Free tool · no account
Stair Runner Length Calculator
Work out how many metres, feet or inches of stair runner your staircase needs — treads, risers, nosing wrap, landings, pattern repeat and waste, all converted for you.
Your staircase
Measured along the walking line; 0 for a straight flight.
One repeat per flight for patterned runners; 0 for plain.
10% is standard; use 15% for patterned runners or uneven treads.
Runner length you need
6.36
metres
20.9
feet
250
inches
Order at least 6.5m (21ft)
Rounded up to the next half metre / half foot — cut runner cannot be returned.
How it adds up
| Per step (tread + riser) | 17.5in |
| Flight (13 steps) | 227.5in |
| Landings | 0in |
| Pattern repeat allowance | 0in |
| Waste (10%) | 22.8in |
| Total runner length | 250.3in |
Quick answer
How do you calculate stair runner length?
Stair runner length = (tread depth + riser height) x number of steps, plus landing lengths, plus about 1.5in per step for a wrapped (Hollywood) fit, plus one pattern repeat per flight, plus waste. A 12-step flight with 11in treads, 8in risers and a 36in landing comes to 264in before waste — 6.7m or 22ft — and about 7.4m (24.2ft) with a 10% margin, so you would order 7.5m.
- Runner per step = tread depth + riser height (+ ~1.5in for a wrapped nosing).
- 12 steps at 11in + 8in = 228in = 5.79m = 19ft for the flight alone.
- Landings are added end to end along the walking line; winders are measured at their widest point.
- Add 10–15% waste, then round up to the next half metre or half yard.
- This length calculator shows metres, feet and inches at the same time, so you can order in your supplier's unit.
The stair runner length formula
(tread depth + riser height) x steps + landings + nosing + pattern repeat + 10% waste
Every other rule of thumb you will read is a shortcut of this one line. The stair runner calculator on the home page and this length calculator both apply it live as you type.
The runner has to travel across the flat part of every step and down the vertical face beneath it, so a single step consumes tread depth plus riser height. Multiply by the step count and you have the bulk of the run. Landings are flat, so they are measured end to end in the direction the runner travels and simply added. Winder steps are measured at their widest point, because that is the line the runner has to reach.
Runner length per step, at a glance
| Tread + riser | Per step | 13 steps | In metres |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9in + 7in | 16in | 208in / 17.3ft | 5.28m |
| 10in + 7.5in | 17.5in | 227.5in / 19.0ft | 5.78m |
| 11in + 7.5in | 18.5in | 240.5in / 20.0ft | 6.11m |
| 11in + 8in | 19in | 247in / 20.6ft | 6.27m |
| 12in + 8in | 20in | 260in / 21.7ft | 6.60m |
Those figures are before waste. Add 10% and round up to the next half metre or half yard: a 5.78m run becomes 6.5m to order, a 6.60m run becomes 7.5m. Cut runner cannot be returned, and a second cut from a later dye lot rarely matches the first.
A worked example: 14 steps, waterfall fit, one landing
- Step 1 — measure one step: 11in tread, 8in riser = 19in per step (waterfall fit, so no nosing allowance).
- Step 2 — multiply: 19in x 14 steps = 266in (6.76m / 22.2ft).
- Step 3 — add the landing: 48in measured along the walking line = 314in (7.98m).
- Step 4 — pattern repeat: plain runner, so nothing to add.
- Step 5 — waste: +10% = 345.4in (8.77m / 28.8ft). Order 9m or 29ft.
Change the fitting style to Hollywood and the same staircase needs another 21in (1.5in per step), pushing the order to 9.5m. That is why the fit matters as much as the measurements.
Converting the answer to your supplier's unit
| From | To | Multiply by |
|---|---|---|
| Inches | Centimetres | 2.54 |
| Inches | Feet | 0.0833 (divide by 12) |
| Feet | Metres | 0.3048 |
| Metres | Feet | 3.2808 |
| Yards | Metres | 0.9144 |
Runner is normally sold by the linear metre in the UK and Europe and by the linear foot or yard in the US. Because the calculator shows every unit at once, you can measure in inches and still order in metres without a conversion slip.
Where length calculations go wrong
- Measuring one step and assuming the rest match — bottom steps are often deeper.
- Forgetting the turn-under at the top and bottom, usually 2–4in at each end.
- Ignoring pattern repeats, so joins land mid-motif.
- Measuring a landing across its widest dimension rather than along the walking line.
- Rounding down to the nearest whole metre instead of up.
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
How do I calculate the length of a stair runner?
Add the tread depth to the riser height to get the runner length used by one step, multiply that by your number of steps, then add landing lengths, nosing wrap, one pattern repeat per flight and roughly 10% waste. The calculator on this page does the arithmetic and the unit conversion for you.
How many metres of runner do I need for 15 stairs?
About 7.2m (23.8ft) for 11in treads and 8in risers with a waterfall fit, before waste. With a 10% margin you would buy 8m. If the stairs have wrapped nosings or a landing, add those before applying the waste margin — the calculator above includes both.
How many feet of stair runner per step?
Most staircases use 1.4–1.6ft (17–19in) of runner per step: a 10in tread plus a 7.5in riser is 17.5in, which is 1.46ft. Deep treads or tall risers push a single step over 1.8ft, so always measure rather than assuming.
Do I measure a stair runner in metres or feet?
Order in whatever unit your supplier sells by. UK and European runners are usually priced per linear metre, US runners per linear foot or per yard. This stair runner length calculator shows all three at once so you can order in the seller's unit without converting by hand.
How much extra length should I add for waste?
10% is the standard trade allowance and covers trimming, tensioning and one mis-cut. Go to 15% on patterned runners, stairs with winders, or any staircase where the treads vary in depth from top to bottom.
Does the runner length change for a waterfall or Hollywood fit?
Yes. A waterfall fit drops straight down the riser and uses tread plus riser. A Hollywood (wrapped) fit follows the nosing curve and adds roughly 1–2in per step, which is 13–26in over a standard 13-step flight.
Is the stair runner length calculator free?
Yes, completely free with no account. A free Riser account only adds saved projects, cut lists and branded PDF quotes if you sell or fit runners professionally.