Quick Tip for Spacing Balusters Evenly | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows host Kevin O’Connor a quick, simple trick for spacing balusters evenly, and it doesn’t even require math.

General contractor Tom Silva shows host Kevin O’Connor a quick, cheap, and accurate way to space balusters during a railing project. This simple trick involves a trip to the fabric store for an elastic band, a tape measure, and some careful alignment to perfectly place balusters without complicated math and fractions.

Don’t Overthink Baluster Spacing
Most porch or deck projects require baluster installation, and this can be a challenging step. The balusters require even spacing that also meets code (typically 4 inches or less between balusters). And, the space between rails rarely ends up being perfectly divisible with whole numbers. This can lead to askew spacing and eye-catching mistakes. Guess what? It’s avoidable.

Head to the Fabric Store
If you want to space your balusters perfectly, evenly, and quickly, the first step is heading to the fabric store and buying a piece of elastic band (approximately 60 inches long). Grab a permanent marker while you’re there as well, as this project will require both.

Make a Measuring Guide
When elastic is pulled, it stretches evenly across its length. That makes it the perfect guide for spacing balusters (with a little prep work, of course).

Lay the elastic band out on a flat work surface. Place a weight such as a coffee mug or book on either end of the band to remove the wrinkles, but do not stretch it yet. Using a ruler or tape measure, use the permanent marker to mark the band with a single line across the width of the band spaced every 4 inches.

Use the Guide
Using the guide to space balusters between posts is simple. Place a piece of scrap baluster flush with the inside edge of one of the posts. Holding the band so that one of the marks aligns with the inside edge of the other post, stretch the band until a mark aligns with the far outside edge of the scrap baluster. Place a baluster along each of the marks for perfect spacing.

Note: Place the balusters to the side of the marks in the same orientation as the scrap baluster against the post. For example, if the scrap baluster is to the left of the mark, each baluster should also be to the left of the corresponding mark.

Where to find it?
Tom used a length of fabric elastic to measure out the railing and placed a dot every 4 inches across the band. He then stretched the band across the length of the railing starting at the front of the first post and ending about a couple inches into the end post to account for the thickness of the baluster. He then places the balusters to the left of each marked dot on the elastic which are now equally distanced all the way across.


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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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Quick Tip for Spacing Balusters Evenly | Ask This Old House

[alainlc]

This program is a classic, a benchmark for home repairs, its members are professionals who are already part of our family, thank you.

[adrianstevens]

You never cease to amaze me, Tom!
Thanks for sharing this tip.

[Rearmostbean]

That is a great tip.
I wish I knew that last month when I made a railing...

[ben]

Best trick on the internet for spacing!!! Thanks Tommy and TOH

[jlewis]

The best tip I have seen yet, many thanks

[dannywilsher]

Another method is figure out how many spaces, divide that into inside dimension and set balusters on center marks.

[dfresh]

Clever. I just determined the spacing I wanted then cut a scrap piece of wood to that width and used it as a spacer. Just slide the spacer each time you secure a balaster. You can space it out beforehand without securing to make sure it looks right.

[johnhansen]

Great show online or on TV. Off topic, should I add my solar, backup batter, and upgrade to a 200amp panel before or after I do an addition to my house. Sorry for the randomness.

[frankheilmeier]

So how do you know how long the elastic band is before stretching it. How do you know how many marks to put on the elastic band. Do you divide the distance between posts and decide by the code/4 inches?

[Mrdubomb]

After going bananas for an hour trying to use a tape measure this worked like a charm.
I wonder if anyone makes a special tape measure for this purpose?

[brandonbollivar]

Inside to inside measure (between Newels )plus 1 baluster width
Divided by desired space (4”) and one baluster width

Gives number of units (Usually round up )

Then take the original number ( inside to inside of newel, plus one baluster width) divided by
number of units ( rounded up)

Will give you the far layout line
(Not center ) For actual space between baluster to baluster (fillet) minus one baluster width

I think that right ? Lol

[brianreese]

I made a jig of 4” to space mine works good that’s intriguing idea

[kennethm.]

Just measure the distance, measure the ballaster. Web sites tell you how to space.

[gendr]

But how do you figure out how long to cut the fabric

[RTDNECO]

Is there a rule for the length of the elastic? For example, the distance between posts less 6 inches?

[rckett]

Find the center and use a block for spacing out from center

[FredMirtz]

So, this is great BUT.... what length of elastic do you use? If I have a 3 foot piece of elastic and I have 6 feet between posts, does this work??

[Mr.Pop]

isnt there a small app someone can cookup that can split that measurement into however many balusters I need?

[WanaBleftalone]

Did not work for me. I tried marks at 2 inches thatI saw on previous video and 4 inch marks on this video and the marks are not an even distance apart. FAILURE I really hoped it would work. 😢

[portlandon]

I did this with 2 different elastic bands. One I drew 2” increments, the other I did in 4” increments. I could not get consistent spacing on either. I’m frustrated!