Measure total rise (finished floor to finished floor). Divide by a target riser height (most comfortable is usually around 7"–7 3/4" for typical residential stairs). Round to a whole number of risers, then re-calc: riser height = total rise ÷ number of risers.

Pro tip: Your bottom and top steps are where mistakes hide—measure from finished surfaces, not subfloor.

The easiest way to remember: you have one more riser than treads in a straight run when the top floor acts as the final “tread.” Example: 13 risers usually means 12 treads.

Where people mess up: adding a “tread” at the top when the upper floor already is the tread.

Total run is basically tread depth × number of treads (for straight stairs). Stairs don’t fit when the opening (or landing space) doesn’t account for: nosing projection, drywall thickness, stringer thickness, and headroom clearance.

Bulkheads love stairs. They move in quietly… then steal your headroom.

Comfort usually lands around a mid-30° pitch for typical residential stairs. Too steep and it feels like a ladder; too shallow and it eats floor space fast. Consistency is king: equal risers and predictable tread depth matter more than chasing a magic angle.

The nosing is the front overhang of the tread past the riser face. It changes how the stair feels underfoot and can change how you measure “effective” tread depth. When laying out stringers, be clear whether your tread depth input is: (A) from riser-to-riser, or (B) including nosing.

If your calculator assumes one method and your carpenter cuts the other… congratulations, you’ve built a trip hazard.

Always measure from finished floor to finished floor (tile, hardwood, underlay—everything). If finishes aren’t installed yet, you must add the finish thicknesses into the rise. This is the number one reason the bottom step ends up “weird.”

Headroom is measured vertically from the nosing line (or stair line) to the ceiling/obstruction above. The trick is to check it where the stair passes under bulkheads and under floor framing. A stair can be perfect on paper and still lose headroom after drywall, beams, or ductwork show up.

Do the headroom check early—before mechanical runs. Once ducts move in, they don’t like moving out.

The OBC has minimums, but in real life you want enough width for moving furniture and not shoulder-checking the wall. Also remember: handrails can reduce the “clear” width. Aim wider than the bare minimum if you have the space—stairs are used every day, forever.

Landings are required at the top and bottom, and often when you change direction. Size depends on the stair width and swing of doors nearby. The most common mistake is “pinching” the landing with a door swing or a tight hallway.

Don’t design a landing that only works when you walk sideways carrying groceries like a crab.

Open risers can be allowed, but there are limits meant to prevent small kids from slipping through. If you’re doing open risers, plan early—stringer layout, tread thickness, and finish details all change.

Winders are triangular treads used to turn a stair without a landing. They’re space-savers, but they’re easy to build wrong and easy to trip on if the walking line isn’t respected. If you need winders, lay them out carefully and check code requirements for the narrow end and walking line.

Stringer spacing depends on tread thickness, material, and how the treads are supported. Too wide and you’ll get squeaks, flex, and cracked finishes. Too tight and you’re wasting lumber and time. For finished stairs, build stiffer than you think you need—nobody complains about solid stairs.

Bouncy stairs feel cheap even in a luxury house. Stiff is the new fancy.

A cut stringer is notched like a saw blade and the treads sit on the notches. A housed stringer has pockets/dados routed for treads and risers, often giving a cleaner finish. Housed can look more “finished,” but it requires more precision and shop time.

Squeaks come from movement and rubbing: tread-to-stringer, riser-to-tread, fasteners, and seasonal shrink/swell. Use construction adhesive where appropriate, screw rather than nail in key spots, and keep everything tight and supported. If you’re finishing in hardwood, plan the fastening method so you’re not creating future rub points.

Usually it’s one of these: wrong height, missing returns at the ends, poor graspability, or guards that aren’t strong enough (or have openings that are too large). Plan handrail blocking early—after drywall is too late for wishes.

Handrails aren’t décor. They’re “save-your-teeth” equipment.

Requirements depend on stair width, configuration, and whether walls/guards exist on both sides. Many homeowners choose a handrail wherever a person might naturally reach for support—especially in basements and high-traffic stairs. When in doubt, build for safety and comfort, not just minimum compliance.

If your stair starts on concrete or tile, confirm finished height early. The bottom riser often needs adjustment if you’re adding tile/thinset, sleepers, or underlayment later. The goal is still the same: all risers equal.

Use a framing square (or a stair gauge setup) and mark one “master” stringer carefully. Dry-fit it. Check rise/run, landing alignment, and headroom, then use it as the template for the rest. Small layout errors multiply fast when you cut three or four stringers from the same wrong template.

Measure twice, cut once… then dry-fit, then measure again. Wood is honest. It shows your mistakes immediately.

Basement stairs get lots of traffic (laundry, storage, kids, boots), so durability and grip matter. Exterior stairs add weather exposure and slip risk—material choice, drainage, and consistent risers become even more critical. Also watch door swings and landing sizes so you’re not stepping backward into thin air.

1) Measuring rise from subfloor instead of finished floor.

2) Bottom riser “different” because flooring thickness wasn’t planned.

3) Headroom lost to bulkheads, beams, or ducts (after the stair is framed).

4) Landings pinched by door swings or tight hallways.

5) Handrails/guards treated like décor instead of safety hardware.