4/29/23, 5:29 PM Staircase Dimensions

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Staircase Dimensions Checklist

By Meg Escott and stay up to

date with
Staircase dimensions are an important part of staircase safety.  This page
House Plans
covers all of the important staircase measurements and a mistake to
Helper
watch out for!
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Types of Stairs

For more detail please refer to the building code that relates to your
area.  It's always a good idea to check with your local building inspector
findmall 10.5FT / 3.2M Aluminum Telescopic Ladde…x
which code you should be following.  Have a quick google if the regs for
569
your country aren't listed below. $
82 99

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Building Regulations for Stairs USA (section 311.7 on this page) Staircase Design
Ideas
Building Regulations for Stairs UK

This page is part of the staircase design series.

Treads and Risers Staircase

x x
The tread size (min 10ins / 25.4cm) is dictated by the average adult foot Dimensions

size, although it is not necessary to be able to fit your entire foot on a

tread in order for walking up the stairs to be both comfortable and safe.

The riser height (max 7¾ins / 19.7cm) is limited by the way in which we
come down the stairs.  If you think about it, you could climb up far more
Stair Parts
than 7¾ inches very easily and you could climb down far more than 7¾
inches very easily if you are facing backwards.  The rungs of a ladder are
placed at more like 12ins / 30cm apart.  But we go down the stairs facing
forwards, and it's this that limits the riser size to being much smaller.

Staircase dimensions x
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The maximum dimension between balusters is 4ins / 10cm.  The driver

for this maximum dimension is to protect crawling babies from crawling
through a baluster.  If the treads are long it might be necessary to have
three balusters per step.

Staircase calculations
x x
To calculate the run of the stairs, simply multiply
the tread dimension (ensure this doesn't include
the nose - see below) by the number of steps.

To calculate the rise of the stairs, multiply the rise dimension by the
number of steps.

Or, to work out how many steps you need, take your ceiling height
and divide by let's say 16 to start with.  If you come up with a riser
that's a reasonable size and less than the maximum dimension
indicated above you need 16 steps.  Try dividing your ceiling height
by other numbers until you come up with a riser dimension that
works.

Warehouse Stationery
Warehouse Stationery

Tread Nose
The nose makes the tread more comfortable to climb in socked feet or
bear feet.  It mustn't over hang too much or it becomes a tripping
hazard.  A nose is not an essential part of a tread.  There are plenty of
staircases, particularly more contemporary designs that are constructed
x
without a nose.

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x x
Tread nose dimensions

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Ceiling Height
The diagram below indicates the minimum ceiling heights required. 
These are very much the minimum and a ceiling height approaching the
regular ceiling height is more ideal.

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x x

Staircase dimensions - ceiling height

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The minimum staircase width is the same as the minimum circulation

zone width of 3ft / 0.91m.

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Under staircase dimensions

mistake

I've come across several homes where this

staircase design mistake has been made.

When working out where to put a door that fits under the stairs, the
x
obvious thing to do is to take the door height and work out how
many steps need to come before the door can fit underneath.  But
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that would be a mistake because if there's any stair skirt or molding

around the door the molding and the skirting will overlap.

Don't forget to factor in the stair skirt and any door molding when
working out where to position a door under the stairs.

Here's a picture to help explain.

x x

Staircase dimensions error where the position of the door does

not take into account the door molding and stair skirt
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More staircase design for you...

Types of Stairs Staircase Design Ideas Staircase Dimensions

x
Stair Parts

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More room design for you...

Living Room Layout Bathroom Layout Kitchen Layout

x x

Dining Room Design Bedroom Design Closet Design

Laundry Room Design Home Office / Study Entry & Foyer Design
Design

Staircase Design Garage Design

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