Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding cable railings:

Q: What is the best diameter of cable to use for a residential cable railing project?

A: The industry-standard size for residential cable railings is 1/8", which passes International Building Code standards for strength. This is the smallest cable you can use to be code-compliant.

Q: What is the recommended cable spacing?

A: Cables should be between 3-inches and 3-1/2-inches in order to achieve the 4-inch building code requirement. Cables will deflect a little in the middle of spans, so they should be closer together than fixed spindles typically would be.

Q: What is recommended post spacing?

A: Posts should be spaced between 3-feet and 4-feet in order to minimize the cable deflection and stay within code parameters.