Regional

Stair runner length calculator (Canada)

Canada uses both measurement systems: lumber and stairs are usually talked about in inches, while some suppliers quote metres. This calculator lets you enter one and read the other.

The North America preset loads a 10 in tread, a 7.5 in riser and a 27 in runner, and you can set the currency to CAD.

Your staircase

Start from typical stair sizes where you live

IRC-style stairs: 10 in minimum tread, 7¾ in maximum riser. Runners are usually 27 in or 32 in wide and sold by the linear foot.

Number of stairs

Count every step you will cover.

Tread depth (in)

Front edge to back of the step. Fractions like 10 1/2 work.

Riser height (in)

The vertical face between two treads.

Waste allowance

Custom%

10% is a common starting point; pattern matching and winders need more.

Add a nosing / overhang allowance per step

Needed when the runner wraps around a projecting nose (Hollywood installs and thick pads). Waterfall installs usually don't need it.

Your stair runner length

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

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

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.

Canadian stair dimensions

The National Building Code allows a maximum 200 mm (7⅞ in) rise and requires a minimum 255 mm (10 in) run for private stairs, so a Canadian flight sits very close to its US equivalent at roughly 17.5 to 18 in of runner per step.

Basement and split-level stairs

Split-level and basement flights are often shorter — 7 to 10 steps — and sometimes narrower. Measure the actual stair width rather than assuming 36 in, because a 32 in basement stair needs a narrower runner to keep the reveal balanced.

Ordering and shipping

Cross-border shipping on a long single cut can be expensive. If your total is close to a roll boundary, the seam planner will tell you whether one continuous piece is even possible before you pay for it.

Questions people ask

Do Canadian stairs use the same runner sizes as the US?: Largely yes. 27 in and 32 in widths are standard in both markets and typical tread and riser dimensions are within half an inch of each other.
Can I price the job in Canadian dollars?: Yes. Open the cost estimator, choose CAD and set your price per linear foot or per metre.

Related guides

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