The 24 Types of Staircase That

You Need to Know

By Stefan Gheorghe | Published on Feb 8, 2022
Reviewed by Vera Dordick

Types of staircases vary but one thing is for sure: A staircase is an integral
part of any home that has more than one level. For a construction or
remodeling project, the type of staircase you choose is also a very
important consideration. It provides specific kinds of visual appeal and
takes up varying amounts of space in your home.

When considering a new staircase, think about your family members and
how they use the stairs. Each kind has advantages and disadvantages, so
consider these to make the best choice.
Parts of a Staircase
Before choosing between types of staircases, it’s important to know all
the different parts of a staircase. This lets you pick specific characteristics
of designs that appeal to you.

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Diagram from Stair-parts.

Styles will look very different, but the names of the parts are all the same.

Tread
When your foot hits the stair, the part you step on is called the tread, This
horizontal part goes from the front edge to the riser at the back. Each
region has its own residential building codes, however, in most cases, the
tread must be a minimum of 11 inches deep.

Risers
The vertical part of the stair between each step is called the riser.
Generally, staircases that have these are called closed tread stairs.

In contemporary and more modern constructions, staircases don’t have

them. This style is called the open riser variety. Residential codes usually
require that risers be no more than 7 inches high and no less than 4 inches.
For open riser stairs, the gap where the riser would go cannot be more than
4 inches.

Stringers
The zig-zag support that goes up each side of the stairs is called the stair
stringer. This piece holds the treads and risers in place. One of the stringers
is against the wall and the other is on the open side of the staircase.

Handrail
Sometimes called a banister, the handrail is the part you hold while climbing
up and down the stairs. The handrail is fixed to vertical posts (balusters) or
a wall up one or both sides of the staircase.

Guardrail
This is the barrier that protects the side of the stairs that is open. Its main
purpose is to keep people from falling.

Baluster
These days, most people call a baluster a spindle. These are the vertical
poles that connect that handrail to the treads, acting as the guardrail.

Balustrade
Collectively, all those spindles — or balusters — are called the balustrade.
This is the full, open and decorative side of the staircase.

Newel Post
A larger, heavier post sits at each end of the handrail. This is called the
newel post. If the staircase has a turn, that point may also have a newel
post. This gives the balustrade stability because it attaches to the floor or
the stringer.

Base Rail
At the base of the guardrail, a board runs atop the string but under the
balusters. This is called the base rail. The newel post supports it at each
end.

Fascia
This is a purely decorative board that board used on the outer side of the
stairs. It often covers the side of the risers but it can also cover a gap
between the floor of a balcony and the ceiling underneath.

Landing
This is the larger area at the top and bottom of the staircase. The landing is
a resting spot at each end of the stairs and is the entryway to the room
beyond. Stairs that turn will also have a landing at that location.

Bullnose
Generally, residential stairs will have a bullnose and in some locations, the
codes require it. The bullnose is treated as part of the tread and is an extra
strip of wood attached to the edge of the tread. These make the individual
steps safer and more visible.

Curtail
Often, at the bottom of the staircase, a larger step extends around the
newel post. This decorative feature is often found on the side of the stairs
that are not against a wall.

Winders
These triangular steps are often used to create a turn in the staircase. You
may know these best from spiral staircases, which have lots of them. These
pie-shaped steps eliminate the need for a landing.

Gooseneck
When a staircase makes a turn, one handrail will be higher than the other.
The gooseneck is the section of the handrail that curves up to join one
section of the balustrade with the other.

Volute

The volute is the fancy part of the handrail at the bottom of the staircase.
Sometimes called a monkey’s tail, this is the spiral that ends the handrail
and is typically used with a curtail.

Small Space Stairs Design

Staircase designs have to get creative in small spaces. Often, in a tiny
house on wheels like this one, the type of staircase you consider need to
include some storage space.
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While it might be more common to have enclosed cupboards under the
stairs some tight spaces need a ladder-like stair. In this case, the extra-
deep treads offer shelving in the dead space behind the ladder.

Modern Staircase Design

Today’s modern staircases range quite widely in terms of style and
materials. While this modern staircase design is a fresh take on a traditional
staircase, you’ll find all kinds of options.

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Design Line Construction, Inc.

From floating and cantilevered treads to glass panels replacing the

traditional balustrades, the choices are unique. You can also find a great
variety of materials in modern staircase design, ranging from metal, wire
and glass to concrete, bamboo and custom wood creations.

Modern Spiral Staircase

Besides being a major design feature, a modern spiral staircase is a real
space saver. In fact, spiral staircases were invented specifically to save
space.
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Austin Maynard Architects

The amount of square footage these require is a fraction of what a straight

staircase needs. This is especially true because the upper end only needs
to be an opening in the floor, directly above the base of the stairs.

A modern spiral staircase can be made with a custom spiral around the
central pole and full-size treads.

Modern Farmhouse Staircase

With farmhouse décor still being a trend, it’s no wonder that modern
farmhouse staircase design evolved into some pretty slick options.
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Purser Architectural

Following the main palette, most of these staircases are done in black,
white and natural wood tones. Other features a modern farmhouse
staircase usually includes are metal balustrades and railing and natural
wood treads.

The trend for having horizontal balusters is popular in this style too.

Modern Glass Staircase

Thanks to the desire for a more open feeling in the home, modern glass
staircase design is becoming very common.

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Green Works Construction & Design Inc

Homeowners like these types of stairs because they create a wide-open

view with no obstructions. A modern glass staircase also lets light travel
throughout the space, making it feel larger. Glass is also one of the easiest
surfaces to maintain because there’s no need to paint or stain it.

Moreover, today’s tempered glass is durable and doesn’t crack and break.
Finally, it’s pet- and kid-friendly because there are no gaps to slip through or
get stuck in.

What Type of Glass for Staircases

As already noted, the glass for staircases is safe, strong and durable.
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Generally, there are two types of glass to choose from:

Tempered glass is made using both thermal and chemical techniques that
make to about six times stronger than regular glass. In case of breakage,
tempered glass will break into very small blunt-edged pieces, which is why
it’s also called safety glass.
Laminated glass is actually separate layers of glass that are bonded
together with polyvinyl butyral resin (PVB). This type of glass for staircases
is very popular, especially when combined with tempered glass. In case of
breakage, it cracks in a web pattern just like a car windshield does.

Alternating Tread Staircase

Somewhere between a loft ladder and a regular staircase, you’ll find the
alternating tread staircase. This type of stair design has room for one foot
on a step at a time.
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Schemaa.fr

You climb them just like regular stairs, but they are half the width of a typical
tread. These are super functional because they are usually combined with
shelving or closed storage to maximize space.

They also look very, very cool. Before planning to incorporate this modern
staircase design into your home, be sure to check local codes for these
types of straight stairs.

What are the different types of staircases?

Here we run down the different types of staircases and the
considerations for each one.

Straight
L-shaped
 U-shaped
Winder
Spiral
Circular
Curved
Ladder
Split
Space-Saving
Floating
Storage
Sculptural floating
Bent metal
Floating-standalone
Spiral staircase made of metal
Spiral staircase with landing
Stairs and bookshelves
Concrete
Organic
Graphical iron
Two-tone spiral

Straight Stairs
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A straight staircase is the most common style and is most affordable to build.

A straight staircase is the most common and affordable style available. Pre-
cut risers — the vertical part of the staircase — are available in lumber
yards home stores. Many builders use these because of their simplicity.

The straight-line design means that the staircase doesn’t need any special
structural support. It only needs to attach at the top and the bottom. This
type of staircase also allows for easier installation of railings and handrails.
Of course, there are variations of straight stairs. These include open risers,
modern materials and metal cable railings that significantly alter the basic
look.

While a straight staircase may be the most common, it does have a few
drawbacks, namely that it takes up a greater amount of linear space, which
can really affect your design.

Straight Stairs with a Central Landing

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A central landing breaks up a long expanse of stairs.

If you have a tall, high-ceilinged room and are considering a straight

staircase that will need to be more than 12 feet high, it will require a central
landing. The same is true if your planned staircase has more than the
standard number of risers, which is usually 16.
The main drawback of straight stairs with a central landing is the increased
amount of space they require, which usually leads designers to choose
another style. This type of staircase is generally used in
commercial buildings, not private homes.

L-shaped types of staircase

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L-shaped stairs are another common style of staircase. They are basically a
straight staircase with a half turn, either in the middle or closer to one end
or the other. L-shaped stairs are appealing for a variety of reasons,
primarily because they are more visually appealing.

In addition, they tend to take up less space and can be used in the corner
of a room. For some people, they are also easier to navigate because of
the wider flat landing that breaks up the flight of stairs.
Of course, these types of staircases are more complex to build and
consequently more expensive. L-shaped staircases also usually require
support for the landing and the turn.

U-Shaped Types of Stairs

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These types of stairs have a 180-degree turn.

U-shaped staircases generally consist of two flights of stairs that go in

opposite directions with a landing at the switchback. These are also more
visually interesting than a straight staircase.

Moreover, they take up less linear floor space and can be handy for a
corner design. Typically the landing is of a generous size. The main
drawback of a U-shaped staircase is the turn that makes it more difficult to
move larger pieces of furniture upstairs.

Winder Types of Stairs

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These stairs assume a wedge shape as they turn.

Winder stairs are a lot like an L-shaped staircase, except that there is no
landing. Instead, the stairs are continuous, taking on a wedge shape as
they make the turn. These are far less common in contemporary homes
and are typical of older residences. Rarely were they used as the primary
staircase and were more likely the secondary staircase in the home.

This type of staircase is seeing a resurgence in popularity, thanks to the

trends that favor smaller and more sustainable homes.

Spiral Stairs
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A spiral staircase is very compact but difficult to navigate.

While perfect for tighter spaces, spiral staircases are still considered more
of a novelty style. True spiral stairs have one central post. All the radiating
steps attach to it as they spiral upward through a space in the floor above.
Because of their compact nature, you can typically find them in beach
houses and small city dwellings because of the small amount of space they
require.

Many city and municipal building codes require that a spiral stair be a
secondary route of egress from the higher floor because they are not as
easy to navigate.

In fact, that is one of the main drawbacks for spiral stairs: Only one person
at a time can use the stairs and footing requires caution because the inner
portion of each step is narrow. Besides, it is much harder to move larger
items up and down a spiral staircase.

Circular Stairs
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Circular stairs make a major design statement.

A circular staircase is more like a traditional staircase than a spiral one —
think of the kind you might find in a medieval castle. While it does go
around and the steps are tapered, the curve is more relaxed and the steps
are easier to navigate.

Sometimes called helixed stairs, this curved staircase is more graceful and
less compact, which helps to create an architectural focal point. Of course,
circular stairs require more open space and are costlier to build.

Curved Stairs
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Curved stairs are elegant and designed to impress.

Most commonly used in or near an entryway, a curved staircase is a design
statement. They do not form a circle as spiral or circular staircases do.
Instead, curved stairs are meant to be a major design feature.

Easy to traverse, the curve is usually gentle and is an elegant choice for
any style of home. This type of staircase is said to be the most difficult to
construct and, consequently, curved staircases are one of the most
expensive.

Ladder Stairs
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Ladder stairs are ideal for tight spaces.

Great for tight spaces and small residences, ladder staircases are one of
the most space-efficient types of staircases. Of course, it’s a good idea to
check building codes in the local area because often these types of stairs
cannot be the primary staircase.

Ladder stairs can be built in a variety of styles, from a literal ladder-style, as

in this photo, to more stylized versions. In any case, ladder stairs will
typically have taller steps and can be particularly difficult to climb, especially
when coming down the staircase.

This type of stair design can be very handy for other uses, such as for
reaching the upper shelves of extensive bookcases or extra tight spaces.

Split Staircase
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A split staircase is meant for a grand entranceway.

A split staircase — originally called bifurcated stairs– is the grande dame of

all staircases. Typically used in the entryway of a very grand and spacious
home, the staircase starts with a wider flight at the bottom.

Part of the way up, there is a generous landing with two parallel flights on
either side of the bottom section, one going left and the other going right.
Large, expansive and expensive, these types of staircases make a grand
entrance — and a big impression.

Space-Saving Staircase
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A variety of types of staircase are available for compact living spaces.

While circular staircases and ladder styles are good for compact homes,
there is a wide variety of other styles that are space-saving options for
straight staircases.

Stairs that are more steeply pitched, ribbon-style stairs, and narrower,
alternating steps are all ways to incorporate a staircase in a home with
minimal lost space. As long as the choice meets building codes, the actual
style is up to you.

Floating Staircase
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Floating staircases are a modern take on a standard style.

Usually a variation on a straight staircase, a floating staircase usually
consists of treads with no risers. Instead, the treads in these types of
staircase attach to the wall in a way that the support is invisible, or at least
minimally visible. Other times, glass or plexiglass risers can achieve a
floating appearance.

The material used can be wood, but it is often something else like metal,
glass or stone. It is a contemporary look that often foregoes handrails,
although you can opt for glass safety without sacrificing the open feeling.
Again, any floating style must meet local building codes.

Storage Staircase
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When storage space is at a premium, a staircase can help.

Large or small, almost any home can use more storage and the often-
overlooked area underneath the stairs can be turned into valuable space for
stashing necessities. The most common way to do this is by building
cabinets underneath the risers instead of simply walling off space.

A second way is to turn each riser into a drawer, which is the best option
when you can’t make full use of the void underneath the staircase. These
types of staircases can really add to the available storage space.

Sculptural floating stairs

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This stylish private home by studio Olev places a lot of emphasis on the
lighting and the ambiance in each of the rooms. There’s also a very
interesting dynamic between all the different spaces and this staircase only
makes things more intriguing. The floating straight flight stairs have a
minimal and sculptural aesthetic and they’re not leaning against a solid wall
but rather going across a glass divider.

Bent metal staircase

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If these straight stairs look unusual and intriguing to you that’s because
they are. The main question that we all have is what this is made of. It’s so
slender and it looks lightweight but also sturdy and durable. The answer
reveals it all: bent metal with wooden accents. This is a staircase designed
by RUST architects.

Standalone floating stairs

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We’ve seen floating stairs before but not like this one. Typically all the steps
in these types of staircase connect and form a continuous structure. In this
case, they’re all individual freestanding elements.

Each is separately attached to the wall and there’s no safety rail which
really emphasizes the sculptural nature of the design. The accent lighting is
also a cool detail. This is part of a house in Shanghai designed by Wutopia
Lab.

Spiral stairs made of metal

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Metal is the go-to material whenever something needs to be super strong

and durable but also sleek and slender.

You can see it being put to good use here

by depaolidefranceschibaldan architects to create a space-efficient spiral
staircase. The dark blue nuance suits it well and looks beautiful in
combination with the natural wood used for the steps.

Curved stairs with a flat landing

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Not all types of staircases follow a particular style. Some have eclectic
designs that combine elements and features from two or more styles. This
allows them to better adapt to the space and to serve their function as best
as possible. These curved stairs from Depaolidefranceschibaldan Architects
is a good example.

Stairs and bookshelves

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This beautiful floating staircase is a companion for the bookshelves that

stretch all along this wall. It’s a very visually interesting design and is
unique among the different types of straight stairs.

As you can see, the shelves also continue upward and some can only be
reached from the top of the stairs. It’s definitely a very beautiful, practical
and eye-catching combination, one that studio Esrawe came up with.

Concrete stairs
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Actually, in interior design, people associate some materials with specific

styles. Concrete for example is a trademark of industrial decors but also
suits really well a variety of modern and contemporary spaces.

For instance, these types of staircases don’t look as rugged and as harsh
as one might imagine. This is especially because they curve around the
wall and have this beautiful decorative wall doubling as a railing. This is a
space designed by Kristina Lastauskaitė-Pundė.

Organic staircase
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This curved staircase is unique and special in more than just one way. It
has a very organic, flowing design and it makes use of natural wood which
gives it a warm and welcoming look.

It has a sculptural shape and it’s the centerpiece of a beautiful office

building.

It’s been outfitted by Paul Cocksedge Studio™ with a variety of interesting

features such as little nooks for reading, drawing, relaxing and drinking tea,
thus becoming a sort of social hub for commercial buildings.

Graphical iron stairs

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On the surface, the design of this staircase is also unusual because it’s
made from a rather unexpected material: iron. Moreover, also has a very
graphic sort of look. It seems like it’s a sketch with only the outlines
showing and gaps that are not filled in. The design is meant to look
interesting but also to be space-conscious. It must fit into this small living
area without being in the way, visually or otherwise. It was all done
by Gosplan architects.

Two-tone spiral staircase

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Here’s another really cool design, this time by Taller Estilo Arquitectura S
de RL de CV. These types of stairs have a sinuous, spiraling shape. It’s
space-efficient and gives a graceful appearance. The metal allows it to be
slender and have a lightweight appearance. The stairs have an accordion-
like shape and they’re black on the underside and chartreuse on the other.

FAQ

What are the different types of stairs?

In general, these are the different types of stairs:

Straight
L-shaped
U-shaped
Winder
Spiral
Circular
Curved
Ladder
Split
Space-Saving
Floating
Storage
Floating
Bent metal
Organic

Which type of staircase is best?

Determining which type of staircase is best will depend on the style
and arrangement of your home. Some types of stairs take up more
room than others. Also, various types are more family- and budget-
friendly. You’ll have to take into consideration your home, your family
and your lifestyle in order to figure out which type of stairs are best for
you.

What is the cheapest type of staircase?

Hands down, straight stairs are the simplest and cheapest type of
staircase. Stairs that run in a straight line are affordable and easy for
builders to install. Tailings and handrails attach easily too. The main
drawback to straight stairs is that they take up a lot of linear space.

How to decorate a staircase wall

Most staircases — especially straight, curved and floating — will have
a wall that you can decorate. The most common wall decor for a
staircase is photographs and artwork. But that’s not all you can do.
You could create a display of wall-mounted items like baskets, use
statement wallpaper or decorative paneling, or hang mirrors. Other
options include adding a textural wall or highlighting an architectural
feature that is present.

How to measure stairs for carpet

To measure your stairs for carpet, start by measuring the rise and
surface of each step. Next, multiply that by the number of stairs you
have. Then, divide the total by 12 to get the number of feet.

You’ll also need to measure the width of the stars and round up to the
nearest foot. Finally, multiply your width measurement by the length
measurement that you first calculated. At the end, add any landings
you need to cover as well.
 What are standard stair dimensions?
Code regulations govern stair dimensions, so there are minimum
sizes for safety and ease of use. In the United States, the general rule
requires the height of a step to be no more than 7.75 inches. Also, the
tread cannot be less than 10 inches deep. Of course, codes vary, so
be sure to check local requirements.

What is the average width of a stair step?

In the US, the minimum stair width is about 36″ for most building
codes. This accommodates the space taken up by a railing, which
can be as much as five inches each. With a railing on both sides, you
lose 10 inches of stair width. This explains why there’s a 36-inch
minimum to start.

What are the recommended dimensions for a spiral

staircase?
The dimensions of your spiral staircase will again depend on local
codes. In fact, some do not allow for spiral stairs to be the primary
staircase in a home. There is a National Building Code that requires a
minimum of a 60″ diameter spiral. It also calls for with 30-degree
treads and a 4″ on-center maximum spacing for balusters. Don’t
purchase any spiral stairs before checking with your local building
inspector.

Conclusion
As you can see, there are loads of choices when it comes to the types of
staircases you can have in your home. From basic straight types to custom
architectural designs, there’s one to fit the style and requirements of your
house. Be sure to check out the different options before you commit to one.
You never know what stylish stairs you might be able to choose!