When I made the shift from installing to estimating flooring projects, a wise man told me
“the cheapest insurance you can buy for a job is some extra material”.
I think this is a very smart move, especially when figuring carpet or any other flooring materials on stairs and other intricate areas.
Carpet on stairs is rarely installed in one single piece, stairs often fall within general size so I often use 12″ for the tread and 9″ down the riser. With this I just need the width to finish the size to order per step. 12″+9″(21″) X width = Area of one step X how many steps.
Keep in mind that stairs come in different sizes and shapes. So you may encounter sizes different than those mentioned above.
Here are a few different types of stairs you might come across:
Box Stair
- A box stair is closed in on both sides by the walls.
- It is often approximately 3′ to 4′ wide.
- My usual allowance for the tread (the flat part you step on) is 12″, and 9″ for the riser (the back of the stair). Therefore, for every box stair, you require 3′ (or the width of your stair) x 21″ of carpet.
Open Sided Stair
- This stair that has one open side typically with railing posts on the open side.
- It has the same measurements for the tread and riser as a box stair (combined 21″).
- You will need to add more carpet to cover the width, to allow the carpet to flow through the posts and wrap around the outside of the stair railing.
- If your stair is open with a railing on both sides of it you will need to add width to the carpet to cover the overhang on both sides. Here is where it pays to have extra material for the installer.
Pie Shape Stair
- The pie shape step will require 3′ (or the width of the stair) x 33″ or the measurement of the longest part of the tread and down the riser. You will have some extra waste here as you must figure the longest side only.
Open or Floating Stair
- This stair is a stair with no riser. The carpet will wrap all the way around the tread.
- Measure your stair to determine the width. Then measure all the way around the step and add 3″. You may need approximately 23″ of carpet to wrap completely around the step.
Bullnose
- A bullnose stair is often found at the bottom of a staircase and might be wider or wrapped on one or both sides.
- Measure the stair width, including extra to cover the edges. Here is where having some extra material can really make a difference. Add 6″ to the overall width you figure after covering the edges.
Direction of the Pile
The carpet must run in the same direction on every stair, and the direction of the pile must go with the flow of traffic (from top to bottom, not from side to side).
Example
For a typical set of 16 box stairs measuring 3′ wide, using a carpet that is 12′ wide, you would require 12′ x 7′ (in a 12′ width of carpet, you get 4 widths of box stairs, (12′ divided by 3′) so every 12′ x 21″ gives you 4 stairs side by side on the roll).
You should add another 12″ to the roll of carpet you order to allow for any oddities or mistakes when installing it.
- Flooring & Stairs
Measuring your stairs is a crucial step when installing carpet on your staircase. Learn how to measure stairs for carpet correctly.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Adding carpets to stairs can be an aesthetic decision that can change up a plain wooden staircase. Before you start looking at carpeting swatches, it’s vital to measure the stairs to know exactly how much carpet is needed to cover them. Measuring carpet can be a tricky process: carpet on stairs is usually installed in separate pieces rather than one large piece. This requires precision to get the best edges and trim for the final look.
How to measure stairs for carpet depends on the floor plan, the staircase’s size, the type of stairs, and if a homeowner wants full carpeted stairs or just a runner. Here are the tools, materials, and step-by-step instructions you will need for measuring carpet to install on your staircase.
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+Time required: One hour or less
Difficulty: Intermediate
Estimated cost: Less than $10
- Paper and pencil
- Ruler
- Tape measure
- Calculator
Before You Begin…
Photo: istockphoto.com
Measuring carpet for a staircase involves some calculations, including measuring square feet of the landing, hallways, and each stair. Double-check all measurements before placing a carpet order to ensure you’ll have the proper amount of carpeting for the project. If you’re hiring a professional for the job, they will be able to measure the stairs for you.
Since carpet for stairs is sold in square feet and square yards, homeowners will need to learn how to measure in square feet. To calculate square feet, divide the number of inches by 12. If a square yard measurement is required, divide the number of square feet by three. Additionally, if the original carpet was recently removed, clear all nails, tack pads, glue, and other debris from the staircase before measuring.
Tips for How to Measure Stairs for Carpet
- Carpet pieces are sold by the square foot or the square yard. Ensure you convert the measurements correctly when doing the math.
- Some stairs may not be the same size. It may be beneficial to measure each stair individually if the staircase is shaped irregularly.
- It’s advised to buy a bit of extra carpet in case of mistakes or if additional pieces are needed towards the project’s end.
Safety Considerations
- Homeowners should be aware of their surroundings, including watching for pets and small children, so they don’t trip on the stairs while measuring.
- Be aware of any stray nails or sharp debris if measuring a renovated staircase.
STEP 1: Draw the floor plan of your stair landing, staircase, and any adjoining hallways.
It’s essential to start with a floor plan that lays out the entirety of the measurements needed for the staircase, including the landings and hallways. Using a piece of paper, pencil, and ruler, draw out the floor plan of these areas using your best judgment scale. Add any doorways and alcoves on the plan. Keep the floor plan handy when measuring.
Photo: istockphoto.com
STEP 2: Measure the stair landing.
The staircase carpet will flow from the landing to the rest of the stairs, making this starting measurement a crucial step. Stand on the staircase’s top step and measure the landing area’s width and length using a measuring tape. Note this measurement on the floor plan. Next, multiply the measurements to calculate the number of square feet needed for the landing. Remember to convert to square feet by dividing this number by 12.
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+STEP 3: Measure the rise and run of your stairs and add to the landing measurement.
The rise of a stair is the height, and the run of the stair is the depth. The width of the stair is the measurement from the edge to the wall. For a straight staircase, measure the rise and run in inches (with an extra inch or two for the nose) of one stair and multiply that number by the total number of stairs. Divide this number by 12 to get the measurement in feet. Measure the width of one stair to the nearest foot. Multiply this number by the rise and run feet measurement to obtain the area in square feet.
This measurement can also be used when painting a staircase. How to measure stairs for a carpet runner is similar to the above solution. Remove at least 4 inches from each side of the stair width in the above calculations.
Photo: istockphoto.com
STEP 5: Use your measurements to calculate the amount of carpet you will need for your staircase.
Using the floor plan and all its measurements, enter these values into an online carpet calculator tool to determine the amount of carpet needed for the staircase. Additionally, you can add the calculations from the landings, stairs, and hallway to determine the total carpet needed.
Remember to add about 10 percent of carpet to the final number to account for any carpet waste or mistakes in the carpet installation process. If you have a bullnose stair (a bottom stair that’s wider than the others and usually has a rounded edge), it will also be necessary to order a bit of extra carpet. It’s better to have too much carpet than not enough to finish the job.
STEP 6: Determine whether you will install the carpet yourself or hire a professional.
Once all the measurements have been calculated, it’s time to determine if the carpet will be a DIY project or if you’ll outsource the job to a professional.
If a staircase is irregular, winding, or has a complex layout (or if a homeowner doesn’t have the time or skills to complete the project), it’s always best to hire a professional. A professional will double-check measurements and order the exact amount of carpet needed so that the homeowner can avoid material waste or costly rework during the installation process.
Measuring stairs for carpet is a simple process once you get the hang of the basic calculations and measuring techniques. After you’ve calculated your final measurements for your staircase, you’ll be one step closer to the carpet installation process.
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