Replacing wood balusters with new iron balusters is a great way to update your space. It is also surprisingly inexpensive!

I did a TON of research and the cheapest place to buy iron balusters is on eBay!

Be prepared to spend between $3 and $13 per baluster.

This is going to entirely depend on how fancy you want. The plain bars are under $3 each and more twists and swirls and baskets go up in price from there.

It is a great idea to alternate the fancier balusters with plain balusters. This will save you money and prevent the new look from looking too busy.

REMEMBER that you will need a flat or angled shoe for the bottom of each bar. This adds 99 cents to each one’s cost. This is very important for a finished look.

Here is a tutorial for how we updated our balusters on a budget!

Other tools you will need to replace your balusters:

• Reciprocating saw
• Hot glue gun
• Sander

Yield: 1 staircase

How to replace wood balusters with iron

Active Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours

Difficulty: Medium

Estimated Cost: $100-250

Bored with your wooden staircase railing? Here is how to DIY upgrade your spindles with iron balusters!

Print

Materials

• New iron balusters
• Hot glue or epoxy
• Stain
• Polycrylic
• Brush

Tools

• Reciprocating saw
• Orbital sander

Instructions

1. Use reciprocating saw to cut wooden balusters in half.
2. Pull out of each end and discard.
3. Sand railing and stain or paint. Coat with poly to seal. Allow to dry.
4. Measure the height for each spindle.
5. Use reciprocating saw to trim iron spindles to height.
6. Stick spindle up into top railing.
7. Add glue or epoxy into lower hole.
8. Stick spindle in that hole.
9. Allow to dry, taping if necessary.

Notes

Each spindle might be a different length. Measure each.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Ryobi Reciprocating Saw
• 
  Orbital Sander
• 
  Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish Water Based, 1/2 pint, Matte
• 
  Iron Balusters Iron Spindles

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Sean

Hey there, I’m Sean, the woodworking enthusiast and builder behind CharlestonCrafted.com! Since 2012, I’ve been sharing the magic of turning raw materials into beautiful creations. I love teaching others the art and satisfaction of woodworking and DIY. I try to inspire fellow crafters to make something extraordinary out of nothing at all.