Is there a standard height and depth for stairs?

Question

Is there a standard (or a standard range for) the height and depth of each step in a flight of stairs?

If your answer refers to your building code, please say where you live.

Answer 1

The general rule (in the US) is 7-11 (a 7 inch rise and 11 inch run). More exactly, 7 3/4 rise and an 11 1/2 inch run, although some people will use a run of as little as 9 inches.

You can find some more information here as well on other stair-related dimensions.

Answer 2

Not what you asked, but for safety the most important thing, even more important IMO than getting the right rise and run, is that every step is consistent. Varying as little as 1/4 inch in rise will make even a ballerina fall on her face if she's running up the stairs.

Answer 3

The Stairway Manufacturing Code Association published the International Residential Code in 2006 which tells you just about everything you could ever want to know about stairs, including:

• minimum headroom depth (6' 8")
• minimum tread depth (10")
• maximum rise (7.75")
• maximum tread depth variability (3/8")
• maximum rise variability (3/8")
• maximum slope of riser (30°)

Answer 4

It not so much about the rise and run lengths specifically ,but about the ratio of the Rise to Run. You should strive to hit a 30-35% ration of rise/run. A 7-11 is the most common and gives you the correct ratio, but any combination of rise to run that hits this 30-35% ratio would be fine.

Answer 5

As a general rule your stairs should be built with this in mind and you won't bust code no matter where you live. 2 risers plus 1 tread must equal a minimum of 24" and a maximum of 25" when added together. Example ( 2 risers of 7-1/4" = 14-1/2" then your tread could be 9-1/2" to 10-1/2").