Are you looking to install a new carpet on your stairs and landing? If so, knowing how to measure stairs for carpet is essential.
In this quick guide to measuring stairs for carpet, we’ll cover everything from how to measure for a carpet to estimating carpet for stairs costs. Here’s all you need to know.
Understanding Carpet Measurement Basics
Before looking at how to measure carpet for stairs and landing installations, you should know that taking carpet measurements for this part of a domestic flooring job is a little harder than measuring a room. This is because the landing, hallway, straight stairs, and curved stairs must all be taken into account. When you get it right, though, the results are incredible.
The Importance of Accurate Measurements
Whether looking at how to measure a carpet for a room or stairs, accurate measurements are vital. It is especially important for stairs because the intricacies make it easier to make mistakes.
Accurate measurements will deliver several key benefits, such as;
- Avoid the threat of not having enough carpet.
- Prevent financial waste from excessive material measurements.
- Know that landings, hallways, straight stairs, and curved stairs are managed.
Key Terms and Tools You’ll Need
To measure stairs for a carpet, you will need a tape measure, ruler, piece of paper, and a pencil. A stair carpet calculator will also be required, although not until after you’ve taken the carpet measurement.
However, you should additionally be aware of the following terms when measuring for carpet needs;
- Riser – the vertical part of a stair that takes you up/down a level.
- Tread – the horizontal flat part of the stair.
- Nose – the protruding part of the stair that extends the tread and fits over the riser.
Step-by-Step Guide to Measuring Your Stairs for Carpet
When asking “How do you measure stairs for carpet?”, you must break it down to cover all key parts of
How to Measure the Treads and Risers
Calculating the treads and risers can be completed through the following steps;
- Take the measurement for the width of the stairs by measuring from one edge to the other. Do this across the outer edge.
- Measure the depth of the tread on the top step, moving from the point where it touches the risers to the outer edge of the step.
- Measure the difference in height between two steps to work out the riser measurement.
If you have a simple straight staircase, you simply need to multiply this calculation by the number of steps.
Calculating Carpet for Landing Areas
The next phase is learning how to measure floor for carpet, which is quite simple. When considering how to measure for carpet on stairs and landings, you should;
- Take a measurement of the landing like any other room, measuring the width and length as well as any doorways.
- Ensure that the landing also takes the top stair into account by measuring to the nose of the top stair.
- Check that your floor plan includes the measurements for the landing, as well as the positioning and dimensions of the treads and risers of the stairs.
Knowing how to measure floor for carpet as well as the stairs themselves will allow you to achieve consistency throughout.
Measuring Hallways and Entrances
To measure hallways and entrances, you simply need to consider how to measure a room for carpet. If you can do this, you can measure the hallways and entrances.
- Draw a rough floor plan of the hallway and measure the width and length.
- When learning how to measure carpet, you should also take wall-to-wall measurements at several points as not all walls are aligned.
- Measure indentations (doorways, alcoves and dropbacks) so that you know how to measure a carpet more accurately.
If you’re wondering “How are carpets measured for door frames”, the key is to measure to the back of the door frame so that the carpet can be fitted under the threshold.
You should then add this to the carpet measurement for your stairs – psst, adding the location of your stairs to the floor plan will make it easier to determine the direction of the pile.
Utilising a Stair Carpet Calculator
Once you have completed the carpet measure recording, the next step is to use a stair carpet calculator to gain accurate measurements. The free tool will teach you how to work out square metres for carpet by taking your data and providing accurate results.
How to Input Your Measurements
Each stair carpet calculator is unique. However, the fundamentals of using them remain the same. You will need to;
- Input the width of each step,
- Enter the rise of each step,
- Input the run/tread of each step.
This can be done using several measurement units, but many will use metres.
Interpreting the Results for Your Project
After inputting the carpet measurements for your stairs, you will be presented with clear answers for;
- How much carpet is required for the width,
- How much carpet is required for the length,
- The total carpet area requirements.
The figures are great for cost estimating carpet for stairs. However, you will also need to factor in the hallway and landing before making a purchase. Thankfully, this is no harder than learning how to measure room for carpet installations as these areas are on one level.
Tips for Estimating Carpet Requirements
How to Account for Wastage
When thinking about how to measure for carpet on stairs, a focus on accuracy is vital. However, it’s always best to have too much material than not enough. After all, you can cut the excess material from the end of the carpet but you can’t magically make extra material appear.
As you look at how to calculate carpet for stairs, you should;
- Add 5cm (0.05m) to the width.
- Add 5cm (0.05m) to the length per step – for example, 65cm for 13 steps.
- Leave a 10% increase for wastage and peace of mind.
Many of the top calculators that are designed specifically with the topic of how to measure stairs in mind will automatically do this or leave you with an extra box to input your waste material percentage.
Adjusting Measurements for Unique Staircases
Many homeowners also need to ask “How are carpets measured for unique staircases?” like half-landings and curved staircases.
For half-landings, you simply need to take measurements for the square or rectangle half-landing. To do this measure the width and length as you would when asking “How do you measure a room for carpet?” before adding this to the carpet requirements of the two parts of the main staircase.
When managing carpets for curved staircases (winders), you should measure each winder individually. To do this, you should measure the width of the winder at its widest point. This figure can then be multiplied by the 90° overstep.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Carpet for 13 Stairs in the UK?
Most household staircases have a total of 13 steps. While the exact material requirements will depend on the dimensions of the stairs, most homeowners will need roughly 10m2 of carpet for the job.
How to Measure Carpet for Stairs and Landing?
When asking “How do you measure for carpet on stairs and landings?”, the key is to break it down into two sections. Firstly, be sure to measure the riser, tread, and nose of the steps. Following this you can measure the landing space as you would any other room.
So, if you know how to measure a stair carpet and a landing carpet as two individual parts, you will not struggle with the project.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Knowing how to measure hall stairs and landing for carpet installations can feel a daunting prospect, but it is quite straightforward once you know the process and have found a carpet calculator. Nonetheless, you must take the right steps to success (yep, we just did that) following your calculations.
Reviewing Your Measurements Before Purchase
Given the cost of carpets (not to mention the time it takes to complete an installation), you must take time to review your measurements. If something doesn’t look quite right, you should double-check it. Meanwhile, many people like to repeat the entire process the following day.
After all, knowing how to measure for carpet solutions counts for little if you make a mistake. It’s far better to spot the error now rather than at the completion of an inferior installation.
Choosing the Right Carpet for Your Stairs
Knowing how to measure for a stair carpet is one thing, but achieving the beautiful interior design that you deserve also relies heavily on finding the right carpet. To do this, you should consider the other design elements found inside your home. When making a purchase, choosing a quality flooring supplier that also provides items like underlays is key.
Here at L&R Carpets and Flooring, we provide premium products at affordable prices for commercial and residential clients in the Cotswolds. Call us now to discuss your needs.