Measure Total Rise

What happens in this clip

The first step is to accurately measure the total vertical distance that the stairs will cover. Use a tape measure to measure from the top surface of the subfloor (or finished floor, depending on the final flooring material) on the lower level to the top surface of the subfloor (or finished floor) on the upper level. This measurement is crucial for calculating the rise and run of each step. In this video, the measurement is 109 inches.

Goal: Determine the overall vertical height the stairs need to span

What's used

Tools

• Tape Measure

About the full video

This project provides a step-by-step guide on how to build a flight of straight stairs, including measuring the total rise, calculating individual step dimensions, laying out and cutting stringers, installing structural supports, and finally installing the risers and treads.

Step 2 of 3: Measure the total run of the staircase

Extend the tape measure horizontally along the nosing of the stairs, from the vertical face of the bottom riser to the vertical face of the top riser. This horizontal distance is the total run of the staircase. If the stairs have a landing, you may need to measure the run in sections.

Open this step in the guide

Every video in How to Find the Angle of Your Stairs

1. Step 1: Measure the total rise of the staircase

   • 0:15–0:29 Measure Total Rise
   • 2:54–4:34 Determine the Total Rise
   • 0:01–0:28 Measure Total Vertical Rise

2. Step 2: Measure the total run of the staircase

   • 2:54–4:47 Measure Straight Stairs
   • 0:15–0:29 Measure Total Rise (this video)
   • 2:06–3:02 Measure Total Run

3. Step 3: Calculate the stair angle

   • 0:31–1:14 Retrieve Default Stair Parameters
   • 0:00–0:35 Understand and Calculate Stair Angles
   • 1:21–2:07 Determine Staircase Angle