or cable railing is a great look for any application where a more transparent rail is desired, but exterior rated cable railing comes at a cost, and can easily be twice as expensive as Aluminum! Cable offers a minimally obstructed view and low-maintenance components made of 316 stainless steel, and powder coated aluminum posts and rails in two styles, Vertical Cable and Horizontal Cable. For 36" Rail, some options like Westbury C80 VertiCable, a vertical cable railing system, can offten be priced with options around $80-$100/lnft (material only). Elevation Rail by RDI is one of the best priced cable systems, and offeres a unique system and installation process, and can start as low as $100/foot. DesignRail by Feeney (which is a fully customizable railing of several top rail profiles, and color options) runs from $120/lnft to $150/lnft (material only,) and is considered the elite cable railing system. DesignRail Kits, on the other hand, is a collection by Feeney available in Black only, with series 150 Rail, a Horizontal Cable Railing at a lower cost than DesignRail. The huge advantage in this system are Kit Posts; which are pre-drilled to make the installation process as simple as can be! DesignRail Kits are available in two profiles, Classic and Modern

Feeney CableRailing DesignRail Kits black aluminum cable handrail with bottom rail and no intermediate pickets
PVC Decking like Azek is top quality and looks like real wood!
Feeney Lag Connectors and Swivel Lag Turnbuckle Stainless Steel Fittings into Azek Composite Railing Premier Rail in black with lighted island post caps

All Cable Collections

Feeney: Build Your Own (Cable Infill)

Feeney: Build Your Own (Cable Infill)

Feeney: CableRail Kits (Cable Infill)

Feeney: CableRail Kits (Cable Infill)

Classic DesignRail Kits

Classic DesignRail Kits

DesignRail | Feeney Create Your Own Railing

DesignRail | Feeney Create Your Own Railing

Elevation Cable Rail | RDI

Elevation Cable Rail | RDI

Key-Link American Vertical Collection

Key-Link American Vertical Collection

Westbury VertiCable C80 Railing Collection

Westbury VertiCable C80 Railing Collection

CableFX | Horizontal Cable Railing

CableFX | Horizontal Cable Railing

TimberTech Azek Premier Railing Composite Cap Rail with Aluminum Round Balusters Rail and posts are white and infill balusters are black

Composite Railing Costs

Composite Systems are similar to Aluminum Systems, in that they will include all necessary parts. Perhaps the biggest difference in Composite is the post option. Most composite rail systems provide a Post Sleeve which is placed over a nominal 4x4 (3.5”x3.5”) wooden post or Structural Newel Post. Rails are usually sold without Balusters for more mix-and-match options. Composite Railing like TimberTech RadianceRail Express can cost $90/lnft to $200/lnft (for material) again depending on the situation, application, and wasted materials, and type of infill, cable or baluster.

Main Categories

Railing

Railing

Horizontal Cable

Horizontal Cable

Vertical Cable

Vertical Cable

Aluminum

Aluminum

Decking

Decking