How many metres of stair runner do I need?

For a typical UK or European staircase, allow roughly 0.4 to 0.45 m of runner per step. A 13 step flight lands at about 5.4 m before waste.

Enter your own going and rise below for the exact figure.

Your staircase

Optional starting measurements

Example measurements only, not building-code advice. Replace them with measurements from your own stairs.

Check a few steps before using one set of measurements for the whole flight.

Number of stairs

Count the tread-and-riser pairs the runner will cover. Exclude landings.

Tread depth (in)

Measure the runner path across the flat tread. Fractions like 10 1/2 work.

Riser height (in)

The vertical face between two treads.

Waste allowance

Custom%

10% is the starting allowance here, not a guarantee. Ask your fitter about patterns and turns.

Add a nosing / overhang allowance per step

Enter the extra runner path around the edge, including any underside wrap. Do not add it twice if it is already included in your measurements.

Your runner estimate

20 ft 3.1 in

Total runner required for 13 steps, including a 10% waste allowance.

Total runner length in each unit
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

Length to order

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.

One step, shown in profile

Side elevation of a staircase. The runner travels across each tread and down each riser, so every step consumes tread depth plus riser height of material.

Metres by step count

At 41.5 cm per step: 10 steps = 4.15 m, 13 steps = 5.4 m, 15 steps = 6.23 m, 16 steps = 6.64 m. Add 10% and round up to the nearest 10 cm.

Roll lengths in metres

Ask for the longest continuous cut available for your chosen runner. Enter that value in the seam planner for a preliminary piece count; have the installer confirm the actual join positions.

Don't forget the landing

A half landing adds 0.9 to 1.5 m in one go, which is often the difference between one piece and two.

Questions people ask

How many metres of runner per step?: About 0.4 to 0.45 m on a typical UK or European staircase — the going plus the rise.
How many metres for 13 stairs?: Around 5.4 m bare, or about 6 m with a 10% waste allowance.

Related guides

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