Stair Riser & Tread
Split a total rise into comfortable risers and treads.
About Stair Riser & Tread
The total rise is divided by a comfortable riser height, then the actual riser recomputes so steps split the rise evenly. The riser-to-tread pair sets how safe steps feel, and even splits prevent a dicey last step into a landing.
Formula
Stair Riser & Tread
Risers = total rise / target riser; treads = risers - 1
- total rise
- Vertical height between the two floors
Worked example
With the default values below, Stair Riser & Tread returns Number of Risers of 15. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Total riseminimum 6 in
- 105 in
- Target riserminimum 4 in
- 7 in
- Tread depthminimum 6 in
- 10 in
Results
- Number of Risers
- 15
- Actual Riser
- 7.00 in
- Number of Treads
- 14
- Total Run
- 11.67 ft
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Stair Riser & Tread
- 3Number of Risers= 15
- 4Actual Riser= 7.00 in
- 5Number of Treads= 14
- 6Total Run= 11.67 ft
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Stair Riser & Tread calculated?
Risers = total rise / target riser; treads = risers - 1 The total rise is divided by a comfortable riser height, then the actual riser recomputes so steps split the rise evenly.
Why does Stair Riser & Tread matter?
The riser-to-tread pair sets how safe steps feel, and even splits prevent a dicey last step into a landing.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 3 inputs: Total rise, Target riser, Tread depth. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.