Calculate Overall Run (Treads)
From How to Measure Stair Rise and Run · Step 6 of 6 · Video by Ultimate DIYer
Showing 10:55–11:31 of the source video. Watch the full video with every moment.
What happens in this clip
To find the 'Overall Run' (the total horizontal length your staircase will occupy), multiply your total number of treads by the 'Ideal Tread Width'. The ideal tread width is typically 10 inches, and you should aim not to go under 9 inches. Using our example of 13 steps with an 11-inch tread width (which you might choose for comfort or space availability), the overall run would be 13 steps multiplied by 11 inches, resulting in 143 inches (or 11 feet 11 inches). If you opted for the 'drop the stringer' attachment method (reducing your steps from 13 to 12), then the calculation for the overall run would be 12 steps multiplied by 11 inches.
Goal: Determine the total horizontal length of the staircase (overall run)
What's used
Tools
- Construction Calculator Construction Master
About the full video
This video provides a comprehensive guide on understanding the terminology, math, and layout techniques required to cut stair stringers for building stairs. It covers basic definitions like stringer, unit run (tread), unit rise, stair slope, and overall rise, along with crucial considerations for finished floors. The video demonstrates the use of essential carpentry tools for accurate layout, including a framing square with stair gauges, and explains the mathematical calculations for determining the number of steps, individual rise, and overall run. It also touches on common pitfalls and building code variances, making it a foundational lesson for anyone undertaking stair construction.
What's said in this clip
reduced from 13 to 12. let's take a quick look at the Treads the ideal tread width is going to be 10 inches and you want to try not to go under 9 inches so if you want to know your overall length of your Stringer you're going to need to multiply your steps times your tread in our example we're going to go ahead and use an 11 inch tread if we use 11 inch tread we're going to take 13 times 11 and that's going to give us our total of 143 inches or 11 foot 11 inches that is going to be for like method number one if we attach our Stringer as in method number two it would be an even 11 foot so to be clear this is an instructional
Automatically transcribed from the source video.
Step 6 of 6: Calculate Actual Tread Run
Using the total run and the number of treads, divide the total run by the number of treads to calculate the precise depth of each individual tread. For the example of a 120-inch total run and 12 treads, the actual tread run would be 120 inches / 12 treads = 10 inches per tread.
Every video in How to Measure Stair Rise and Run
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
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
Step 3: Determine Actual Riser Height
- 4:32–5:10 Calculate Individual Riser Height
- 1:03–1:44 Calculate Riser Height (Option 1)
- 0:28–1:03 Calculate Approximate Number of Risers
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
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
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) (this video)
How to Measure Stair Rise and Run
This project outlines the process for accurately measuring the rise and run of stairs, a critical step in stair construction, renovation, or repair.
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