Measuring for a stair runner in 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

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.

Canadian stair dimensions

For an example with a 10 in tread and a 7.5 in riser, each covered step uses 17.5 in before allowances. Canadian stairs vary by age and construction, so replace these example dimensions with measurements of your own flight.

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

See all stair runner calculator guides