Riser height
commonly a 7-3/4 in maximum on residential stairs.
Stair guide
How Many Steps Are in a Flight of Stairs?
The number of steps in a flight depends on the floor-to-floor height and the riser height. Divide the total rise by the riser height to find the risers; a straight flight has one fewer tread than risers.
What is a flight of stairs?
A flight is a continuous run of steps between two floors or between a floor and a landing. A stair with a landing partway up has two flights.
Total rise divided by riser height
Measure the total rise from finished floor to finished floor.
Divide by the maximum riser height allowed (commonly 7-3/4 in for homes) and round up to get the number of risers.
Divide the total rise by that number of risers to get the actual riser height.
Treads are one fewer than risers, because the upper floor acts as the last step.
Worked example: 8 ft and 9 ft floor-to-floor
| Total rise | Risers (7-3/4 in max) | Riser height | Treads |
|---|---|---|---|
| About 105 in (8 ft ceiling plus framing) | 14 | About 7-1/2 in | 13 |
| 108 in (typical 9 ft floor-to-floor) | 14 | About 7-23/32 in | 13 |
| About 117 in (9 ft ceiling plus framing) | 16 | About 7-5/16 in | 15 |
Code basics to check
Tread depth
commonly a 10 in minimum on residential stairs.
Headroom
commonly 6 ft 8 in minimum.
Width
commonly 36 in minimum.
Check your local code; requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Common questions
How many stairs are in a flight?
It depends on the floor-to-floor height. A typical 9 ft floor-to-floor rise of about 108 in needs 14 risers and 13 treads at a 7-3/4 in maximum riser.
What is a flight of stairs?
A continuous run of steps between two floors or between a floor and a landing.
How many steps for an 8 ft ceiling?
With framing, floor-to-floor is often about 105 in, which works out to 14 risers of about 7-1/2 in and 13 treads. Measure your actual rise.
Is a landing counted as a step?
No. A landing splits a stair into separate flights; each flight has its own risers and treads.
How do I count steps quickly?
Enter your total rise in the stair calculator on this site; it returns risers, riser height and treads.
Ready for your stair parts?
Pricing and turnaround are confirmed on your written quote.