How to Paint a Stair Railing Like a Pro

Step up your DIY painting skills

A black steel stair railing on a wooden staircase
Photo: Rattanachat / Adobe Stock
A black steel stair railing on a wooden staircase
Photo: Rattanachat / Adobe Stock
SKILL LEVEL
Simple
COMPLETION TIME
6 hours
COST
$40–$150
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
  • 2-inch paint brush
  • 1-inch paint brush
  • Small artist's paintbrush
  • Stepladder
  • Drop cloth
SUPPLIES
  • Primer
  • Paint
  • Polyurethane (optional)
  • Degreaser
  • Tack cloth

Learning how to paint stair railings adds a whole new and useful element to your DIY bag of tricks. While the process follows similar steps as any interior painting job, there are some extra details to consider to really nail the task. Painting your stair railing like a pro requires choosing the best materials for the job and a bit of patience.

Safety Warning

Oil-based paints contain higher volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than latex paints. To limit your exposure to VOCs while painting indoors, keep the area well-ventilated, wear respiratory protection, and avoid the painted area for at least 72 hours once finished.

  1. Choose Your Materials

    17 painting supplies needed to paint a room, including a sanding block, gloves, brushes, and drop cloth

    In addition to following solid home painting tips, pairing the task of painting your stair rails with choosing the best materials for the job is a must. Because stair railings must deal with heavy traffic that differs from your walls, completing the job with high-quality primer, paint, and poly finish will help ensure your work lasts. 

    Start by choosing a stain-blocking primer to help the paint stick. Match oil-based or latex-based primers to oil or latex-based paints. While oil paints have a reputation for durability, modern latex enamels come close to matching it, so choosing oil or latex is a matter of personal choice. However, latex dries faster and is recoatable sooner, which can reduce the project's time requirement. 

    The best paint for railings is enamel in satin, semi-gloss, or gloss varieties. Avoid low-sheen and flat-finish paints as they aren't as durable and tend to trap dirt more than shiny versions.

  2. Prepare

    If your railing painting project is part of a larger painting job, choose between painting the walls or the handrail and trim first. Additionally, protect or remove any wallpaper borders or wallpaper that will be near your work. If you need to protect the wall where the railing meets it, use small pieces of painter's tape.  

    Also, be sure to protect the floor and stair surfaces with a drop cloth or plastic. However, be very aware of ladder safety if you're using one to paint part of the railing or balusters. Refrain from placing a ladder on top of a drop cloth or plastic sheet over a solid floor surface.

  3. Clean the Railing

    A hand cleaning a stair railing with a cloth
    Photo: Kalim / Adobe Stock

    Get into action by thoroughly cleaning the railing and baluster surfaces. Use a degreaser to eliminate the dirt and grime from every surface. Be sure to get into the small spaces where your sandpaper will have a tough time reaching.

  4. Sand the Railing

    Using a combination of a 220-grit sanding block and 220-grit sandpaper, lightly sand every surface of the stair railing system that you'll paint. Don’t rub too hard or for too long—you're just trying to scuff the surfaces to allow the primer to stick. Use a damp cloth to wipe away the sanding dust left behind. Let it dry.

  5. Prime the Railing

    Because of the use that your railing is subject to, applying primer, even on already-painted railings, is essential. Paint primer not only covers the old finish, but also provides a paint-friendly and sticky surface for your finish to adhere to. Apply the primer with a wide brush where you can and use a smaller, or artist's, brush to cut in the details and where the railing meets the wall or stair step surfaces.

  6. Paint the Railing

    Close-up of a hand painting a stair railing with a brush
    Photo: panithi33 / Adobe Stock

    Much like painting walls and ceilings, the order and process you use to paint your stair railing is essential. Apply your first coat of paint using a combination of a wide brush, a thin brush, and artist's brushes where each is appropriate. Tiny artist's brushes are excellent for getting to the bottom of tight grooves in the railing or balusters without making a mess. 

    Work in sections to avoid missing spots, and work from one side to the other to make things easy. If you're right-handed, work from left to right to help keep from touching wet paint. Go the other way if you're left-handed.

  7. Apply Additional Coats

    Your stair railing will require at least two coats of paint for beauty and durability. Allow the first coat to dry completely and repeat the painting step in the same way as the first.

  8. Apply Polyurethane

    A wooden stair railing on carpeted steps
    Photo: Andy Dean / Adobe Stock

    While not absolutely necessary, adding a polyurethane finish over your painting job will enhance its beauty and increase its durability. If you use a high-gloss paint, very lightly scuff the paint's surface with your sandpaper before applying the poly. For all other sheen choices, apply the poly in the same manner as a coat of paint. Consider applying a second coat for high-use railings or on the handrail portions where heavy use is the norm.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro 

Painting your stair railing is an excellent way to up your DIY game and save money. However, because the task can be tedious, many homeowners choose to hire a local interior painter for the job. The cost of professional interior painting is between $1 and $6 per linear foot for trim and railings. Choosing between hiring it out and doing it yourself is often a matter of your budget and how much having your weekend free to do more enjoyable things is worth to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

While painting your stair's railing is a job for a small collection of various brush sizes, painting the stairs portion of a stairwell with a roller is a matter of personal preference. You can find two-, four-, and six-inch rollers at home centers and hardware stores, which can be excellent for painting treads and risers. However, you'll still need at least one brush to cut in the details and edges. 

You'll need at least two coats of paint when painting your stair railings, despite some manufacturers' claims of single-coat coverage. This is necessary mostly because there are often many corners and details that make it difficult to cover all surfaces evenly with a single coat. Adding a second coat evens out the finish and provides added durability.

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