Add 100 and 49 to get 149. Make stair measurements twice and double check your math before cutting any materials. You'll also want to determine where the stairs have to be placed, then measure out a depth for each stair such that a person can safely walk up and down the flight without falling. Please make use of the below calculator (Input the Values in Inches) Measuring for a new staircase. How many steps will I need for a 51 inch high deck? Do this for 2-3 stairs in case there are any variations in width. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The total will be calculated in inches and reduced by .6 feet. Want updates on new Dimensions content? How do I know if I can do steps the size I want safely? Thank you. Do I count the ground before the first step as a stair? This article has been viewed 613,783 times. The height and width are the most important elements to consider in the space you are measuring, as these will affect the going of the stairs and be restricted by regulations. ". ", "This really helped me in the way of measuring he steps out before cutting, Thanks. However, the minimum clear width between handrails is 44″. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Total Rise [A] - The total rise of a set of stairs is the vertical distance between the bottom of the first … If you don't want to get hurt too badly, just fall lightly and try to roll with the stairs as you fall down them until you hit the bottom. Example: 6-ft. W mantel x 1.5 = 9 feet of … We suggest 10.5" for 2x12 or 2 - 2x6 Treads. ©2020 Dimensions.com | All rights reserved. For instance, if the total rise is 114 inches (290 cm), subtract 6 feet (1.8 m), which is 72 inches (180 cm), to account for the headroom. Rise/Riser: The rise, or height of a step is measured from the top of one tread to the top of the next … ", "Very helpful, easy to understand, exactly what I was looking for. 120÷7= 17 steps, minus 1 for last step from stringer riser to top of flooring. Note the distance from the … Next, divide the rise by the number of stairs to find the rise of each individual stair. The tread size (min 10ins / 25.4cm) is dictated by the average adult foot size, although it is not necessary to be able to fit your entire foot on a tread in order for walking up the stairs … Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. ", "Easy-to-understand instructions, example pictures. But once you learn the basics of making measurements, planning new stairs is not a difficult project. 5′-6″. Multiply the width and length of the landing. 56″ x 56″. A layout on stringer would have 16 risers, so don't forget on your bottom step to subtract the tread thickness (if using 2x12, you would subtract 1 1/2" from first riser, making it 5 1/2" instead of 7"). Using a tape measure, make measurements of the total height of the space you want to make stairs from the bottom to the top. A comprehensive reference database of dimensioned drawings documenting the standard measurements and sizes of the everyday objects and spaces that make up our world. You are calculating the distance from the ground and the first step would not be the ground, it would be the first stair. In general public spaces a minimum of 44” (112 cm) must be met—providing ample space for one person and allowing the tight passage of two people. Make sure to record every measurement you make to prevent mistakes while planning and building the stairs. To measure straight stairs, measure both the tread (horizontal step) and the riser (vertical part of step). Measure the height from the surface where the stairs will start to the bottom surface that the stairs … Multiply the width from step 4 by the length from step 3. How many steps would I have on a nine foot staircase? This will help you avoid waste. Mr. 1 Person (Private): 36” | 91 cm1-2 People (Min. Handyman. For instance, if the run is 10 inches, square 10 by multiplying it by itself to get 100. Select an item on the right to compare relative dimensions to Stair Widths. Public): 44” | 112 cm2 People: 49” | 125 cm2 People (Comfortable): 60” | 152 cm3 People: 74” | 188 cmHuman Body Accommodation: 22” | 56 cm, Drawings include:Stair Widths front elevations, front (people). inches. It’s simple and easy to measure for a new staircase. Tape Measure. Lui Colmenares is a handyman and licensed home improvement contractor for Mr. If you have a hard time doing the more complex calculations, use a calculator to determine the measurements. Either B or C is required. – This is the length vertically up and over the step. How do I measure how many steps I will need for my stairs? Then, find the square root of 149, which is 12.206, meaning the length of each stringer will be 12.2 inches. ", "It saved me loads of money by being able enough to do this job myself, a big thank you! inches. Now I can decide, "Good overall info on making stairs. ", "Do not like to reinvent the wheel, thanks for tried and true advice! Total Required Number of Risers = Total Stair Rise / Height of One Rise = 60” / 6” = 10 Riser. ", "Needed supplies and a basic overview. Staircase Calculator. These calculations give you the required COMBINED width of all exit stairs serving that floor. If the individual stair rise is 7 inches, square 7 by multiplying it by itself to get 49 inches. Measure the distance from the floor where the base of the stairs will be to the ceiling. According to Jacobsen Rugs, "There is a slight tendency for runner width to increase as runner length increases." For stairs serving a single user (typically private residential), a minimum of 36” (91 cm) is required. References Comfortable two person stair widths range between 49” (125 cm) to 60” (152 cm). This is called the "rise" of your measurements and will determine how high your stairs will go. How do I measure the “egress” width of a stair? You did that, thanks. Record it. ", "Great help in calculating step construction. Stair runners, usually sold by the running foot or yard, can be 22 to 36 inches wide. Measure the LENGTH of the banister or the WIDTH of the mantel, then calculate one-and-a-half times that dimension. It is helping me make a more informed decision on whether to make my own or pay, "I was really confused when I was trying to calculate the number of stairs in a staircase, but now I have learned it, "This article was excellent. Handy NYC prides itself on quality work performed with speed, skill, and punctuality. Width refers to both the individual step as well as the entire staircase. … Then count the number of steps. Your staircase will have 7 stairs. Handrails must be placed every 60” (152 cm). 18 August 2020. Subtract 6-7 feet from the total rise to account for headroom, then divide that number by 6 or 7 inches to get the total number of stairs you’ll need to build. In general public spaces a minimum of 44” (112 cm) must be met—providing ample space for one person and allowing the tight passage of two people. Updated daily. For stairs enclosed by a wall on both sides, usually the total stairway width is the distance between those walls. Headroom heights usually aren't regulated by building codes, but your local building code may have recommendations for stair headroom, so be sure to check. Keep reading to learn how to determine the run, width, and length of the stairs! Stair details refer to the standard requirements for each of the various components of a flight of stairs. Multiply that measurement by the number of stairs … Measuring Stair Egress Width. Handy NYC prides itself on quality work performed with speed, skill, and punctuality. Measure the width of the stairs with a measuring tape. The minimum length of a stair tread is 1' so that one can rest their foot comfortably. Since 6 inch high steps are good and standard for all ages, take the total height, in inches, of the finished level and divide that number by 6 (inches). 3DM, OBJ, SKP formats, Dimensions is a project by Fantastic Offense. Stretch out the measuring tape parallel to the edge of a stair to get the width. ", building a staircase. Step 2. By using our site, you agree to our. Measure the Tread Thickness. Last Updated: August 24, 2020 Determine the width of your stair runner by evaluating the length of your staircase. If the rise is 42 inches (110 cm) (after subtracting 6–7 feet (1.8–2.1 m) for headroom) and you want larger stairs, for example, divide 42 by 6. Staircase Width: 36 Inches, Minimum. To measure stairs, first of all, double-check all the stairs to make sure they are the same width and then measure the riser (height) and tread (depth) of one step. Building Regulations for Stairs UK; This page is part of the staircase design series. Staircase width refers to the side-to-side distance if you were … Thanks, & keep going. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. % of people told us that this article helped them. 68″x 68″. 6′-0″. ", "It's really useful. Calculate the size of the floor opening based on required headroom. Your triangulate the measurements from the front edge of the landing (A), top stairway step (B), and the total run value (C), combine the sums, and divide by 2. Handy NYC based in New York City, New York. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. While a tape measure isn’t a tool that is specifically for stair measuring, it is one of … Lui is trained and educated as an industrial engineer and specializes in carpentry, painting, and general handyman work such as mounting TVs, doorknob and deadbolt installation, furniture assembly, tile repair, and grouting. This will leave you with a rise of 42 inches (110 cm). For stairs serving a single user (typically private residential), a minimum of 36” (91 cm) is required. No. Lui is trained and educated as an industrial engineer and specializes in carpentry, painting, and general handyman work such as mounting TVs, doorknob and deadbolt installation, furniture assembly, tile repair, and grouting. Measure the Width. For three simultaneous users, a minimum of 74” (188 cm) is recommended. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Selecting the right length is also important. If your staircase will have 6 steps and your run is 10 inches (25 cm), for example, the total run is 60 inches (150 cm). Leave the end of the measuring tape in place at the top of the landing. Comfortable two person stair widths range between 49” (125 cm) to 60” (152 cm). The company also notes that it is common to install a runner that is at least 32 … This article was co-authored by Lui Colmenares. If the rise is 42 inches (110 cm) and the number of stairs is 6, for example, each individual stair will have a rise of 7 inches (18 cm). Use if Total Run is restricted by obstacles such as doors or landings. Depending on the use and local regulations, a minimum width of 80 cm is recommended for stairs in single-family homes, and greater than 1.00 … Treads and Risers. Standard is 7x11. Join our monthly newsletter! Stair runners come in many widths varying from 20" to 48" wide. How do I know how many steps I'll need for stairs? Expert Interview. I have a thirteen foot floor, how many steps is that? When measuring straight stairs, measure from the back of the top riser (where it meets the previous step), over the nose (edge of the step) and down to the back of the next tread (where it meets the next step), then measure the width and jot both measurements down on your plan. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 613,783 times. Add in any landings you have. The width of one stair, after all, will need to be consistent with the rest of the stairs. This article has been viewed 613,783 times. Using graphing paper, draw a sketch of the staircase while marking the rise, run, number of steps, width, and length. I will use it to teach students how it is done! 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). Enter Your Run. Subscribed! Enter the thickness of the treads in the field labeled (E) in the stair … This helped a lot. Note: Keep in mind that the required headroom must allow for finished surfaces. Having the right calculations before getting started can make the task a lot easier. This article received 15 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This is the same as the total width of the staircase as well. Select an item from the list on the right to compare related dimensions. I had a limited space for stairs, which required some serious planing. The tread and riser combined have the same measurements as a box stair (18"). We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. ", "Been a while since I have done things like this and I needed a refresher. Measure the width of the stairs and round up to the nearest foot. Approved. 5′-0″. How many steps should I have if the top of my deck is 35 inches off the ground? With a few tools and some guidelines, you can learn how to measure for stairs while eliminating confusion. [1] X Research source You should also measure the ceiling height. Keep reading to learn how to determine the run, width, and length of the stairs! Mr. 74″ x 74″. Measure the rough opening’s width and length in three different spots, at the top and bottom of the framing. Building stairs for your deck is often considered “the most difficult part of” the construction project. How many steps are required if my porch is 30 inches off the ground? In other words, 7 inches up for the 'rise'' and 11 inches in on the "tread.". Thank you for posting it! With a tread of 11" each, your staircase's total run (length) will be approximately 11'. What measurements do you need to build stairs? You should also measure the ceiling height. "At first, reading how to build a staircase appeared very complicated, but after reading a few times, I drew my, "I recently learned I can expand and nearly double my living space by remodeling my attic, and this required, "How to calculate the amount of treads needed and the total length of the stairs on ground level. 62″ x 62″. Choose a stair that fits into the smallest of these measurements and is long enough for your ceiling height; you may have to trim to fit. Handy NYC based in New York City, New York. For a specific minimum width, contact your local government about the building code for stairs. Total Required Number of Tread = Total Stair Tread or Run/ width of one Tread = 90” / 10” = 9 Tread. Calculate the size of your stair opening. If your landing is at a height of 8', you will have a total of 12 steps at a height of 7-3/8" each. That way, once it's time to build, you can decrease your chances of making mistakes. To simplify the process, we’ve created this deck stair calculator to help you determine the correct measurements needed to carry out your project. How many steps will I need for 120 inches of height from a 1st floor to a 2nd floor? The ceiling height is a very important measure. Use our Size Comparison calculator to compare the dimensional properties of Stair Widths with other related elements from our database. Lui Colmenares is a handyman and licensed home improvement contractor for Mr. What is the minimum length for stair tread? If you’re building a set of stairs, you’ll need to measure the rise and the number of steps. Once you have measure the length of your staircase, you need to find the correct width to complete your measurements. Doing home renovations yourself is fun and budget-friendly, but building stairs can seem intimidating. Measure from the very bottom of the stairs to the top of the space where the stairs will be, which is the rise. The width of the carpet has to be rounded up to 4 or 5 metres in width depending on the carpet ordered. If you want to fall just fall, keeping your hands out of the way. Stair widths are based on the use and occupancy loads of adjacent spaces and must be serviced with handrails on one or both sides depending on the stair width.Consult the building code for details on specific occupancy loads. A confirmation email has been sent. This should add up to about 18". Define Usable Stairway Width: (green arrow in the photo) is the un-obstructed horizontal distance or space through which the stair user's body can pass when climbing or descending … Regulated by building codes, stair details specify the sizes of risers and treads, stair widths, the placement of handrails and guardrails, and construction methods for fabricating stairs. The minimum, in most places, is 2 feet 8 inches (81.3 cm). Great work. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bd\/Measure-for-Stairs-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Measure-for-Stairs-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bd\/Measure-for-Stairs-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1390343-v4-728px-Measure-for-Stairs-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"