How do I measure how many steps I will need for my stairs? Staircase width refers to the side-to-side distance if you were … However, the minimum clear width between handrails is 44″. Measuring for a new staircase. The minimum, in most places, is 2 feet 8 inches (81.3 cm). ", building a staircase. How many steps are required if my porch is 30 inches off the ground? Total Required Number of Tread = Total Stair Tread or Run/ width of one Tread = 90” / 10” = 9 Tread. 1 Person (Private): 36” | 91 cm1-2 People (Min. 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. Step 2. 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. Do I count the ground before the first step as a stair? Assign each graphing paper square a specific measurement so you can refer to the sketch while planning and building your steps. ", "Do not like to reinvent the wheel, thanks for tried and true advice! Join our monthly newsletter! Then, find the square root of 149, which is 12.206, meaning the length of each stringer will be 12.2 inches. inches. If you’re building a set of stairs, you’ll need to measure the rise and the number of steps. That gives us (30/6=5), so 5 steps (including the final level) at a height of 6 inches each. The width of the carpet has to be rounded up to 4 or 5 metres in width depending on the carpet ordered. Record it. "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. Handy NYC based in New York City, New York. 5′-6″. Stair details refer to the standard requirements for each of the various components of a flight of stairs. ", "Great help in calculating step construction. ", "It's really useful. Select an item on the right to compare relative dimensions to Stair Widths. Handy NYC prides itself on quality work performed with speed, skill, and punctuality. What is the minimum length for stair tread? 56″ x 56″. Use if Total Run is restricted by obstacles such as doors or landings. I have a thirteen foot floor, how many steps is that? [1] X Research source You should also measure the ceiling height. Thank you for posting it! The most common width is 27" for a standard staircase. How do I measure the “egress” width of a stair? Lui Colmenares is a handyman and licensed home improvement contractor for Mr. Stair runners come in many widths varying from 20" to 48" wide. This article has been viewed 613,783 times. Handy NYC prides itself on quality work performed with speed, skill, and punctuality. Standard is 7x11. Either B or C is required. 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. 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). What measurements do you need to build stairs? This should add up to about 18". This article was co-authored by Lui Colmenares. Select an item from the list on the right to compare related dimensions. 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. 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. 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. How many steps would I have on a nine foot staircase? Having the right calculations before getting started can make the task a lot easier. Thanks, & keep going. Thank you. Scaled 2D drawings and 3D models available for download. ", "Needed supplies and a basic overview. 18 August 2020. Mr. ". Multiply the width and length of the landing. Multiply the width from step 4 by the length from step 3. ", "Easy-to-understand instructions, example pictures. 74″ x 74″. Enter Your Run. According to Jacobsen Rugs, "There is a slight tendency for runner width to increase as runner length increases." Staircase Calculator. 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. Updated daily. Stretch out the measuring tape parallel to the edge of a stair to get the width. To simplify the process, we’ve created this deck stair calculator to help you determine the correct measurements needed to carry out your project. 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). How do I know if I can do steps the size I want safely? 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. 3DM, OBJ, SKP formats, Dimensions is a project by Fantastic Offense. By using our site, you agree to our. Treads and Risers. Measure the Width. Approved. While a tape measure isn’t a tool that is specifically for stair measuring, it is one of … If you have a hard time doing the more complex calculations, use a calculator to determine the measurements. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. How do I know how many steps I'll need for stairs? For stairs serving multiple floors, multiply the occupant load of the floor that serves the most people by 0.3. IBC Section 1014.8 permits handrails to project up to 4½ inches into the required width of aisles, stairways, and ramps on each side. inches. Start by measuring the full width of a step, then deduct a minimum of 5 cm from each end. Mr. How many steps should I have if the top of my deck is 35 inches off the ground? Subscribed! Tape Measure. 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. Lui Colmenares is a handyman and licensed home improvement contractor for Mr. Measure from the very bottom of the stairs to the top of the space where the stairs will be, which is the rise. Using a tape measure, make measurements of the total height of the space you want to make stairs from the bottom to the top. ", "Been a while since I have done things like this and I needed a refresher. 62″ x 62″. ©2020 Dimensions.com | All rights reserved. – This is the length vertically up and over the step. If you want to fall just fall, keeping your hands out of the way. Rise/Riser: The rise, or height of a step is measured from the top of one tread to the top of the next … 68″x 68″. … We suggest 10.5" for 2x12 or 2 - 2x6 Treads. Comfortable two person stair widths range between 49” (125 cm) to 60” (152 cm). Building stairs for your deck is often considered “the most difficult part of” the construction project. But once you learn the basics of making measurements, planning new stairs is not a difficult project. Measure the width of the stairs and round up to the nearest foot. Selecting the right length is also important. Next, divide the rise by the number of stairs to find the rise of each individual stair. Multiply that measurement by the number of stairs … Total Required Number of Risers = Total Stair Rise / Height of One Rise = 60” / 6” = 10 Riser. Your staircase will have 7 stairs. Stair details refer to the standard requirements for each of the various components of a flight of stairs. ", "It saved me loads of money by being able enough to do this job myself, a big thank you! This article was co-authored by Lui Colmenares. Make sure to record every measurement you make to prevent mistakes while planning and building the stairs. Total Rise [A] - The total rise of a set of stairs is the vertical distance between the bottom of the first … I had a limited space for stairs, which required some serious planing. At 35 inches, you could have four steps, with each step rising 7.1 inches high. For stairs serving a single user (typically private residential), a minimum of 36” (91 cm) is required. You should also measure the ceiling height. The minimum length of a stair tread is 1' so that one can rest their foot comfortably. ", "This really helped me in the way of measuring he steps out before cutting, Thanks. Want updates on new Dimensions content? 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. Great work. Enter Total Stair Run. Please make use of the below calculator (Input the Values in Inches) 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 … These calculations give you the required COMBINED width of all exit stairs serving that floor. ", "Very helpful, easy to understand, exactly what I was looking for. For three simultaneous users, a minimum of 74” (188 cm) is recommended. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. 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. Make stair measurements twice and double check your math before cutting any materials. Measure the Tread Thickness. Expert Interview. 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. You did that, thanks. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The depth of each stair has to be enough for a person to safely walk up. Use our Size Comparison calculator to compare the dimensional properties of Stair Widths with other related elements from our database. 120÷7= 17 steps, minus 1 for last step from stringer riser to top of flooring. The tread and riser combined have the same measurements as a box stair (18"). {"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":"