Common stairs, private stairs and what changes about measuring
A lot of Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town tenement flats are entered via a shared stone stair, and a runner in that setting is a different job to a private internal flight: stone treads are often uneven, worn into a slight dip in the centre from generations of foot traffic, and the pitch can be steeper than modern building standards would allow today. If you're fitting a runner in a shared stone stair, check with the factor or other owners first, since common stair coverings usually need agreement from everyone who uses them, and any fixings into stone need a different approach to fixing into timber treads.
Inside the flat itself, or on a private internal stair in a Georgian townhouse in the New Town, measuring works the same way as anywhere else: individual tread run, riser height, and step count, with attention to whether any steps are winders at a turn. New Town townhouses often have taller ceilings and correspondingly taller, more generous staircases, sometimes with a full turn and a proper landing partway up, which changes the total length needed more than most people expect.
How much runner do I need?
For a standard 13-step flight: 10 in tread run, 7.5 in riser height, 0.75 in nosing wrap, giving 18.25 in per step, 237.25 in (19.77 ft) across the flight. Add a 24 in finishing allowance to reach 261.25 in (21.77 ft), then apply a 7% waste margin for roughly 23.3 ft on a straight run.
In metric terms, that's 25 cm tread run, 19 cm riser height, 1.9 cm nosing wrap, giving 45.9 cm per step, 596.7 cm across the flight, plus 60 cm finishing for 656.7 cm, then a 7% margin for roughly 7.03 m. On a taller New Town townhouse flight, say 17 steps to a half-landing then a further 5 steps up, treat each section separately and add the two lengths together rather than estimating the whole run as one figure, since the two flights may have slightly different pitches.
| Flight description | Length (US) | Length (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard 13-step flight | 23.3 ft | 7.03 m |
| Taller 17-step townhouse flight | 30.5 ft | 9.3 m |
| Common stone stair, per straight section of 10 steps | 18 ft | 5.5 m |
Know your numbers in 30 seconds
Enter your step count, tread depth and riser height — the stair runner calculator gives you the exact length to order, in metres and feet, with waste included.
Open the stair runner calculatorWhat fitting costs tend to look like locally
As a typical range, fitting labour for a straight private flight in and around Edinburgh often sits somewhere between £130 and £300, with taller townhouse flights or any work on a common stone stair usually priced higher due to the extra time and specialist fixings involved. A factor-managed common stair job may also carry additional costs if scaffolding, access equipment or out-of-hours working is needed to avoid disrupting other residents. These are typical figures for comparison, not a quote, and every job varies with access and condition of the existing stair surface.
Get common stair agreement in writing
If you're covering any part of a shared stone stair in a tenement, get sign-off from the factor or fellow owners in writing before booking a fitter. Disputes over shared common areas are one of the most common reasons a stair carpet job stalls partway through.
Fixing into stone versus fixing into timber
Fixing a runner or stair rods into a stone tread needs different fixings to timber, typically a masonry-rated fixing rather than a standard gripper pin or staple, and a fitter experienced with tenement common stairs will know this without being told. Ask specifically whether a quote accounts for stone fixings if your stair is a shared tenement entrance, since a fitter used only to timber residential stairs may under-quote or struggle on site.
- Confirm whether your stair is timber or stone before requesting quotes.
- Ask if the fitter has experience with tenement common stairs specifically.
- Check whether factor or co-owner sign-off is needed before work starts.
- Ask how uneven stone treads are handled, since some may need a levelling underlay strip.
- Request a written quote that separates labour, materials and any specialist fixings.
Choosing a runner style for period Edinburgh properties
Georgian and Victorian properties across the city generally suit a wool or wool-blend runner in a classic stripe, plain weave or traditional pattern, matching the formal proportions of a New Town townhouse hallway. Stair runners with a bound edge and a slightly heavier weight tend to hold up better on longer, taller flights that see more footfall per trip up and down. Whatever style you choose, measure the actual flight, including any turn or half-landing, rather than relying on a generic step-count average, since Edinburgh's mix of tenement and townhouse stairs varies more in proportion than most cities. A stair runner length calculator handles the arithmetic once you've got accurate individual measurements from each section of the flight.
Whatever you decide, get the numbers first: the stair runner calculator doubles as a stair runner length calculator, adding nosing wrap, landings, winders, pattern repeat and waste so you order the right length the first time.
Still deciding on material, width or pattern? Our hub on stair runners compares weaves, widths, backings and fitting styles side by side, then hands the numbers straight to the calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need permission to fit a stair runner on a shared tenement stair?
Generally yes, since common stairs in Edinburgh tenements are shared property, and covering them usually needs agreement from the factor or other owners in writing before any work starts.
How much more carpet does a taller New Town townhouse staircase need?
Significantly more in many cases, since Georgian townhouse flights can run to 17 steps or more across two sections, compared with a standard 13-step flight, so measure each section separately and add the totals together.
Can standard gripper fixings be used on a stone common stair?
No, stone treads generally need masonry-rated fixings rather than standard gripper pins or staples used on timber, so it's worth confirming a fitter has experience with stone stairs before booking.
What does stair runner fitting typically cost in Edinburgh?
As a typical range, labour for a straight private flight often runs between £130 and £300, with taller townhouse flights and common stone stairs usually priced higher due to extra time and specialist fixings.
What style of runner suits a Georgian townhouse hallway?
A wool or wool-blend runner in a classic stripe or traditional pattern generally suits the formal proportions of a Georgian or Victorian townhouse better than a very modern, minimal design, though this is a matter of taste.
Are stone tenement stair treads level enough to fit a runner directly?
Not always, since generations of foot traffic can wear a slight dip into stone treads, and some jobs need a thin levelling underlay strip before the runner goes down for a secure, even fit.
How do I measure a staircase with two sections and a half-landing?
Measure each section, tread run, riser height and step count, separately rather than as one continuous run, since the pitch or step depth can differ slightly between sections, then add the two calculated lengths together.
Should I choose a bound edge for a longer Edinburgh staircase?
A bound edge on a slightly heavier weight runner tends to hold up better on longer, taller flights with more footfall per trip, which is common in multi-storey Georgian townhouses.
Know your numbers in 30 seconds
Enter your step count, tread depth and riser height — the stair runner calculator gives you the exact length to order, in metres and feet, with waste included.
Size your Edinburgh staircase precisely with the stair runner calculatorEvery guide is written from hands-on measuring and fitting experience, checked against the calculator’s own maths, and re-reviewed whenever prices or methods change. Read our editorial standards.