The top step
You have three choices, and they change the length you need to order:
- Finish at the top nosing — the runner stops on the top riser, and the landing floor is bare or separately carpeted. Cleanest with a wood landing.
- Wrap over the top nosing onto the landing — the runner turns onto the landing floor by a few inches and is tucked or joined under the landing covering.
- Continue across the landing — the runner carries on as a landing runner. Add the full landing walking path to your measurement.
Decide this before you order
The three options differ by anything from a few inches to a full landing length. It is the single most common cause of a runner arriving short.
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 calculatorThe bottom step
The bottom step is usually the most visible one in the house, and often a different shape from the rest.
| Bottom step | Recommended finish |
|---|---|
| Standard square step | Runner runs down to the base of the last riser, folded and stapled |
| Bullnose (rounded one end) | Stop the runner on the tread above, or wrap and pleat carefully |
| Curtail / scroll step | Stop on the step above — wrapping a scroll almost never looks right |
| Double bullnose | Stop above; treat the bottom step as a feature in bare timber |
Edge finishes
- Fold the raw end under twice before stapling — a single fold frays.
- Match the binding tape or whipping yarn to the runner, not to the wall.
- On a wrapped bottom step, pleat the corners deliberately and evenly rather than trying to hide them.
- Keep the last two steps' staple spacing tighter, at about 2in.
Why the bottom step deserves the extra hour
It is the step people see from the hallway, photograph, and put their hand near on the newel post. If your fitter is going to spend extra time anywhere, this is where it pays.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Where should a stair runner stop at the bottom?
On a standard square step, run it down to the base of the last riser and fold the end under. On a bullnose or curtail step, stop the runner on the tread above and leave the shaped step in bare timber.
Does a stair runner cover the top step?
It depends on your landing. The runner can finish at the top nosing, wrap a few inches onto the landing, or continue across it. Choose before ordering because the three differ significantly in length.
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.
Include the top step in my length