QA

Quick Answer: How To Build Stairs Calculator

What is the formula to build stairs?

You divide the height by 7 inches; if, say, the floor-to-floor distance is 8 feet, 10 inches (or 106 inches), then you’ll need 15 treads (106 divided by 7 equals 15.14). Next, you divide the height by the number of treads (15 into 106), producing the exact tread height (7.06 inches).

How long of a 2×12 do I need for stairs?

We suggest 10.5″ for 2×12 or 2 – 2×6 Treads. Treads may be cut to suit other widths. Either B or C is required.

How do you calculate the angle of a staircase?

If using a trigonometry table, calculate the quotient of the rise divided by the run, then look up the arctan value for that number in degrees. That will be the stair angle.

What is a good rise and run for stairs?

The OSHA standard for rise and run of stairs is maximum 9.5″ rise and minimum 9.5″ run (tread depth).

How many steps is 12 feet?

For example, suppose your height of ceiling is 12 feet high, generally you will need 20 stairs or steps to go up (12 × 12 ÷ 7 = 20). Formula for number of stairs or steps = total height × 12 ÷ 7 or height of staircase/ height of one riser.

How many stairs do you need to go up 8 feet?

Stair Rise for 8-Foot Ceilings An 8-foot ceiling will need 14 treads. Divide 96-inches (8-feet) by 7-inches to get 13.71 treads, and round up to 14. In this case, you would not round down as you would have one step that is too tall.

Are stair stringers 2×10 or 2×12?

It is acceptable and within building code guidelines to use either 2×10 or 2×12 dimensional lumber to create a set of stairs; however, a stair stringer should not be less than 3.5 inches wide at its narrowest point to provide adequate strength for the load the stairs will be supporting.

How thick should a stair stringer be?

The thickness of your plywood stair treads should be anywhere from 1” to 1 ½” in thickness. It’s important to invest in quality plywood. As a rule of thumb, always remember that the fewer stairway stringers you use, the thicker you want your stair treads to be.

What size lumber is used for stair stringers?

Stringers should always be cut from 2x12s. Notching smaller stock doesn’t leave enough wood to safely carry the loads of a stair. When ordering stringers, allow about 14 inches of stringer length for each step. Look for straight stock with as few knots as possible.

What is the best angle for a staircase?

Stair codes and guidelines prefer an angle of around 37° for normal stairways (the green area in our illustration) and around 7° for ramps (the yellow area in our illustration). Steeper slopes or angles are permitted for stepladders in certain applications as you can see in the illustration.

What is the 18 rule for a staircase?

Rule one says that rise plus run (r+R) should equal 18 inches. Why? That’s what most people find to be a comfortable stride on most stairs. You can cheat a bit up or down, but below 17” and more than 19” will result in steps that require strides either too big or too small for most people.

What is the best ratio for stairs?

5 Answers. The general rule (in the US) is 7-11 (a 7 inch rise and 11 inch run) (17.78cm-27.94cm). More exactly, no more than 7 3/4 inches (19.7cm) for the riser (vertical) and a minimum of 10 inches (25.4cm) for the tread (horizontal or step).

Is an 8 inch step too high?

Building codes in many areas define maximum step height and minimum tread width, but in areas where it is not defined, Council of American Building Officials and International Code Council both recommend the rise to be no more than 7.75 inches and runs to be no less than 10 inches.

How many feet is 13 stairs?

You’ll need between 80 and 110 square feet for 13 stairs.

How many steps is 10 ceilings?

A staircase in a home with 10′ ceilings requires 17 steps. Stairs that have a tread depth of 11” will have a total length of 187”. Stairs with a tread depth of 10” will have a total length of 170”, which is the minimum length.

How long do stairs need to be to go up 10 feet?

For most homes, the length of a flight of stairs is between 9 and 12 feet long. The total length of a flight of stairs for an 8-foot ceiling is approximately 9-feet long. The total length of a flight of stairs for a 10-foot ceiling is approximately 12-feet long.

What is the minimum space required for a staircase?

It is best to allow as much head height as possible, and 7 feet at minimum. You will see many designs in which the staircase is placed within a two-story space that easily takes care of this issue.

How do I calculate how many steps I walked?

To determine the number of steps it will take you to walk a mile, divide 5,280 by your step length. To determine the number of strides it will take you to walk a mile, divide 5,280 by your stride length.

How do I calculate walking steps?

Count your steps for that length and then multiple by ten, if counting for a tenth of a mile, and you will have your distance for a mile. If counting for a quarter of a mile then multiply that number by four and you will have your steps for a full mile.

How do you measure your feet in stairs?

The width of the stair is the measurement from the edge to the wall. For a straight staircase, measure the rise and run in inches (with an extra inch or two for the nose) of one stair and multiply that number by the total number of stairs. Divide this number by 12 to get the measurement in feet.