Our Experts Pick The Best Metal Deck Railing Systems
If you're upgrading your deck's railing - or building a brand-new deck - metal railing is an excellent choice. Metal deck railing systems are strong, long-lasting, and especially low-maintenance compared to any other railing material.
But shopping for a new metal deck railing system isn't all that easy. There are tons of different metal railings on the market, and they all look very similar at first glance. However, picking the right system can save you an incredible amount of time and money, both during the install process and over the lifespan of your railing.
That's why we asked our staff of experienced deck planners, builders, and enthusiasts to pick the best metal deck railing systems currently on the market. Read on for their picks, plus the key benefits our team loves about each one.
- Best Overall Metal Deck Railing
- Best Value Metal Deck Railing
- Best Modern Metal Deck Railing
- Best Traditional Metal Deck Railing
- Easiest Metal Deck Railing For DIY Installation
- Strongest Metal Deck Railing
- Best Metal Deck Railing With A Drink Rail
- Best Horizontal Metal Deck Railing
- Best Mesh Deck Railing
- Best Glass Deck Railing
- Best Cable Deck Railing
Best Overall Metal Deck Railing: Revival Plus Aluminum Railing
What We Love About It:
- Clean, classic look
- Cost-effective: premium quality at an affordable price
- Simple, easy install process
- Low-maintenance & long-lasting with quality powder coat
Our team LOVES the Revival Plus Aluminum Railing system for one key reason: it solves the dilemma so many of our customers run into when planning their deck projects.
They want to set their deck up for the future, keeping regular maintenance to a minimum with a long lifespan on all materials. But they also need to keep their project within a reasonable budget.
Revival Plus strikes that balance perfectly, delivery premium quality at a better price point than other options on the market. With a quality product at a great value, our customers consistently find their budget goes further, allowing them to plan a larger deck, a bigger project, or even add lighting or other comfort items, without breaking their intended budget.
Revival Plus has a classic look that's modern with a hint of character in the rounded top rail and detailed posts. The subtle grooves in the posts add style, and also make it easier to line up brackets when you install. Plus, Revival Plus has three different infill options, so you can get the exact look you want:
Shop Revival Plus
Best Value Metal Deck Railing: Revival Railing
What We Love About It:
- The most budget-friendly metal railing out there
- High-quality powder coat that reduces maintenance
- Slim, minimal look
- Simple to shop and install
If you're absolutely looking to make your budget go the furthest, the Revival Railing brand also has you covered. The Revival Aluminum Railing system is a more stripped-down verson of Revival Plus that removes the mesh and horizontal infill options to keep the price shockingly low - closer to the price of a wood railing than a typical metal railing.
Here are some overall numbers to put it into context:
| Railing | Cost |
|---|---|
| Average Wood Railings |
$10 - $50 per linear foot (Average: $30/linear foot + cost of maintenance) |
| Average Metal Railings |
$65 - $110 per linear foot (Average: $85/linear foot) |
| Revival Railing | $56 per linear foot |
The standard Revival system features slimmer posts than Revival Plus (2.5-inch posts compared to 3-inch posts) along with slimmer top and bottom rails. The brackets make installation a little less simple, but still plenty fast for pros and easy for any DIYer to tackle. And some homeowners even like the slimmed down look better - it's a little more minimalist and opens up your view nicely.
Best Modern Metal Deck Railing
Because of its sleek, polished finish, metal deck railing is an ideal choice for a modern-looking deck - or to bring modern flair to a more traditional deck. Here are our favorite deck railings if you want to really lean in to the modern vibes:
Best Modern Look: Trex Signature Railing
What We Love About It:
- The proven quality of the Trex brand name
- Minimalist top rail looks totally modern
- Ultra low-maintenance
Trex is the best-known name in decking, so it's no surprise to see that they've mastered the style of metal deck railing. The Trex Signature Aluminum Railing system is modern perfection, complete with a sleek, minimalist top rail that provides stability without obstructing your view.
With the Trex brand name comes peace of mind that your railing will be built to last. Trex products are exceptionally durable, even while requiring very minimal regular maintenance. Plus, Trex's proven, timeless looks have endured for decades without going out of style.
For a easy-to-shop, easy-to-maintain metal deck railing, you can't go wrong with Trex Signature. You can see an u-close look at the shape of the top and bottom rails below to see if it suits your vision:
Best Modern Look: Key-Link American Railing
What We Love About It:
- Gorgeous craftsman details on rails and posts
- Sleek, timeless style
- Multiple post sizes for a customizable look
For a slightly more ornate look than the minimalist Trex Signature, we love the look of Key-Link's American Series Aluminum Railing.
Key-Link's rails and posts are intricately detailed, adding a level of craftsman charm to the look. Above, you can see the unique shaping of the top rail, along with the subtly recessed panels on the side of each post.
If your deck has a lot of craftsman details (like stone columns, ornate deck furniture, or natural textures like wood, stone, or brick), Key-Link is a perfect match. It pairs modern style with craftsman charm in a way that few other railings can.
Best Traditional Metal Deck Railing
If you've got a more classic-looking home, you might wonder whether the modern look of metal railing will clash. The good news is that metal railings come in all shapes and sizes, and a few seemingly-small features can make a railing mesh perfectly within a more traditional setting. Here's our top railing for classic homes:
Best Traditional Look: AFCO Pro Railing
What We Love About It:
- Incredibly versatile - fits perfectly on traditional or modern homes
- "Breadloaf" style graspable top rail for safety
- High-quality craftsmanship and durability
_landscape.jpg "Best Traditional-Looking Metal Deck Railing: AFCO Pro")
AFCO has brilliantly managed to bridge the gap between modern and traditional with its AFCO Pro Aluminum Railing system. Perfectly at home on any deck, AFCO Pro is an ideal choice when installing a metal railing onto a more classically-styled deck.
The secret is in AFCO's carefully-designed top rail. Where most metal railings chase modern shapes and clean lines, AFCO Pro takes a much more traditional shape with a rounded-off top rail. Sometimes called a "breadloaf" shape, this classic look brings a ton of character to any deck space.
The other bonus? The rounded-off "T" shape is easily graspable as you walk along it, creating almost a built-in handrail for guest safety.
All of AFCO's railings are quality-crafted from powder-coated aluminum with excellent attention to details, and we love recommending their systems, especially to customers looking to spice up a traditional deck without veering completely into the modern.
Shop AFCO ProEasiest Metal Deck Railing For DIY Installation
In general, metal deck railings are fairly easy to install, coming in straightforward kits that fit together almost like Lego blocks for adults. That said, a few systems really go above and beyond when it comes to making installation easy on deck owners. Here are the best DIY metal deck railings available:
Best DIY Installation: Fortress FE26 Steel Railing
What We Love About It:
- Super fast installation with pre-bracketed posts and pre-welded panels
- The strength of steel components allows for fewer and thinner posts
- Tons of customization options from fascia mounting to drink rails to top rail accents
When it comes to streamlining the DIY experience, Fortress is in a category all its own. The brand's all-steel FE26 railing line takes ease of install to a totally new level.
For most level railing sections, you can order Fortress posts with the brackets already installed. The pre-bracketed posts save you valuable installation time, and ensure that every panel gets installed perfectly without meticulous measuring and marking for your bracket placement.
Plus, Fortress's railing sections ship to your door as pre-welded panels with the balusters already attached to the top and bottom rail. That allows you to simply cut the panel down to size and attach it to the brackets - it's that easy.
Even Fortress angled stair panels come pre-assembled, with balusters welded to hinges so you can adjust the panel to fit your stairs. The added bonuses: pre-welded panels create the strongest railing sections possible and make sure your balusters don't shake or rattle.
Shop FE26Best DIY Installation: Deckorators Contemporary Aluminum Railing
What We Love About It:
- Pre-welded panels for super fast installation
- Easy to shop and plan - brackets come with rail panels
- Unique weathered brown color option
Trusted outdoor living brand Deckorators also offers an exceptionally DIY-friendly railing in its Contemporary railing line.
Like Fortress FE26, the Deckorators Contemporary system uses pre-welded railing panels so you don't have to attach each baluster to your top rail and bottom rail. The panels come with coordinating brackets that are quick and easy to attach to Deckorators posts.
The Deckorators Contemporary system can also deliver a unique look, because it comes with a distinctive Weathered Brown color option that you won't find in many other railing systems.
Shop Deckorators ContemporaryStrongest Metal Deck Railing
If pure strength is your priority, there's no substitute for the weight of steel. Most metal deck railing systems use aluminum, which is plenty strong to meet building codes. But Fortress's FE26 steel deck railing system goes above and beyond with strength, which leads to several key benefits you might not have thought about:
Strongest Railing: Fortress FE26 Steel Railing
What We Love About It:
- Strong, pre-welded panels allow for longer spans between posts - up to 10 feet
- Thinner posts and rails without compromising strength
- Sturdy, space-saving fascia-mount option
The strength of steel means that Fortress can design a sleeker, thinner deck railing that needs less bulk to deliver the same amount of strength. What does that look like on your deck? Fewer posts blocking your view. Thinner posts. Longer railing sections, up to 10 feet across between posts. And a more minimalist railing look.
Plus, the strength of steel allows you to fascia mount your railing if you're looking to maximize the space on top of your deck. You can see a Fortress fascia-mounted post below:
Best Metal Deck Railing With A Drink Rail
A flat top rail can serve both form and function: looking stylish and modern while providing a handy place to set a glass of wine, a cup of coffee, a plate of food, or a decorative planter.
It's called a drink rail or a cocktail rail - and some deck railing systems do them especially well.
Best Drink Rail: AFCO Flat Top Railing
What We Love About It:
- Looks amazing with a variety of deck boards mounted on top
- Flat top rail creates a functional drink rail with or without a deck board mounted
- Versatile look makes a drink rail mesh with any style of house
The AFCO system was born to feature a drink rail. The brand offers two different top rails: the rounded "Pro" top rail (we profiled this one above) and the modern "Flat Top" rail. The Flat Top version makes a dynamite drink rail.
You can mount the deck board of your choice on top, as shown above, or just use the metal flat top rail by itself, as shown below. The AFCO system is brilliantly designed, and it's a DecksDirect favorite to recommend to customers who crave that drink rail look.
Like the AFCO Pro system, the AFCO Flat Top look comes in straightforward rail kits and post kits that make it easy to plan your railing and get everything you need in one single order.
Shop AFCO Flat TopBest Horizontal Metal Deck Railing
Most metal deck railings put slight twists on the same look, with horizontal rails and thinner vertical balusters. But you can get a unique look with a horizontal system that turns the thin balusters to run from left to right. Here's our favorite option in this category:
Best Horizontal Metal Deck Railing
What We Love About It:
- Great views - slim balusters compared to other horizontal systems
- Easy install process
- Very cost-effective compared to other horizontal systems
The Revival Plus Horizontal system takes everything you love about Revival Plus (value, ease of install, quality parts) and puts a horizontal spin on it. Many horizontal rod systems can get very expensive quickly, but the Revival Plus system gives that sweeping horizontal look without the ballooning price point.
The system is really versatile - it's right at home in a rustic ranch setting, but also looks great in a modern space, or even an industrial high-rise.
Other Unique Metal Deck Railing Looks To Consider
If you're looking to stand out from the neighborhood, there are a few more unique looks you can pair with typical metal rails and posts. Here are our experts top recommendations:
Best Hog Wire Mesh Deck Railing: Revival Plus Mesh Railing
What We Love About It:
- Clean, simple look that fits any style from modern farmhouse to rustic
- Slim mesh panels create a wide open view
- Cost-effective full system option for the mesh look
- Mesh pattern doesn't jarringly change angle down stairs
The Revival brand makes our list one more time for its take on a classic mesh look. Revival Plus Mesh Railing really slims down the width of the mesh strands compared to other options on the market, giving you a wider view. In fact, the mesh almost disappears into some deck views.
Revival Plus Mesh continues the Revival trend of delivering premium quality at a price that lets your budget go further. One nice bonus: the stair sections are designed to keep the mesh in the same orientation as the rest of the deck, giving a clean, consistent look compared to other systems that have the mesh panels angle down the stairs.
Best Glass Deck Railing: Skyline Frameless Glass Railing
What We Love About It:
- Amazing views with no top or bottom rail
- Simple, easy-to-install system
- Comes with custom-sized glass panels for your project
- Fascia mount or surface mount options
If you're pairing metal railing with glass infill, we can guess the reason: you've got a view that just shouldn't be hidden by bulky metal parts.
If that's the case, Skyline's Frameless Glass Railing is the system for you. With no top or bottom rail required, you get the widest deck view possible, with only slim metal posts between you and the vista beyond.
Skyline Frameless Glass comes with custom-sized glass panels so you can design it to exactly fit your space. And as an added bonus, the lack of top or bottom rails actually saves you money and leads to faster, easier install without tricky brackets or rails to deal with.
Best Cable Deck Railing: Skyline Cable Railing
What We Love About It:
- Most cost-effective cable railing system on the market
- Great views - no bottom rail and slim continuous top rail
- High-quality parts that last
Where Revival Railing brings standard metal railing into range for more project budgets, Skyline does the same thing for cable railing, long a highly-sought-after look that can get pricy quickly with many brands.
Skyline Cable Railing is the most cost-effective cable system on the market, and it does so without compromising on the quality of the powder-coated aluminum posts and rails or the stainless steel cable and fittings.
Installation will take a little longer because each cable run needs to be manually swaged into fittings. But it's well worth the tradeoff when it comes to price - and the swaged system leads to a really clean final look without long fittings extending out into your cable runs.
