Staircase design: riser, tread, landing and glass railings

Stairs are used many times a day, so small errors in their proportions are felt every time. A comfortable stair has steps of equal height and depth, enough headroom, and a safe handrail.

Riser and tread

• Riser (the height of one step): about 5.5 to 7 in (140 to 175 mm) is comfortable for homes.
• Tread (the depth of one step): about 10 to 11 in (250 to 280 mm).
• A handy check: twice the riser plus the tread should fall near 24 to 25 in (about 610 to 640 mm).
• All steps in one flight must be the same height.

Width and headroom

A home stair is often 3 to 3.5 ft wide. Allow clear headroom of about 7 ft (2.1 m) measured above the line of the step edges.

Choosing the shape

• Straight: simplest and cheapest but needs a long space.
• L-shaped or U-shaped with a landing: turns the flight, saves length and gives a resting point.
• Winder, curved or spiral: save floor area, but are harder to use and often need special design.

Glass railings

Tempered or laminated glass with a stainless steel handrail looks light and lets light through. Check the glass type and thickness with the supplier, the fixing method, and the height of the rail. Keep gaps small enough that a child cannot pass through.

See it in 3D

The PlanCraft 3D planner offers straight, L, U, winder, curved and spiral stairs with glass railings. Switch to first-person view and walk up the flight to feel the proportions before the concrete is poured.

Check the stair rules in your local building code. Stair dimensions and railing height are safety items.

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