How to Paint Stair Railings that Last

by Rachel · Updated Mar 8, 2024 · 107 Comments

Tired of the look of your stair railings and banister? Learn how to paint stair rails and balusters for an inexpensive upgrade and professional results that can update your home's aesthetic and add significant value.

Painting oak stairs in modern traditional home with post title .

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When we installed new hardwood floors, I was shocked at the price of replacing the balusters, railings, and steps. $200 per step and the railings would add several thousand dollars to our project.

That was pretty far outside my budget, so a $50 can of paint looked mighty enticing. Since we have built and stained staircases, painted several high-traffic bathroom cabinets, and are experts at painting makeovers, I knew that painting railings and balusters would be fairly easy.

Even several years later, they look almost brand new. This project is a little different from painting furniture, so I have included a printable tutorial (with photos) at the bottom of this post or read on to get all our tips and tricks!

Recommended Materials and Supplies

Over years of remodeling homes, I have developed my no-fail list of products for painting tricky surfaces:

Tools for painting furniture including orbital sander, sanding pads and blocks, and adhesive primer

TSP or Degreaser
Orbital Palm Sander with 120 or 220-grit sandpaper
Sanding blocks – I like the ones with the angled edge.
Stainblocking Primer – I have used many brands, but Premium or Adhesion is my never-failed-me-ever primer.
Fine Paintbrushes – A fine furniture paintbrush will give you the best finish.
Clean, dry lint-free rags
Wood Filler – Only for imperfections or filling old hardware
Paint
Stir Sticks

Paint Recommendations

My go-to paint for handrails is Benjamin Moore Advance. There are some other paints that I would use, however, they are either more expensive (Sherwin Williams Emerald Line and Benjamin Moore Grand Entrance), have mixed reviews even if I haven’t had a problem (Behr Cabinet Paint), or have limited colors (Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations).

Read More>>>> Our thoroughly tested guide to The Best Paint for Furniture.

Pros of these types of paints:

Durable finish that will last!
Does not need a topcoat for durability.
Smooth self-leveling paint.
Easy to wipe and keep clean (satin or semi-gloss finish)

For this particular project, I used the pre-mixed Advance paint. A quart was more than enough for all of our stair railings. Closeup of Satin Black in Benjamin Moore Advance to show finish:

Closeup of paint without brush strokes on newel post and cap in stairwell

Pro Tip: Stair banisters are high-traffic areas. They will be touched, leaned on, and perhaps a child, like mine, will treat them as a jungle gym. Therefore, I recommend hard enamel-type paint in a satin or semi-gloss finish. Flat or matte paints are generally more likely to blemish and can be harder to clean.

Do I need to sand before painting stair railings?

Handrails NEED to be as durable as possible. I recommend that the rails and balusters be sanded to achieve a proper bond. Hand sanding all of this is certainly the worst part of the job, but you really just need to “rough up” the surface.

Side by side comparison showing how much to sand stair rails for painting.

Tips for sanding stair banisters:

There is no need to remove all of the previous varnish and stain. Just remove the glossy finish.
Use 120-grit sandpaper or 80-grit sanding sponges.
Flat surfaces can be sanded with an orbital sander to make it faster and easier.
Sand in the direction of the grain, where possible, not across it.
I usually sand the handrail where people grab the most a little extra.

Does wood need to be primed before painting?

Paint plus primer is useless. I recommend a high-quality stain-blocking primer if you have ANY of the following situations:

Painting unfinished or raw wood.
Almost any paint except Chalk paint, Fusion Mineral Paint, or Benjamin Moore Advance (but only if none of the other reasons in this list are present)
Painting over dark surfaces (i.e. navy or black) with a light or white color.
Bad stains like deeply embedded oil or markers.
Rails with knots in the wood such as knotty pine. <- This is uncommon.

In progress of painting oak wood stairwell with a new, black finish

However, 1 coat of primer is all you need for good coverage and sealing. After using many, many primers, this series of Kilz is my never-fail go-to primer.

Tips for the Best Paint Finish

The best paint for painting railings, in my experience, is Benjamin Moore Advance. Unless you have raw wood, it doesn’t require priming! It levels beautifully without brush strokes.
These are my Favorite Brushes that are soft and don’t leave brush strokes. You can get smaller ones like these paint brushes at Michael’s craft store for under $10.
Use a one-inch brush to paint details. This makes the paint even, stroke-free, and less likely to drip than a larger brush.
Sand and paint in the direction of the grain.
Always tape off areas you don’t want to paint. It’s faster, easier, and looks much more professional no matter how steady the hand.

Before and after of painted stair railing.

More Easy Home Improvement Ideas

Completed oak painted stair railing with black handrail and white balusters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cleaner to use before painting?

Everything should be cleaned thoroughly with a degreaser that won’t leave a film. teaspoon works very well, but other readily available cleaners work just as well. Use a microfiber or lint-free rag to remove any dirt, debris, and grime. Tack cloths are ok, but they sometimes leave a film behind.

What kind of paint do you use on stair railings?

My go-to paint for handrails is Benjamin Moore Advance. There are some other paints listed in the article that I would use. The most durable paints will be a satin or high-gloss sheen. Do not use flat paint like chalk paint (unless you use a protective topcoat like polyurethane) on a high-traffic piece such as a kitchen table or stair railings.

Is it better to paint or stain the stair railing?

You can paint or stain a stair railing with durable results if you use a durable topcoat like polyurethane.

Do I need to sand the railings before painting?

Because stair railings are one of the most touched surfaces in a home, it is highly recommended to sand first.

How long does it take for the paint to cure?

In my experience, BM advance does cure pretty fast. In the dead of winter (low humidity), the Benjamin Moore paint cured in only a few days. However, don’t depend on those results. I pleaded with everyone in the house not to touch the railings for a week until I was sure they would be able to withstand it. True cure time can take up to a month or more if you live in a high-humidity region.

Did you remove the banister to paint?

It is too much work to pull out and reinstall stair rails and balusters, so I paint them with a brush. This is why I recommend a good-quality brush to minimize strokes. I detached the single handrail on the right wall because it was rather simple.

Weekend DIY project. A pegboard organizer in the craft room above the desk workspace.

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