Stair Runner Length CalculatorMaterial
Carpet stair runner length calculator
Carpet runners come two ways: cut from broadloom and bound to your width, or bought ready-made in a fixed width. The length calculation is the same, but the buying constraints are not.
Cut-from-broadloom gives you any width you like; ready-made limits you to what the maker offers.
Stair runner calculator
Your stair runner length
20 ft 3.1 in
Total runner required for 13 steps, including a 10% waste allowance.
| Inches | 243.1 in |
|---|---|
| Feet | 20.26 ft |
| Feet & inches | 20 ft 3.1 in |
| Yards | 6.75 yd |
| Meters | 6.17 m |
| Centimeters | 617.47 cm |
Recommended purchase length
21 ft
7 yd · 6.4 m · 252 in
This calculator provides an estimate based on the measurements and installation assumptions you enter. Complex, curved or winder staircases may require professional measurement.
Your measurements, drawn to scale
Pile direction matters
Carpet pile should run down the stairs, so the runner is cut along the roll length, not across it. That is why the roll length, not the roll width, limits how long a single piece can be.
Pattern repeat and waste
If the carpet has a repeat, each step must start at the same point in the pattern or the flight will look wrong. Ask for the repeat length and add 10 to 15% waste.
Binding and serging
Cut broadloom needs both long edges finished. Cotton or linen binding is the usual choice; serging is more expensive and gives a hand-finished edge. Both are priced per linear foot or metre of edge — that is twice your runner length.
Questions people ask
- How much carpet do I need for a stair runner?
- Steps × (tread + riser), plus nosing allowance and 10% waste. A 14 step flight typically needs about 22 ft 6 in of carpet.
- Do I pay for binding by the length?
- Usually yes, and it applies to both long edges — so budget roughly twice the runner length in binding.