A 5 ft (60") deck railing between posts takes 11 wood balusters (1-1/2") at 3-5/8" gaps or 13 metal balusters (3/4") at 3-9/16", both under the IRC 4" sphere. Hook the tape on the post once: the first wood edge goes at 3-5/8", the next at 8-3/4", then every 5-1/8".
60" between posts
Hook the tape on the post face once and mark every baluster edge from there; each mark is rounded once, so a 1/16" never compounds down the rail.
| Done | # | Mark | Tape | Centre | Decimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leading edge | 3-5/8" | 4-3/8" | 3.625" | |
| 2 | Leading edge | 8-3/4" | 9-1/2" | 8.750" | |
| 3 | Leading edge | 13-7/8" | 14-5/8" | 13.875" | |
| 4 | Leading edge | 19" | 19-3/4" | 19.000" | |
| 5 | Leading edge | 24-1/8" | 24-7/8" | 24.125" | |
| 6 | Leading edge | 29-1/4" | 30" | 29.250" | |
| 7 | Leading edge | 34-3/8" | 35-1/8" | 34.375" | |
| 8 | Leading edge | 39-1/2" | 40-1/4" | 39.500" | |
| 9 | Leading edge | 44-5/8" | 45-3/8" | 44.625" | |
| 10 | Leading edge | 49-3/4" | 50-1/2" | 49.750" | |
| 11 | Leading edge | 54-7/8" | 55-5/8" | 54.875" |
4x4 posts at 63-1/2" on centre: inside the 6'-0" AWC DCA 6 guard-post limit.
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| 11 | 3-5/8" | 5-1/8" | 3-5/8" | 13 | ||
| 13 | 3-9/16"+ | 4-5/16" | 3-9/16" | 15 | ||
| 12 | 3-11/16" | 4-11/16" | 3-11/16" | 14 | ||
| 8 | 3-9/16" | 7-1/16" | 3-9/16" | 9 |
| 1 | 3-5/8" | 4-3/8" | 3.625" |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 8-3/4" | 9-1/2" | 8.750" |
| 3 | 13-7/8" | 14-5/8" | 13.875" |
| 4 | 19" | 19-3/4" | 19.000" |
| 5 | 24-1/8" | 24-7/8" | 24.125" |
| 6 | 29-1/4" | 30" | 29.250" |
| 7 | 34-3/8" | 35-1/8" | 34.375" |
| 8 | 39-1/2" | 40-1/4" | 39.500" |
| 9 | 44-5/8" | 45-3/8" | 44.625" |
| 10 | 49-3/4" | 50-1/2" | 49.750" |
| 11 | 54-7/8" | 55-5/8" | 54.875" |
Every baluster is 5-1/8" on centre after the first.
| 1 | 3-9/16"+ | 3-15/16"+ | 3.589" |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 7-15/16" | 8-5/16" | 7.929" |
| 3 | 12-1/4"+ | 12-5/8"+ | 12.268" |
| 4 | 16-5/8"− | 17"− | 16.607" |
| 5 | 20-15/16" | 21-5/16" | 20.946" |
| 6 | 25-5/16"− | 25-11/16"− | 25.286" |
| 7 | 29-5/8" | 30" | 29.625" |
| 8 | 33-15/16"+ | 34-5/16"+ | 33.964" |
| 9 | 38-5/16" | 38-11/16" | 38.304" |
| 10 | 42-5/8"+ | 43"+ | 42.643" |
| 11 | 47"− | 47-3/8"− | 46.982" |
| 12 | 51-5/16" | 51-11/16" | 51.321" |
| 13 | 55-11/16"− | 56-1/16"− | 55.661" |
Every baluster is 4-5/16" on centre after the first.
05 / Field guide
This sheet lays out a 5 ft (60") deck railing between post faces. It compares 1-1/2" wood with 3/4" metal, gives every mark from one hook of the tape, and checks the 4" sphere rule and post spacing.
60" ÷ (1-1/2" + gap) fits 11 balusters with 12 equal gaps of 3-5/8" (3.625"), 5-1/8" on centre.
From the post face the leading edges fall at 3-5/8", 8-3/4", 13-7/8", 19" and on in 5-1/8" steps. Buy 13 to allow 10% for splits and miscuts.
Thinner balusters need more of them: 13 at 3-9/16"+ gaps, 4-5/16" on centre. The first four marks: 3-9/16", 7-15/16", 12-1/4", 16-5/8".
1" metal or composite takes 12 at 3-11/16"; 3-1/2" flat pickets take 8 at 3-9/16".
With 4x4 posts the centres are 63-1/2" apart, inside the 6'-0" DCA 6 limit for guard posts.
The guard top sits at least 36" above the deck and the bottom rail less than 4" above it.
Questions
11 of 1-1/2" wood or 13 of 3/4" metal for 60" between posts, centred with equal gaps. Buy about 10% more.
3-5/8" clear between 1-1/2" balusters (5-1/8" on centre) or 3-9/16" between 3/4" balusters (4-5/16" on centre).
Its leading edge sits one gap from the post face: 3-5/8" for 1-1/2" wood or 3-9/16" for 3/4" metal.
No. On 4x4 posts the centres are 63-1/2" apart, within the 6'-0" AWC DCA 6 limit.
12 at 3-11/16" gaps; 3-1/2" flat pickets take 8 at 3-9/16".
Raised decks, basements and storeys