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Stair riser chart by total rise (printable)

Find your total rise (finished floor to finished floor) and read across. A 9' rise (108") takes 14 risers of 7 11/16" and 13 treads, 11'-1 1/4" of run at a 10 1/4" tread. Every row stays under the IRC's 7 3/4" max riser. Print it and keep it in the truck.

Total riseRisersRiser heightTreadsTotal run (10 1/4" tread)Stringer length
7'-0"117 5/8"108'-6 1/2"11'-0 1/2"
7'-3"127 1/4"119'-4 3/4"11'-10 7/16"
7'-6"127 1/2"119'-4 3/4"12'-0 1/4"
7'-9"127 3/4"119'-4 3/4"12'-2 1/8"
8'-0"137 3/8"1210'-3"13'-0"
8'-3"137 5/8"1210'-3"13'-1 7/8"
8'-6"147 5/16"1311'-1 1/4"13'-11 13/16"
8'-9"147 1/2"1311'-1 1/4"14'-1 5/8"
9'-0"147 11/16"1311'-1 1/4"14'-3 1/2"
9'-3"157 3/8"1411'-11 1/2"15'-1 7/16"
9'-6"157 5/8"1411'-11 1/2"15'-3 1/4"
9'-9"167 5/16"1512'-9 3/4"16'-1 3/16"
10'-0"167 1/2"1512'-9 3/4"16'-3 1/16"
10'-3"167 11/16"1512'-9 3/4"16'-4 7/8"
10'-6"177 7/16"1613'-8"17'-2 13/16"
10'-9"177 9/16"1613'-8"17'-4 5/8"
11'-0"187 5/16"1714'-6 1/4"18'-2 5/8"
11'-3"187 1/2"1714'-6 1/4"18'-4 7/16"
11'-6"187 11/16"1714'-6 1/4"18'-6 1/4"
11'-9"197 7/16"1815'-4 1/2"19'-4 3/16"
12'-0"197 9/16"1815'-4 1/2"19'-6 1/16"

Stair layout

Measurements
Finished floor to finished floor
Nosing to nosing, not board width
Optional
Optional
IRC: 7 3/4"
IRC: 10"
Risers—
Riser height —
Treads —
Total run—
Stringer length (diagonal)—
Stair angle—
Comfort, 2R + T —
Clear width —
Headroom —
2021 IRC R311.7 (one- and two-family homes): max 7¾" riser, min 10" tread, min 36" clear width, min 6'-8" headroom, no more than ⅜" variation between risers in a flight, handrail on flights with 4 or more risers. Local amendments vary.

⚠ Check all math and verify with a licensed engineer and your local building department before cutting or building. Results are estimates.

Sources: Stairs

  1. 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 3 (Building Planning)International Code CouncilSection R311.7: max 7¾" riser, min 10" tread, min 36" width, min 6'-8" headroom.
  2. 2021 Seattle Residential Code, Chapter 3 (PDF reprint of the IRC text)City of SeattleCopy of the 2021 IRC R311.7 text the limits were checked against.
  3. Right-triangle geometry (Pythagorean theorem and trigonometry)Standard mathStringer length = √(rise² + run²).
  4. Comfort rule 2 × riser + tread ≈ 24–25"Traditional stair design rule of thumb, not a code requirementThe comfort flag.
  5. Norma Técnica Complementaria para el Proyecto Arquitectónico (Gaceta Oficial del D.F., 8 Feb 2011)Gobierno de la Ciudad de MéxicoMetric mode (Spanish page): Tabla 4.3-B, riser 10–18 cm, min tread 25 cm, max 2.70 m between landings, max 1 cm riser variation; Tabla 4.3, house stair width 0.90 m between walls (0.75 m with a wall on one side).

Code tables are copied from the documents above and checked against a second copy where noted. Your local code, its edition and amendments govern. Check all math and verify with a licensed engineer and your building department. See the terms & disclaimer.

How to use the chart

Measure total rise from the finished floor at the bottom to the finished floor at the top, including flooring you haven't laid yet. Risers = total rise ÷ 7 3/4", rounded up; riser height = total rise ÷ risers. There is always one fewer tread than risers, because the top floor is the last step. Run = treads × tread depth.

The IRC (R311.7.5) allows a 7 3/4" max riser and 10" min tread, and risers in a flight can't differ by more than 3/8". Many builders aim lower (about 7 1/4") for an easier stair: enter your own riser limit and tread depth in the calculator above. Stringer length is the diagonal of rise and run; buy stock at least a foot longer.

FAQ

How many steps for a 9 foot ceiling?

A 9' ceiling usually means about 9'-10" of total rise once you add the floor framing and finished floors above (118"). That's 16 risers of 7 3/8" and 15 treads. Measure your real rise and read the chart row, or type it into the calculator.

How many steps for an 8 foot rise?

13 risers of 7 3/8" and 12 treads, 10'-3" of run at a 10 1/4" tread.

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Disclaimer: Results are estimates for planning and layout only. Check all math yourself and verify with a licensed engineer and your local building department before cutting or building. FramersMath is not a substitute for engineered plans, span tables or code review. See the full disclaimer.