Building stairs or deck steps? Lay them out correctly.
Log in or create a free account to save your inputs and results, so you don't have to enter them again next time.🔒 No spam, ever. We never sell or share your details, and you can delete your history or account at any time. Privacy policy
Fill in the details and click Calculate to see your results.
This calculator is also in our free app. Sign in with the same account to keep your history in sync.
Divide the total rise by the maximum riser height and round up to get the number of risers; there is always one fewer tread. Every riser must be the same height.
US residential code (IRC) allows risers up to 7¾ in with treads at least 10 in. In the UK, private stairs can have rises of 15–22 cm, goings of 22–30 cm and a pitch of up to 42°. The 2R + T rule helps comfort.
| Units | Feet & inches |
| Total rise, floor to floor (in or cm) | 108 |
| Maximum riser height (in or cm) | 7.75 |
| Tread depth / going (in or cm) | 10 |
| Nosing (optional) | 0 |
| Number of steps (risers) | 14 |
| Riser height | 7.71 in |
| Treads | 13 × 10 in |
| Total run | 130 in (10.83 ft) |
| Stringer length | 169.01 in |
| Angle | 37.6° |
| Comfort check (2R + T) | 25.4 in — comfortable |
| Code check | Meets US IRC (riser ≤ 7¾ in, tread ≥ 10 in) |
14 steps of 7.71 in.
| Units | Metres & centimetres |
| Total rise, floor to floor (in or cm) | 260 |
| Maximum riser height (in or cm) | 22 |
| Tread depth / going (in or cm) | 23 |
| Nosing (optional) | 0 |
| Number of steps (risers) | 12 |
| Riser height | 21.67 cm |
| Treads | 11 × 23 cm |
| Total run | 253 cm |
| Stringer length | 362.78 cm |
| Angle | 43.3° |
| Comfort check (2R + T) | 66.3 cm — aim for 60–64 |
| Code check | Check local building code — riser too high or tread too short |
12 steps of 21.67 cm.
About 9 ft 10 in floor to floor is 118 in: 16 risers of 7.4 in.
Around 7–7½ in (18–19 cm); the US maximum is 7¾ in.
Use Pythagoras: √(total rise² + total run²), plus extra for the top and bottom cuts.
Twice the riser plus the tread should be about 24–25 in (60–64 cm) for comfortable stairs.