
What is the average height of stairs?
The average step height in America is 7.5 inches. The depth is generally around 9 inches. As far as width goes, or the long part of the stairs, it’s primarily up to the homeowner. But when it comes to the height and the depth, it’s important to follow the guidelines to prevent accidents.
What are the minimum dimensions of a stair landing?
The minimum recommended stair width is between 34" and 36" Across the width of the tread. Some codes such as CA/OSHA specify a minimum stairway width of 24".. The minimum recommended stair landing length is 36" (or a length and width sufficiently greater than the swing of the door if a wider door is present.
What is the average width of a stair?
The stair's width usually varies depending on the type of building the staircase is in, but for a normal residence, the standard tends to be 3 feet, 6 inches (106.7 cm). The minimum, in most places, is 2 feet 8 inches (81.3 cm). If a staircase exceeds 44 inches (111.8 cm), handrails are required for both sides. How do you measure stair tread width?
What is the standard height for a stair riser?
The code specifies that risers should not be more than 7 ¾ inches in height and that any variation of risers within a flight of stairs should not be more than ⅜ inch. Note that dimensions here should be taken excluding carpets, rugs, or runners.

How big is a standard staircase?
Standard Stair Dimensions Standard straight-run stairs have dimensions of a stair width of 36 inches or 91.4 centimeters, a stair tread depth of 11 inches or 28 centimeters, a stair riser size of 7 inches or 18 centimeters, and a length from the bottom to the top of the stairs of 10 feet or 3 meters.
How long is average staircase?
For most homes, the length of a flight of stairs is between 9 and 12 feet long. The total length of a flight of stairs for an 8-foot ceiling is approximately 9-feet long. The total length of a flight of stairs for a 10-foot ceiling is approximately 12-feet long.
How many stairs do you need to go up 12 feet?
As per thumb rule and various building code or IRC, assume standard design, for 12 feet height of staircase, you will need approximately 21 stairs and for 10 feet height you need 19 stairs to go up.
How long is a 14 step staircase?
Length of Staircase for 8-Foot Ceiling A home with 8' ceilings requires 14 steps, at a minimum. Multiply 14 and 9.25 and you get 130” of horizontal run. A tread depth of 10” plus a nosing would result in a length of around 140”, which is a common length for stairs in a home with 8' ceilings.
What is the 18 rule for a staircase?
Rule one says that rise plus run (r+R) should equal 18 inches. Why? That's what most people find to be a comfortable stride on most stairs. You can cheat a bit up or down, but below 17” and more than 19” will result in steps that require strides either too big or too small for most people.
What is the average rise and run of stairs?
The general rule (in the US) is 7-11 (a 7 inch rise and 11 inch run) (17.78cm-27.94cm). More exactly, no more than 7 3/4 inches (19.7cm) for the riser (vertical) and a minimum of 10 inches (25.4cm) for the tread (horizontal or step). You can find some more information here as well on other stair-related dimensions.
How many stairs do you need to go up 8 feet?
The vertical distance between the floors to be linked by the staircase is the principal determinant of the riser and tread dimensions. You divide the height by 7 inches; if, say, the floor-to-floor distance is 8 feet, 10 inches (or 106 inches), then you'll need 15 treads (106 divided by 7 equals 15.14).
How many steps is a standard staircase?
Most flights of stairs average out at 12 or 13 steps but it depends on the height of the staircase, the location of the stairs (as stair height regulations differ between public and private buildings and between countries), and the purpose of a staircase (as fire escapes have more specific rules than other sorts of ...
How deep are standard stairs?
International Residential Code (IRC) There are also section codes in place for standard stair tread dimensions. The tread depth code for residential stairs should be no less than 10 inches with nosing, no less than 11 inches without nosing, and maximum tread depth variation should also be less than 3/8 of an inch.
How long is a 15 step staircase?
108" rise / 7" step riser height = 15-16 risers or steps between levels. 15 steps with a minimum of 10" deep treads = 150 inches.
How many steps is a 4 foot rise?
Use your minimum riser height; if you roundup, this would push the riser under the minimum limit. In Edmonton, the minimum is five inches. Nine rises (round down) with eight steps (minus one). A four-foot high deck can have a range between 6 and 8 steps.
How long should a runner be for 13 stairs?
Multiply the number of steps by the total inches per stair. Then divide by 12 to get the total linear feet necessary for your straight stairs. We recommend adding one extra foot of runner length to your total, just to be safe.
How long of a runner do I need for 13 stairs?
Multiply the number of steps by the total inches per stair. Then divide by 12 to get the total linear feet necessary for your straight stairs. We recommend adding one extra foot of runner length to your total, just to be safe.
How long is a standard staircase UK?
Stairs : Standard 2600mm or 2700mm height at 42º Pitch - 13 Ply Risers with Softwood Strings and Treads - Domestic Specification.
How long is the average stair carpet?
Based on a straight set of stairs with 12 steps you'd roughly need 6m x 90cm (19.7' x 3').
How long is a 15 step staircase?
108" rise / 7" step riser height = 15-16 risers or steps between levels. 15 steps with a minimum of 10" deep treads = 150 inches.
How to find the length of a staircase?
To figure out staircase length, first divide the ceiling height by riser height, resulting give us number of riser, divide the no. of riser by 2 to get number of riser in a flight, no. of riser _ 1 give us number of tread or going in a flight, multiplication of number of tread and tread width give us total run and add the total run with landing width that result length of staircase or length of a flight of stairs.
How long is an 8 foot staircase?
Length of staircase for a 8 foot ceiling :- in most homes or residential building, length of staircase or the total length of a flight of stairs for an 8-foot ceiling is approximately 9 feet long. Mathematics calculation such as :- 1) no. of riser = 8 × 12″÷ 6″ = 16, 2) no. of riser in a flight = 16÷ 2 = 8, 3) no of tread = 8_1 = 7, 4) total run = 7×10″ = 70″ & 5) staircase length = 70″ + 42″ = 112″ or 9.33′.
How long is a flight of stairs?
For most homes, staircase consist of two flight and one landing, generally the length of a flight of stairs is between 9 to 12 feet long. Many code suggest that riser height is about 6″ high, tread width is about 10″ and landing width is about 42″ or 3.5 feet.
Why is a staircase important?
Staircase is most important part of building such as residential, commercial, factories, public, hospital and etc. It helps people to comfortably access different floor of a building. When you are thinking about your new task designing and construction of staircase, length of staircase, total run, ceiling height, size of rise & run or tread is important factors that ensure good design and it make comfortable flight between one floor to another.
Standard Stair Dimensions
Straight-run stairs are the standard stair type you usually see in regular and traditional residential homes. They are the easiest to build and also the easiest to climb up and down in.
Stair Width Dimensions
Stair width is the length of a stair from side to side. The International Residential Code and other local building codes have a standard, and this standard is usually 3 feet or 36 inches wide or wider. This size does not include the handrails.
Stair Tread Dimensions
The stair tread is the horizontal surface where you step on going up and down the staircase. You mark the depth of the tread by measuring the front edge of the nosing to the other front edge or nosing of the other step.
Stair Stringer Sizes
The stair stringer or the stringer board is what houses the sides of the staircase. It is the sawtooth-shaped sides you can see, but sometimes it may be just one solid straight structure.
Stair Riser Sizes
First, we need to know what a stair riser is first, and a stair riser is the vertical part of the step. It is the distance where you move your feet up or down the stairs.
Egress Stair Dimensions
Egress stairs are the type of stairs that you usually see on building emergency exits. These stair types are mandated to be made with non-combustible materials from the handrails down to the nosing.
Spiral Staircase Dimensions
Spiral stairs are a type of staircase that is helical in shape. The treads of the stairs are attached to a central pole. Spiral staircases are great for smaller home designs because of their compact design, but they are also dangerously steep because of this. Including a handrail in your spiral staircase can be an added precaution.
How many inches should a stair tread be?
In a straight line stair, multiply the number of treads by 11 inches (the minimum tread size under most codes), and add a minimum of 3′-0″ at each end for a landing.
How many inches of treads for a stair?
That will give you the number of treads. In a straight line stair, multiply the number of treads by 11 inches (the minimum tread size under most codes), and add a minimum of 3′-0″ at each end for a landing. If your floor-to-floor is 12′-0″ or more, add another 3′-0″ for an intermediate landing. The stair mus.
How wide is a stair tread?
The stair must be a minimum of 36″ wide ( 44″ if serving 50 people or more). For a typical wood frame house, the floor-to-floor is 9′-0″ (108″). This will require 16 risers at 6.65″ and 15 treads at 11″ (165″) plus a minimum landing of 3′-0” at each end.
What is the width of a step called?
Step has two part, one is called tread (horizontal) and other is called riser (vertical). The width of tread is decided on the basis of our ‘foot’ length, and is generally kept 9″ (minimum) to 12″ (maximum) so that we can walk comfortably on stair.
What is the purpose of stairs?
Staircase - the purpose is to climb stairs to your upper floor. Staircase should be built with proper elevation to air and natural light. The natural light is a must because with this provision in an emergency a single bright electric external light will lighten the entire area for rescue.
What does a low stair angle mean?
Low stair angle means more steps to reach the upper floor and will have a longer run which entains bigger stairwell.
Why do people step on the right foot first?
Most staircases are and odd number of steps to help keep people from stumbling. Most people are right handed, so they naturally step with the right foot first. So if the top of the stair was an even number they would be on their left foot. But their brain is used to telling the right foot to go first. So an odd staircase puts them back on the right foot....
How wide should stairs be?
Stair width does not include handrails. Building codes generally suggest that stairs be at least 36 inches (91.44 cm) wide.
What is stair calculator?
The Stair Calculator is an online tool for calculating various parameters involved in the construction of stairs. Refer to the figure adjacent to the calculator as a reference. A fraction to decimal conversion table for common fractions used in measurements is also provided at the bottom of the page.
How high should a handrail be?
Similarly, handrails must be between 34 and 38 (96.52) inches high measured from the top of the treads, with a diameter between 1.25 inches (3.18 cm) and 2.675 inches (6.79 cm). Stringer: A stair stringer is a structural member that supports the treads and risers of a staircase.
What is headroom in stairs?
Headroom: Headroom is the height measured from the top of a tread to the ceiling above it. While building codes for headroom are primarily intended to ensure enough room for people to comfortably use the stairs, the codes typically require far more room than the average height of a person to allow for moving larger objects such as furniture.
How long should a tread be?
Building codes generally suggest that the minimum length of a tread be 10 inches (25.4 cm). Rise/Riser: The rise, or height of a step is measured from the top of one tread to the top of the next tread.
Where is the nosing measured?
Its length is measured from the outer edge of the step, which includes the nosing if it is present, to the vertical portion of the stair called the riser. Both nosing and riser are discussed below. When measuring total run of a staircase, the length of the tread above the last riser is not included in the measurement.
How many stringers are there on a staircase?
Typically, there are three in a staircase: one on each side, and one in the middle. Stringers are not always visible, but can be seen on stairs with open sides. The stringers can either be cut to the shape of each step, or in some cases are uncut and conceal the edges of the treads.
How wide should a staircase be?
Most current building codes mandate that the clear width of a staircase be 36 in. between finish materials. Whether this dimension is sufficient depends on how the stairs will be used and whether they will have an open railing or will be enclosed by walls.
How many square feet are needed for a staircase?
When you multiply the 25- ft. length times the 4- ft. width, which includes the railing and the wall, you have a 9 square metres (100 square foot) area that is required for that staircase.
How many risers plus one tread?
One is: “Two risers plus one tread should equal 25 in. This works well in most circumstances. For example, you could have stairs with 7-in. risers and 11-in. treads (7 + 7 + 11 = 25), or you could have stairs with 7½-in. risers and 10-in. treads (7½ + 7½ + 10 = 25).
What are the two extremes of stairs?
Two extremes are presented: A very steep stair with 8-in. risers and a gentle stair with 6-in. risers. Critical is the run of the stairs. Clearly shorter risers will require much more space. Most staircases fall somewhere between these two extremes.
Why do open ended treads cost more to build?
Open-ended treads usually cost more to build, because the detail of the edge of the tread is intricate and requires superior finish work. Curbed treads can be simpler and easier to construct. Both types can be detailed in traditional or modern fashion.
What is length of run?
The length of the run is the total dimension the treads must occupy to complete the required rise. Staircases use significant square footage by the time all the steps are in place, landings are located and headroom has been cleared.
How many feet of tread for a stairway?
Consider that if a tread is 12 inches and you need 19 of them, that is 19 feet for the length of the steps alone. Now add at least 3 ft. on each end for landings, and you have 25 ft. in which to place that stairway path, at minimum.
How many inches per tread for a runner?
Runners are sold by the linear foot, this result is calculated/rounded up to a full foot. Footage calculation uses 19 inches per tread + riser total, a safe number for most straight stairs. SEE MORE INFO BELOW
What is riser in a run of steps?
Riser = The vertical component between each step/tread. You’ll have 1 more riser than tread in a run of steps - this field will auto-fill adding 1 to tread count.
What is a Normal Staircase?
You didn't give me enough information to give you a highly accurate answer. First I am going to assume that normal to you means a straight staircase. The first thing a carpenter needs to know is the exact distance between the two finished floor levels. There can be many other variables including, but not limited to, the wall height for the first floor walls and the thickness of the actual second-floor structure.
How many inches of treads for a straight staircase?
Multiply the 15 needed treads by 10 inches and you get 150 inches or 12 feet 6 inches. Add to this the three-foot clear area and you end up with 15 feet 6 inches for a straight staircase in a house with nine-foot-tall interior walls.
What Controls the Length of Stairs?
The length of stairs is controlled by the distance between the two floors the stairs connect.
What is the Total Stair Height for an 8-Foot-Wall House?
In the eight-foot wall system, you have a total rise of 108 and 5/8 inches. Here's how I arrived at that number:
What is the Height for a 9-Foot Interior Wall Home?
If you have nine-foot-high walls on the first floor, your total height is 120 and 5/8 inches. Once again this is not equally divisible by 7.5, but it yields 16 risers. Multiply the 15 needed treads by 10 inches and you get 150 inches or 12 feet 6 inches. Add to this the three-foot clear area and you end up with 15 feet 6 inches for a straight staircase in a house with nine-foot-tall interior walls.
How Can you Shrink the Footprint of a Staircase?
You can minimize the footprint by installing an L-shaped stairway if needed. The absolute minimum footprint for the stairway would be a circular staircase.
Why do stairs have one more riser than treads?
All staircases have one more riser than they do treads because you have to step up to get to the first tread.
How to calculate the square inches of a flight of stairs?
Measure any square or rectangular landing surface that may be included in the flight of stairs. Measure the width and length and multiply the numbers to calculate the square inches of the landing. Add that number to the total for the steps.
How to find the average square inches of a step?
Multiply the two numbers to get the total number of square inches of the step. Measure the vertical surface of the same step, add the numbers and you'll have the average number of square inches for each step.
How wide is a grand staircase?
Measure the stair to determine the width -- in grand staircases, it could be quite wide. You will require a piece of carpet that is the width of the stair plus a few extra inches to wrap around the outer edge of the tread, by 18".
How many stairs are there in a carpet set?
Commonly, a staircase leading from the main floor to the second floor of a house will have 13 stairs, ...
How many stairs are there in a 12x18 carpet?
For a typical set of 12 box stairs measuring 3' wide, using a carpet that is 12' wide, you would require 12' x 4'6" (in a 12' width of carpet, you get 4 box stairs -- 12' divided by 3' -- so every 12' x 18" gives you 4 stairs).
What is a stair that has one open side with railing posts on it called?
A stair that has one open side with railing posts on it is known as a cap stair.
Where is the bullnose stair?
A bullnose stair is often found at the bottom of a staircase. It is wider than the rest of the stairs and is rounded on one or both sides. The tread and riser combined have the same measurements as a box stair (18"). Measure the stair to determine the width -- in grand staircases, it could be quite wide. You will require a piece of carpet that is ...
What direction do you put carpet on stairs?
Direction of the Pile. The carpet on stairs must run in the same direction on every stair, and the direction of the pile must go with the flow of traffic -- from top to bottom, not from side to side. This means that, in order to work with the size of a roll of carpet, not all of the stairs are installed in one piece.
What is a box stair?
A box stair is straight, has no railing posts, and is closed in on all sides.
