Measuring for a stair runner in the UK

Do not use dimensions from another staircase, even one in the same house. The UK preset sets a 22.5 cm going, a 19 cm rise, a 68 cm runner width and pricing in pounds per linear metre.

Everything is quoted the way a UK carpet retailer will quote it back to you.

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 UK staircase

Using the UK preset as an example, 13 steps with a 190 mm rise and a 225 mm tread need 5,395 mm, or 5.395 m, before allowances. These are example measurements, not a compliance check or a description of every UK staircase.

UK runner widths and stair widths

A common UK stair is 860 to 900 mm wide between strings. With a 68 cm runner that leaves roughly 9 to 11 cm of exposed timber each side, which is the classic British look.

Buying in the UK

Runners are usually sold by the linear metre from a 4 m or 5 m roll, whipped or bound to your chosen width. Add 10% for pattern repeat on stripes and 15% on a large geometric.

Questions people ask

How much stair runner do I need for a UK staircase?: A standard 13 step UK flight needs about 5.4 metres before waste, or roughly 6 metres with a 10% allowance for trimming and pattern matching.
What width stair runner is standard in the UK?: Most UK runners are 68 to 70 cm wide, leaving around 10 cm of bare stair on each side of a typical 90 cm staircase.

Related guides

See all stair runner calculator guides