AnswersDriveThe general rule (in the US) is 7-11 (a 7 inch rise and 11 inch run). More exactly, no more than 7 3/4 inches for the riser (vertical) and a minimum of 10 inches for the tread (horizontal or step). You can find some more information here as well on other stair-related dimensions.
How many steps do I need on my deck?
To determine the rise and run of the steps, measure the distance from the floor of the deck to the ground and divide that number by 7.5. The result will be the number of steps the staircase will need (e.g., deck is 112" from the ground; 112/7.5 = 14.93. Round up to get 15 steps).
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What is the minimum height of a step?
All steps on a flight of stairs shall have uniform riser heights and uniform tread depth. Risers shall be 4 inches (100 mm) high minimum and 7 inches (180 mm) maximum. Treads shall be 11 inches (280 mm) deep minimum, measured from riser to riser.
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How high is a concrete step?
The 7-11 rule is one that's frequently used (maximum riser height of 7 inches and minimum tread depth of 11 inches). Risers should also be at least 4 inches in height.
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How far can a stair go without a landing?
A flight of stairs shall not have a vertical rise greater than 12 feet (3658 mm) between floor levels or landings. The width of each landing shall not be less than the stairway served. Every landing shall have a minimum dimension of 36 inches (914 mm) measured in the direction of travel.
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How far apart do stair stringers have to be?
Cut stringers can be spaced no more than 18 inches on center, so a 3-foot-wide staircase needs three stringers, and a set of slightly wider stairs (say 3 feet 6 inches) needs four stringers. The maximum 18-inch spacing presumes treads of 5/4-inch wood decking or 2-by stock.
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What is the most comfortable angle for stairs?
The angle is based on the amount of space available, but is commonly determined by the rise and run of a stair. With a 7 inch riser and an 11 inch tread (this is usually a minimum) you get an angle of arctan(7/11) or 32 degrees.
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What is the maximum tread depth of a step?
Stair riser heights shall be 7 inches (178 mm) maximum and 4 inches (102 mm) minimum. Stair tread depths shall be 11 inches (279 mm) minimum. The riser height shall be measured vertically between the leading edges of adjacent treads.
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How do you calculate steps?
Use a calculator to calculate the stair riser length or the number of steps you'll need. Divide the height from the first floor to the top of the second floor by a predetermined height of your choice for the riser. The typical height of a riser is 6 or 7 inches (15 to 17.5 cm).
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How many steps are in one flight of stairs?
Generally a flight of stairs has 12 or 13 steps. The maximum in a single flight is 16 before you require a landing. In a non domestic building where a storey height may be 3.4m to 4m, you need two flights per storey. A riser (the height of a step) is generally 170mm to 220mm, with an average of 190mm.
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How long is a person's step?
A man's average step length is approximately 31 inches and his average stride length is 62 inches. For walking programs, women are encouraged to use an average step length of 26 inches and men are encouraged to use an average step length of 30 inches.
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How wide do stairs need to be?
Stair Width: 36 Inches Minimum (Not Including Handrails) Translated: This means that any stairs must be at least 3 feet wide, measured from side to side as if you are walking up or down the stairs.
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What are the parts of a step?
Each step is composed of tread and riser. The part of the stairway that is stepped on. It is constructed to the same specifications (thickness) as any other flooring. The tread "depth" is measured from the outer edge of the step to the vertical "riser" between steps.
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How thick does a stair tread need to be?
As you may have noted from the sketches and text above, typically building codes for stairs specify minimum stair tread thickness (1" if supported by a riser at front, or 1 1/2" thick treads if the stairs are open-construction without risers), but they do not specify a maximum allowable tread thickness.
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How wide do stairs need to be on a deck?
- The stair's treads should be at least 36 inches wide. We think stairs should be at least 48 inches wide, so they don't feel cramped. - The maximum allowable stair rise is 7 3/4 inches, and the minimum stair rise is 4 inches.
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What is code for stair treads?
Stair riser heights shall be 7 inches (178 mm) maximum and 4 inches (102 mm) minimum. Stair tread depths shall be 11 inches (279 mm) minimum. The riser height shall be measured vertically between the leading edges of adjacent treads.
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How many feet do you need for a staircase?
It will yield a staircase with 14 risers. All staircases have one more riser than they do treads. This means you will have 13 treads for a total length of 130 inches or 10 feet 10 inches. You must also figure in a minimum three-foot landing or clear floor area at the bottom of the steps.
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How many stair steps before a landing is required?
Length of flight. Stairs with more than 36 risers in consecutive flights should have at least one change in direction between flights. For buildings other than dwellings, the maximum number of risers between landings should be 16 for utility stairs and 12 for general access stairs. There should not be any single steps.
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How high is a flight of stairs?
"Though codes vary, a good rule of thumb is that stairs must not be continuous for more than 12 vertical feet. At 12 feet, a landing must be introduced. With typical riser heights of 7"3/4 you typically see 16-18 "steps" in a flight of stairs.
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How many vertical feet is a flight of stairs?
Flights Measured by Feet. Stair stepper machines typically calculate a flight by the distance traveled, with one flight equaling 10 to 12 vertical feet. One exercise equipment brand calculates a floor to be about 10 vertical feet, which is approximately equal to running 100 feet on level land.
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How do you measure for stairs?
Measure out that distance from the deck to find the exact landing point. From this point, you can measure the exact stair height and determine the stringer and skirt length. Measure the exact total rise (Photo 1). Divide the height (X) by your estimated number of risers to find the exact riser height.
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How wide is the average door?
Standard entry door measurements: Height: 80 inches (6 feet, 8 inches) Thickness: 1 ¾ inches. Width: 36 inches standard; 30 and 32 inches also available.