How To Measure Stairs For Carpet: A Step-By-Step Guide

Before putting down your dream carpet, accurately measuring your stairs is essential to save yourself both cost and time. Measuring stairs can be more tedious than measuring other rooms in the house due to their complex structure and varying dimensions so it's important to take extra care. Whether covering a full staircase and landing, installing a stylish stair runner, or opting for individual carpeted steps our flooring experts have developed a step-by-step measuring guide to help save you cost and time. At Des Kelly Interiors, we are a trusted name in flooring and have a wide selection of stair carpets available to suit every style and budget. Explore our Des Kelly Carpet Collection to find the perfect fit for your home.

Measuring Stairs for Carpets

1. Gather Your Tools

The first step is to gather the correct tools to ensure precise carpet measurements for stairs. You will need a tape measure, pen, paper, and calculator.

2. Count Stairs and Note Turns

You can mostly measure your stairs by calculating the surface area of one step and multiplying it by the number of steps on the stairs. If you have a turn on your staircase, the step may be longer or wider so you should measure that step separately and add. If your stairs are generally uniform, measure the step in the middle for the best accuracy.

3. Measure the Tread and Riser Depths

When measuring stairs for carpeting, it’s important to understand the key components: the tread and the riser. The tread is the horizontal part of the step—the surface you walk on—while the riser is the vertical section that connects one step to the next. To measure the height of the staircase simply measure from the top of one tread to the next. For the tread depth, measure from the front edge (known as the nose) to the back, where it meets the riser. If your stairs have an overhang, be sure to include it in your measurement to ensure full coverage and a precise fit for your stair carpet.

4. Measure the Stairs Width

Measure the width of the steps from wall to wall or where the balustrade starts to the widest point of the staircase.

5. Calculate the Surface Area of the Tread

To do this, multiply the width of the step by the depth of the tread.

6. Calculate the Surface Area of the Riser

To do this, multiply the width of the step by the height of the riser.

7. Add It All Together

Finally, add the surface areas of the tread and risers together for your total surface area of a step. Multiply this surface area by the number of steps you counted. Add the surface area of non-uniform stairs to your total. We advise always adding an extra 10-15% extras to your total measurements to account for waste, especially if your stairs have a unique shape. If you don’t feel confident measuring yourself don’t worry you can book a free home consultation with us and one of our experts at Des Kelly Interiors will do it for you! 

How to Measure Stairs and Landing for Carpet

1. Measure Stairs Surface Area

Measure the stairs and calculate the surface area using the above steps, noting that you will calculate the landing separately but should still include the surface area of one riser without the tread in the final calculation.

2. Measure the Landing

When doing the landing measure both the longest and widest points of the landing. After multiplying both together for the surface area.

3. Add up your Final Stairs and Landing Carpet Area

Finally, add the surface area of the staircase with the surface area of the landing together, remembering to include the riser that goes from the top staircase to the landing surface. As previously mentioned we recommend adding 10-15% extra for adjustments and errors.

How to Measure for a Stair Runner

Stair runners are a great alternative to carpets while still adding style and protection to your stairs. Measuring for a stair runner follows the same process as measuring for a full stair carpet, except with less width. Typically, stair runners leave 2 to 12 inches (5-30.5 cm) of exposed stair on each side, but it's best to choose a width that allows for slight adjustments based on your design preferences. For more details, check out our Des Kelly Stair Runners blog and explore our collection for the perfect fit.

Tips for Accurate Stair Carpet Measurements

When installing carpet on your stairs, precision is key to achieving a polished and professional look. Here are some additional tips to help you accurately measure:

• Make sure your stairs are uniform and write out numbers to check your work.
• Add 10-15% of carpet to leave room for errors and adjustments
• For expert guidance tailored to your specific staircase, book a free home consultation with Des Kelly Interiors and get professional advice to ensure a flawless finish.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Measuring Stairs

Measuring stairs for carpet installation may seem straightforward, but common mistakes can lead to costly errors. One major oversight is skipping the risers—each step has both a tread (where you step) and a riser (the vertical part), and forgetting to measure the risers can leave you short on material. Miscalculating landings and omitting fitting allowances can result in a carpet that doesn’t properly wrap around the edges. That’s why it is important to double-check your stair carpet measurements to avoid these timely mistakes.

Book a Des Kelly Carpets Stairs and Landing Consultation

At Des Kelly Interiors, we supply and fit stair carpet in Dublin and surrounding areas, offering high-quality options tailored for Irish homes. From luxurious wool finishes to durable, stain-resistant designs, we have a wide range of carpets to suit every home and budget. Visit our showrooms, browse our collection online, or contact us today to book your free consultation. Let Des Kelly Interiors bring your vision to life with quality, expertise, and unmatched service.