Standard widths
Runners are manufactured in a handful of widths: 24in, 27in, 30in and 32in in the US, and 60cm, 70cm and 80cm in the UK and Europe. Anything outside those is a cut-down roll with bound edges.
How much runner staircases typically need
Assuming a 10in tread, 7.5in riser, waterfall fitting and a 10% waste margin:
| Steps | Bare length | With 10% waste | Buy (metres) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 175in / 4.45m | 192.5in / 4.89m | 5.0m |
| 12 | 210in / 5.33m | 231in / 5.87m | 6.0m |
| 13 | 227.5in / 5.78m | 250in / 6.36m | 6.5m |
| 14 | 245in / 6.22m | 269.5in / 6.85m | 7.0m |
| 16 | 280in / 7.11m | 308in / 7.82m | 8.0m |
| 18 | 315in / 8.00m | 346.5in / 8.80m | 9.0m |
This chart is a starting point, not an order
Your tread depth, nosing treatment, landings and pattern repeat can move these figures by more than a metre. Run your own measurements through the calculator before buying.
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 calculatorPre-made runners vs cut from a roll
| Pre-made runner | Cut from a roll | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizes | Fixed lengths, often 8ft, 10ft, 12ft | Any length |
| Edges | Finished as standard | Binding or whipping charged extra |
| Best for | Short flights, quick projects | Exact fits, landings, unusual staircases |
| Risk | Joining several to reach length | Ordering short if measurements are off |
Thickness and pile height
Pile height matters more on stairs than anywhere else. Anything over about 12mm struggles to wrap a nosing cleanly and can feel unstable underfoot. Low-pile, tightly woven constructions — flatweave, loop, low-cut pile — hold their shape on the step edge and wear far better on the nosing, which is where 80% of stair wear happens.
Runner length limits
Most rolls are supplied in continuous lengths up to 25–30m, so a single flight is almost never a problem. Where you do need a joint — a long U-shaped staircase, for example — place it on a landing rather than mid-flight, where it will be visible and take more wear.
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
Is there a standard stair runner size?
Not exactly. Widths cluster around 24–32in (60–80cm), and lengths are cut to your staircase. A typical 13-step US staircase needs roughly 6.5m or 21ft including waste.
Can I buy a stair runner by the foot?
Yes — most suppliers sell runner by the linear foot, metre or yard from a roll, and bind the edges to your chosen width. It is usually better value than joining pre-made pieces.
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.
Get my exact size