Calculate Individual Riser Height

What happens in this clip

With the total vertical rise determined (173 inches) and the total number of risers known (24 risers for this staircase), use a calculator to divide the total rise by the number of risers. For example, 173 inches / 24 risers = 7.2083333 inches per riser (approximately 7 and 1/4 inches or 7.25 inches). This calculation provides the precise height for each individual riser to ensure uniformity across the entire staircase.

Goal: Determine the precise height for each stair riser.

What's used

Tools

• Calculator

About the full video

This project provides a detailed guide on how to accurately calculate and mark stair riser and tread dimensions for a staircase, ensuring all steps are consistent in height and depth. The process involves establishing a base water level, measuring total vertical rise, dividing by the number of risers, and using a simple method to mark each step for precise tiling or finishing.

Step 3 of 6: Determine Actual Riser Height

Using the total rise and the rounded number of risers from the previous step, divide the total rise by the number of risers to calculate the precise height of each individual riser. For the example of a 100-inch total rise and 13 risers, the actual riser height would be 100 inches / 13 risers = approximately 7.69 inches per riser.

Open this step in the guide

Every video in How to Measure Stair Rise and Run

1. Step 1: Determine Total Rise

   • 0:04–0:30 Measure Total Rise
   • 2:54–4:34 Determine the Total Rise
   • 0:54–1:25 Calculate Final Total Rise

2. Step 2: Calculate Ideal Riser Height

   • 0:29–1:07 Calculate Rise and Run
   • 4:32–5:10 Calculate Individual Riser Height
   • 0:28–1:03 Calculate Approximate Number of Risers

3. Step 3: Determine Actual Riser Height

   • 4:32–5:10 Calculate Individual Riser Height (this video)
   • 1:03–1:44 Calculate Riser Height (Option 1)
   • 0:28–1:03 Calculate Approximate Number of Risers

4. Step 4: Determine Number of Treads (Steps)

   • 0:54–1:13 Determine Number of Treads
   • 3:54–5:04 Calculate the Number of Treads and Understand the Logic
   • 8:59–9:54 Calculate Number of Risers and Treads

5. Step 5: Measure Total Run

   • 1:31–2:57 Calculate Unit Run and Total Run
   • 1:13–1:29 Calculate Total Run
   • 9:54–10:28 Determine Tread Run and Total Run

6. Step 6: Calculate Actual Tread Run

   • 0:29–1:07 Calculate Rise and Run
   • 1:31–2:57 Calculate Unit Run and Total Run
   • 10:55–11:31 Calculate Overall Run (Treads)