Stair and ramp handrails
Wall-mounted and post-mounted rails in round or square tube, with returned ends and brackets to suit the stair or ramp.
Custom fabrication · Architectural
Balustrades and handrails in stainless and steel, made and fitted.
Handrails & balustrades
Stair handrails and deck, balcony and stair balustrades in 316 stainless or galvanised, powder-coated steel, with vertical wire, rod, flat-bar or glass infill. Heights, gaps and fixings are built to your design and the requirements your designer or council sets.
Indicative pricing · NZD
$250
per metre from, + GST
Handrails from $250, steel balustrades $450–$750 and stainless balustrades $600–$1,100 per metre + GST installed
Price guide & quoted scopeOr call Matt 021 2555 443
- Stainless or steel
- 316 stainless, or galvanised and powder-coated steel
- Built to your design
- Heights, gaps and fixings from your drawings
- Measured & fitted
- Site measure and installation
Choosing infill
Wire, rod, steel bar or glass?
The infill sets the look, the price and what your designer will accept. In homes and anywhere young children may be, gaps must stop a 100 mm sphere and the barrier shouldn’t be easy to climb.
| Infill | Look | Where it suits | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical stainless wire | Fine lines, open view | Decks and balconies, including homes | Wires need stiff rails, careful tensioning and occasional re-tensioning |
| Horizontal stainless wire | Classic marine look | Lower falls and areas your designer confirms | Horizontal wires can be climbed, so they are generally not accepted for home decks with a fall over 1 m |
| Stainless rod or bar | Crisp verticals | Homes, coastal balconies and stairs | Hard to climb and nothing to re-tension; more welding, so it costs more than wire |
| Powder-coated steel flat bar | Bold, architectural | Exterior stairs, landings and decks | Galvanised under the powder coat for outdoor use; wash it regularly |
| Glass with stainless posts and rail | Clearest view | Decks and balconies with a view | Glass is specified and supplied to the glazing standards; we make the stainless posts, rails and fittings |
The Building Code requires a barrier where people could fall 1 m or more. In houses the usual minimum heights are 900 mm on stairs and 1000 mm on decks and balconies; most other buildings need 1100 mm. Your designer or council confirms the requirements for your site.
02 / Price & scope
Indicative handrail & balustrade pricing.
Researched planning estimates in NZD per metre, excluding GST, installed on straight runs. Length, post count, infill, fixings and site access decide the final price.
Discuss your quote with MattCustom stainless handrail or balustrade
Fabricated and installed, priced per metre.
$250per metre from, + GST
Handrails from $250, steel balustrades $450–$750 and stainless balustrades $600–$1,100 per metre + GST installed
Details to agree for your job
- 316 stainless, or galvanised and powder-coated steel
- Vertical wire, rod, bar or glass infill
- Fixed into concrete, steel or your existing structure
- Site measure and installation included
Scope & other costs
Bends, returns, raked stair runs, curved rails, difficult anchoring, glass panels, engineering and consent costs are priced separately. Fabrication-only supply costs less than installed.
Indicative prices by type
| Rail or balustrade | Indicative price, installed | What changes the price |
|---|---|---|
| Wall-mounted stainless handrail | $250–$400 per m + GST | Run length, returns and bends, and wall fixings |
| Powder-coated steel handrail | $200–$350 per m + GST | Run length, posts or brackets and finish colour |
| Post-mounted stair handrail | $350–$600 per m + GST | Number of posts, base plates and stair pitch |
| Steel flat-bar or picket balustrade | $450–$750 per m + GST | Bar spacing, galvanising and powder coat, stair or level runs |
| Stainless vertical wire balustrade | $600–$950 per m + GST | Post spacing, rail size and wire tensioning |
| Stainless rod or bar balustrade | $650–$1,000 per m + GST | Number of rods, welding and finish |
| Stainless posts and rail with glass | $650–$1,100 per m + GST | Glass specification and fixing system |
What to send for an accurate quote
- Drawings or consent documents, if you have them
- Whether it is a home or another building, and the height of the fall
- Run lengths, and the rise and going of any stairs
- What the rail fixes into: concrete, steel or an existing structure
- Your infill and finish choice, and how close the site is to the sea
03 / Also built here
Plan the rest of your project.
Explore related products, or talk to the Patumahoe workshop about stainless steel, aluminium and mild steel fabrication.
04 / The practical details
Questions about stainless handrails and balustrades.
When do I need a balustrade, and how high?
The Building Code requires a barrier where people could fall 1 m or more. In houses the usual minimum is 900 mm on stairs and 1000 mm on decks and balconies; most other buildings need 1100 mm. Gaps must not let a 100 mm sphere through where young children may be. Your designer or council confirms the details.
Can I have horizontal wires?
For a home deck or balcony with a fall of more than 1 m, government guidance expects vertical or near-vertical wires, because children can climb horizontal ones. Horizontal wire can suit lower falls or areas your designer confirms. Vertical wire or rod gives a similar open look.
Does a balustrade need a building consent?
Sometimes. Replacing a barrier like for like in the same position, or work on a deck where no one could fall more than 1.5 m, can be exempt, but the work must still meet the Building Code. If you are unsure, ask your council or designer before ordering.
304 or 316 stainless?
316 is the right choice outdoors, especially near the coast or a pool. 304 suits indoor rails and sheltered inland sites, and costs less.
Do stairs need a handrail?
Stairs with two or more risers generally need a handrail on at least one side, at 900 mm to 1 m above the stair nosings, in a shape you can grip. A few short stairs at a house can be exempt; your designer will confirm.
Stainless or powder-coated steel?
Stainless needs no coating and suits coastal and high-touch rails. Galvanised, powder-coated steel gives bold colours such as black at a lower price, and needs regular washing to keep the coating in good condition.
Can you replace timber or aluminium balustrades?
Yes. We remove the old rail, check the fixings and structure, and fit a new stainless or steel system. Changing the material or design may not count as like-for-like, so check whether consent is needed first.
How it works
Spec, quote, fabricate, fit.
01
Spec
We confirm size, materials, the loadings or spec and how it will be used.
02
Quote
It is all priced before any steel is cut, so there are no surprises.
03
Fabricate
Built in the Patumahoe workshop to the agreed spec.
04
Fit
Delivered, fitted or installed and checked over before handover.
Let’s make it fit
Show Matt what you’re working with.
Send through photos, rough measurements and how it’ll be used — we’ll come back with a practical next step and a price.