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Below is the information that you need to take the basic measurements of a staircase. We have also provided a 'Staircase Calculator' to help make things easier for you.

The 'Floor to Floor' measurement is typically the first measurement required when designing a staircase. This determines the rise of each tread, and in turn provides the minimum tread going. The 'Floor to Floor' measurement is taken from your finished floor where the bottom of the staircase where it rests on the floor, to the finished landing floor where the staircase will hook on to the trimmer, including the floor boarding. Click [HERE] to see an illustration.

The next step is to determine the minimum amount of treads that will be required for the staircase. You need to achieve a 'Tread Rise' of no more than 220mm to comply with current building regulations for residential properties.

Example A - should the 'Floor to Floor' measurement be 2600mm divided by 13 treads each tread rise will be 200mm which is within the 220mm maximum permitted for a residential staircase. The minimum tread going for a rise of 200mm would be 223mm to keep the stairs at a maximum pitch of 42 degrees to comply with current building regulations for residential properties. You can of course increase the tread going to reduce the angle or just make the stairs longer should you need to.

Example B - should the 'Floor to Floor' measurement be 2860mm divided by 13 treads each tread rise will be 220mm which is on the limit of the 220mm maximum permitted for a residential staircase. The minimum tread going for a rise of 220mm would be 244mm to keep the stairs at a maximum pitch of 42 degrees to comply with current building regulations for residential properties. You can of course increase the tread going to reduce the angle or just make the stairs longer should you need to.

If your 'Tread Going' falls below 220mm, then your minimum 'Tread going' will be no less than 220mm. The 'Staircase Calculator' to the right of this page will do all of this for you if you are not sure. Click [HERE] to see an illustration.

Different classes of staircases have different maximum Tread Rises, Click [HERE] to see and illustration.

The 'Width' of the staircase is the next measurement required. Typically there is no minimum staircase 'Width' that has to be met in the UK Building Regulations, but obviously it has to be wide enough for an average person to walk up comfortably. Once you start adding a turn to your staircase then you will find that you might have to increase the width of your stair. We would recommend a 'Width' no smaller than 650mm, with an average staircase coming in at about 840mm, and large staircases reaching 1200mm and beyond.

By now you should have 4 main measurements, the 'Floor to Floor', 'Tread Rise', 'Tread Going' & 'Width'. Now these 4 measurements are enough to design a simple straight staircase.

Landings are a simple way of making a staircase turn through 90 and 180 degrees. There are 2 main types of landing, the 'Quarter Space Landing' and the 'Half Space Landing'. The 'Quarter Space Landing' is typically square, and enables you to turn through 90 degrees. The 'Half Space Landing' is more than twice the size of the 'Quarter Space Landing' and turns through 180 degrees. Both types of landing are normally the same width of your staircase. Click [HERE] to see an illustration.

Winding treads are another way of turning a staircase through 90 degrees and 180 degrees using three or four treads at various angles. Winding treads are more difficult to work out due to the inclusion of 'Box' measurements and a number of UK Building regulations that have to be met. This is something that you don’t really need to worry about too much since we will do all of the calculations for you. Click [HERE] for an illustration.

For further information on the UK Building Regulations, please see document K1 of the Building Regulations 2000 document, or click [HERE] for a direct link to the online version.