How to Measure for a Balustrade Kit: A Step-by-Step Guide

Getting accurate measurements is the most important part of ordering a balustrade refurbishment kit. Supply the right figures and your kit arrives pre-cut, pre-drilled, and ready to fit. Get them wrong and you may be waiting for replacements.

The good news is that measuring your staircase is a manageable job for most homeowners. You need a tape measure, a spirit level, and a digital angle finder. This guide walks through exactly what to measure, how to measure it, and where mistakes commonly occur. It covers stair and landing balustrades, different stair refurbishment kit types, and what to do if your staircase is anything other than a simple straight run.

What Measurements Do You Need?

The measurements required depend on how much of your existing balustrade you are replacing. There are four measurements in total, but not every project needs all four.

Measurement	What It Is	When You Need It
Height One	Top of baserail to underside of handrail	Replacing glass or clamps only, keeping existing handrail and baserail
Height Two	Top of baserail to top of newel post	Replacing the handrail, baserail, or newel posts
Handrail Length	Inside face of bottom newel post to inside face of top newel post	All projects
Baserail Angle	Internal angle between the newel post and the stair string	All projects

All measurements should be recorded in millimetres. Centimetres introduce rounding errors, and kit components are manufactured to millimetre tolerances.

Tools You Will Need

• A steel tape measure
• A spirit level
• A digital angle finder (protractor)

If you do not have a digital angle finder, you can still place your order. StairFurb sends one out with every order confirmation, and you update your angle measurement via a link in the order acknowledgement email before manufacturing begins.

For staircases that are curved, have a dog-leg, or involve multiple turns and landings, a free video consultation is the recommended starting point. A member of the StairFurb team can guide you through the measuring process in real time on screen. You can book a free slot here.

How to Take Each Measurement

Height One: Keeping Your Existing Handrail

Height One is only needed if you are retaining your existing handrail and baserail, and ordering replacement glass panels and clamps only.

Step 1: Check whether you need a new baserail. If you are keeping the existing one, you will measure from its top. If you need a new baserail, you will measure from its underside. This affects where your tape measure starts.

Step 2: Place your tape measure at the correct starting point on the baserail and measure up to the underside of the handrail. This is the height the glass panels will be cut to.

Step 3: Repeat that measurement at three separate points along the staircase and record the smallest figure. Staircases shift slightly over time, and using the largest measurement risks ordering glass that will not fit at the tightest point.

Height Two: Replacing the Handrail, Baserail, or Newel Posts

Height Two applies when you are replacing the handrail, baserail, or newel posts as part of your kit.

Step 1: Check whether you need a new baserail. If keeping the existing one, start your measurement from the top of it. If fitting a new baserail, start from the underside of the existing one.

Step 2: Measure from that starting point up to the top of the newel post. If there is a cap on the newel post, measure to the underside of the cap rather than the top of it.

Step 3: If you are fitting a new handrail, check that the top of the newel post has a flat surface of at least 70mm wide and 150mm tall. This space is needed to accommodate the handrail bracket. If the space is not there, the post may need replacing before you order.

Step 4: If you are replacing newel posts entirely, note that a minimum post height of 1,000mm is recommended to ensure the finished handrail height meets UK building regulations.

Handrail Length

This measurement determines the length your handrail needs to be cut to.

Step 1: Use a spirit level to check that both newel posts are plumb before you measure anything. If either post leans, the measurement between them will be unreliable. Leaning posts can also indicate that replacement is needed, so it is worth arranging a video call with the StairFurb team before ordering if you spot this.

Step 2: If the posts are plumb, measure from the inside face of the bottom newel post to the inside face of the top newel post. Do not measure to the outside edges of the posts.

Step 3: If there is no handrail currently in place, or if your posts are not plumb, measure the length of the baserail instead and use that figure.

Baserail Angle

This is the internal angle between the newel post and the stair string. It is sometimes called the pitch or rake angle, and it tells StairFurb the exact angle at which the handrail and baserail need to be cut.

Step 1: If you have a digital angle finder, place it along the baserail and read the angle directly.

Step 2: If you are replacing your newel posts and cannot use them as a reference point, hold a spirit level vertically alongside the staircase and measure the angle between the level and the baserail instead. This gives you the same result.

Step 3: Record the angle and add it to your order. If you do not yet have a digital angle finder, skip this step for now. StairFurb will send one out with your order confirmation, and you can update the angle using the link in that email before manufacturing begins.

Measuring for a Landing Balustrade

Landing balustrades are typically straight runs and the measuring process differs slightly from a staircase.

You will need:

• The total length of the run, measured from inside newel post to inside newel post
• The height from finished floor level to the top of the handrail. UK building regulations recommend a minimum handrail height of 1,000mm on landings. (⚠ Editorial note: verify against current Part K of the Building Regulations before publishing.)
• Confirmation of whether the landing balustrade connects to a stair run, as this affects the angle junction between the two sections

Landing handrails are supplied uncut by StairFurb. You trim them to length on site. This is different from stair handrails, which are supplied pre-cut to the angle and length specified in your measurements.

If your landing has a return, an L-shape, or connects to a stair run on more than one side, book a free video consultation before measuring. These configurations require a conversation rather than a standard measurement form.

Measuring for Different Kit Types

The four measurements above apply to all StairFurb kits. There are a small number of additional considerations depending on the kit style you are ordering.

Glass Balustrade Kits

StairFurb offers two glass balustrade kit systems: clamped and embedded. Both use the same four measurements, but there is one practical difference worth knowing before you start.

Clamped glass kits:

Glass panels are held in place by stainless steel clamps fixed to the handrail. The handrail stays in position during installation. Height One, the distance from baserail to underside of handrail, is the critical measurement that determines the panel height.

Embedded glass kits:

Glass panels sit in a groove cut into the handrail and baserail. To fit the glass, the handrail must be removed and then refitted over the glass once the panels are in place. Accurate height measurement is particularly important here. The glass is cut to the exact figure provided and there is no scope for adjustment after manufacture.

All StairFurb glass panels are made from 8mm toughened safety glass, polished on all edges, and kite-marked to BS EN 12150. If your measurement is accurate, the panel will fit cleanly. If it is not, the glass cannot be trimmed on site.

Spindle Balustrade Kits

The same four measurements apply to spindle balustrade kits. Spindles are pre-cut to the correct angle and length based on the measurements you provide.

There is one additional point to be aware of: UK building regulations require that the gap between spindles must be no more than 99mm.

You do not need to calculate spindle spacing yourself. StairFurb’s kits are designed to comply with this requirement based on the handrail length you provide.

Common Measuring Mistakes to Avoid

Most measurement errors come down to a small number of avoidable mistakes. These are the ones that come up most frequently.

Mistake	Why It Matters	How to Avoid It
Measuring to the top of a newel cap rather than the underside	The cap adds height that is not part of the structural post, giving an inflated Height Two figure	Always measure to the underside of the cap if one is present
Taking only one measurement along the staircase	A single reading does not account for any variance in the structure. Staircases settle over time.	Take three measurements and record the smallest
Measuring newel posts that are not plumb	A leaning post gives a distorted handrail length reading	Check with a spirit level first. Use the baserail measurement if posts are not vertical
Forgetting to account for a new baserail	Starting height measurements from the top rather than the underside of an existing baserail leads to incorrect glass height	Read the Height One and Height Two guidance carefully for your project type
Recording measurements in centimetres	Kit components are manufactured in millimetres. Converting introduces rounding errors.	Always use millimetres from the start

What to Do Once You Have Your Measurements

Once you have your four measurements, there are three ways to get a quote.

Route	How It Works	Time Required
Online configurator	Input your measurements into StairFurb’s step-by-step online tool and receive a no-obligation quote	Around 15 minutes
Free video consultation	Book a 20-minute call with a StairFurb expert who will guide you through measuring and provide a quote on the call	Around 20 minutes
Photo estimate	Send photos of your staircase via WhatsApp. StairFurb estimates dimensions from the photos and provides a cost indication. Useful for early budget planning before measuring.	A few minutes to send photos

Once measurements are confirmed and an order is placed, StairFurb manufactures the kit to those exact dimensions. Handrails are pre-cut to length and angle, components are pre-drilled, and glass panels are cut to size and toughened to order. Kits are delivered nationwide via a dedicated StairFurb driver who brings the components into your home and checks them with you on arrival.

What to Do If Your Staircase Is Non-Standard

The steps above work well for a single straight staircase run. If your situation is more complex, it is worth contacting StairFurb before attempting to measure.

Situations where a video call is the better starting point:

• Curved staircases
• Dog-leg or winder staircases
• Staircases with multiple turns
• Combined stair and landing runs where the two sections meet at an angle
• Cases where newel posts are clearly not vertical and may need replacing
• Any situation where you are unsure which measurements apply to your project

StairFurb also has a Find a Fitter service. If taking measurements yourself is not practical, a vetted local tradesperson can be recommended who may be able to measure for you, though a fee may apply. Speak to the team first and they will help work out the most practical approach for your project.

 Frequently Asked Questions