Measuring for a stair runner in Australia and New Zealand

Measure the going and rise of your own staircase rather than relying on a country average. The regional preset loads 25 cm going, 17.5 cm rise, a 70 cm runner and a 92 cm stair width.

Pricing is per linear metre in Australian dollars, with GST handled by the tax field.

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.

Typical Australian flight

As a worked example, 16 covered steps with a 25 cm tread and a 17.5 cm rise need 16 × 42.5 cm = 6.8 m before allowances. This is a material estimate, not a check against Australian or New Zealand building rules.

Timber stairs and reveal

Exposed hardwood stringers are common, so the reveal matters visually. A 70 cm runner on a 92 cm stair leaves 11 cm each side, which reads as generous but balanced.

GST in the cost estimate

If your prices exclude Australian GST, set the tax rate to 10% in the cost panel and the estimate will show the GST-inclusive total, the material subtotal and the cost per step so you can compare quotes fairly.

Questions people ask

How many metres of runner for an Australian staircase?: A 16 step flight with a 25 cm going and 17.5 cm rise needs about 6.8 metres before waste, or roughly 7.5 metres with a 10% allowance.
Does the calculator include GST?: You can add Australian GST by entering 10% when your prices exclude it. Leave tax at zero for already tax-inclusive prices; check the applicable rate separately for New Zealand.

Related guides

See all stair runner calculator guides