Baluster Calculator: Generate Printable Diagram with Measurements

Baluster Calculator Sign

This post and baluster calculator will calculate the even spacing of posts, the number of balusters (or spindles) needed, and their inner and outer spacing.

Plus, the results include a printable diagram containing near-side, on-center, and far-side measurements for posts and balusters (metric, inches, or feet and inches).

If you would like to know your options for evenly spacing balusters between posts (end gaps same as inner gaps), please visit the Even Spacing Calculator.

Read more ...

Baluster Calculator

Calculate post spacing and balusters needed and generate a printable diagram showing near, far, and on-center measurements.

Special Instructions

Learn More

Selected Data Record:

A Data Record is a set of calculator entries that are stored in your web browser's Local Storage. If a Data Record is currently selected in the "Data" tab, this line will list the name you gave to that data record. If no data record is selected, or you have no entries stored for this calculator, the line will display "None".

DataData recordData recordSelected data record: None
Measurement:

Measurement:

Select Inches or Metric, which will change the entry fields to accommodate your selection.

Railing length:

Railing length in feet and inches:

Select the railing length in feet, inches, and fraction of inch. The railing length is the distance between the outside of the two end posts.

Number of posts:

Number of posts:

Enter the number of posts the balusters will be placed between (must be a whole number greater than 1). If the number of posts is greater than two, the calculator will evenly space the posts between the end posts.

#
Post width:

Post width in feet and inches:

Select the post width in inches and fraction of inch (be sure to measure the post width versus trusting the product label).

Baluster width:

Baluster width in feet and inches:

Select the baluster width in inches and fraction of inch (be sure to measure the divider width versus trusting the product label).

Maximum gap width:

Maximum gap width in feet and inches:

Select the maximum width between balusters in inches and fraction of inch (check with your local building codes for maximum spacing).

Results in:

Results in:

Choose whether you want the result measurements to be displayed in Inches Only (18") or Feet and Inches (1' - 6").

# sections:# of sections:Number of sections:Number of sections:

Number of sections:

This is the number of sections you will need based on your entries.

Balusters/section:Balusters per section:Number of balusters per section:Number of balusters per section:

Number of balusters per section:

This is the number of balusters per section you will need based on your entries.

Total balusters:Total of balusters:Total number of balusters:Total number of balusters:

Total number of balusters:

This is the total number of balusters you will need for all sections based on your entries.

If you would like to save the current entries to the secure online database, tap or click on the Data tab, select "New Data Record", give the data record a name, then tap or click the Save button. To save changes to previously saved entries, simply tap the Save button. Please select and "Clear" any data records you no longer need.

Related Calculators

even spacing calculator

Help and Tools

Adjust Calculator Width:

Move the slider to left and right to adjust the calculator width. Note that the Help and Tools panel will be hidden when the calculator is too wide to fit both on the screen. Moving the slider to the left will bring the instructions and tools panel back into view.

Also note that some calculators will reformat to accommodate the screen size as you make the calculator wider or narrower. If the calculator is narrow, columns of entry rows will be converted to a vertical entry form, whereas a wider calculator will display columns of entry rows, and the entry fields will be smaller in size ... since they will not need to be "thumb friendly".

Show/Hide Popup Keypads:

Select Show or Hide to show or hide the popup keypad icons located next to numeric entry fields. These are generally only needed for mobile devices that don't have decimal points in their numeric keypads. So if you are on a desktop, you may find the calculator to be more user-friendly and less cluttered without them.

Stick/Unstick Tools:

Select Stick or Unstick to stick or unstick the help and tools panel. Selecting "Stick" will keep the panel in view while scrolling the calculator vertically. If you find that annoying, select "Unstick" to keep the panel in a stationary position.

If the tools panel becomes "Unstuck" on its own, try clicking "Unstick" and then "Stick" to re-stick the panel.