Wood Stair Handrail Profiles: A Picture Guide to Model Numbers
Choosing a stair handrail is easier when you can see the shape and name it. This visual guide compares seven numbered wood handrail profiles, with a reference picture and dimensions for each.
Use these model numbers to start a conversation about your project. The examples below are supplier references, not a statement of Native Rift inventory. Confirm the exact manufacturer, dimensions, wood, and available fittings before ordering.
What is a handrail profile?
The profile is the outline you see when looking at the end of the rail. That shape determines the curves, shoulders, and recesses that run along its length. A photo of an entire staircase can hide those differences, so an end view is especially helpful.
6010 handrail
2 1/4″ wide × 2 3/8″ high. A familiar starting point for a traditional staircase. Compare this profile first when you want a compact rail rather than a large statement piece.
6210 handrail
2 5/8″ wide × 2 3/8″ high. Wider than 6010 at the same listed height. Compare the two with your newel posts to decide how substantial the railing should look.
6710 handrail
2 5/8″ wide × 2 3/4″ high. A taller option than 6210. Its extra height gives the handrail more visual presence.
6910 handrail
2 5/8″ wide × 2 3/8″ high. The listed outside dimensions match 6210, but the profile is different. This is a useful example of why width and height alone cannot identify a rail.
6519 handrail
2 5/8″ wide × 3″ high. The tallest of the seven examples in this guide. Consider its proportions alongside the posts, balusters, and surrounding trim.
5600 FB handrail
2 5/8″ wide × 1 7/8″ high. A lower profile with a flat bottom. Include the FB designation when discussing this reference so the exact version is clear.
6002 handrail
2 3/4″ wide × 1 5/8″ high (StairSupplies size reference). A simple rectangular profile with a flat top and straight sides. Specify an unplowed version for a flat underside, and confirm dimensions with your selected manufacturer.
How to match an existing rail
Start with a clear photo taken straight toward the end of the rail. Include a ruler in the same plane, then measure its overall width and height. Photograph the underside as well. Share any supplier label or model number you have, plus pictures of the joints and fittings you need to match.
Check the actual outline against the proposed replacement before committing. A similar number, matching dimensions, or a similar stain color is not enough to prove that two rails will join cleanly.
What to send with your project inquiry
Send the profile number or end-view photo, your preferred wood and finish, the lengths and quantities needed, and photos of the staircase. Include corners, transitions, and any existing parts that must remain. Native Rift can review the details with you before a quote is finalized.
Reference pictures and dimensions
The first six profile pictures and their listed dimensions are credited to Glen Rock Stairs. The 6002 image is a style-matched illustration, with the supplier size reference linked below. Verify current specifications with the supplier for your project.
6002 image: AI-assisted illustration styled to match the other samples; confirm the exact profile against your supplier's drawing.
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