What are some standard heights for deck railing?

The International Residential Code mandates that deck rails be a minimum of 36 inches in height from the surface of the deck to the rail’s top. The International Building Code requires that commercial decks on multi-family buildings or businesses must have rails that are at least 42 inches in height.

The International Residential Code requires that all decks that are 30 inches or higher off the ground have guardrails. Although these deck rail heights are standard throughout the country, local building codes may have different requirements, so builders must first check local codes prior to determining the appropriate height of the guardrails.