How to Measure for a Stair Runner

A stair runner can really improve the appearance of a staircase, while improving safety by making slips less likely on a slick wooden or tiled surface. Stair runners also help eliminate echoes and the sounds created by footsteps, which is especially beneficial if the staircase is located near your home's bedrooms. Installing a stair runner is a fairly easy do-it-yourself project, and it's much less expensive than hiring a professional carpet installer to carpet the entire staircase. The first step to installing a runner is measuring the staircase.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tape measure
• Pen
• Paper
• Second person

1. Measure the width of the stairs (do not include molding) and record this length on a piece of paper. The runner you select cannot be wider than the staircase width; typically, the runner will be a few inches narrower than the stair width.

2. Position the end of the tape measure at the very bottom of the staircase, at the point where the floor meets the vertical portion of the first step.

3. Ask a friend or family member to hold the tape measure end in position while you measure the staircase. If a second person is not available, the tape measure's end can be taped in place.

4. Wrap the tape measure around each step--up the vertical face of the step, around the step edge and along the horizontal portion of the step. Continue until you reach the top of the horizontal face of the top step--this is where the runner will end. Note the measurement.

5. Write down the measurement on the paper mentioned in step one. Add approximately six feet to this measurement to get the required length of the runner. The extra carpet length will allow for any error in measurement, and it will provide extra runner that can be used to replace a section in the event that a portion of the runner is damaged in the future.

Tips & Warnings

• One shortcut involves measuring the height and depth of one stair and then multiplying it by the total number of steps in the staircase. But do use this method for a staircase in an older home, as the size of each step tends vary in an older house. If the staircase includes a landing, measure the staircase in two sections: One section extends from the bottom of the staircase to the back wall of the landing; the second section extends from the landing wall that faces the second section of stairs, and up to the vertical face of the top step.

References

• Measuring for a Staircase Runner (With Photos)