measuring your stairs for treads

Let's start with a quick count of the individual stair treads on your staircase. Here’s a handy tip: you’ll always have one more riser (the vertical part) than you have treads (the flat part you step on). Once you have your count, gather these DIY-friendly tools: a good, rigid tape measure for accuracy, a carpenter's square for checking angles, a level, some masking tape, and a trusty pencil and notepad.

Working one step at a time, measure the depth. Place the end of your tape measure firmly against the riser (the vertical back of the step). Extend it straight across the tread surface and over the rounded front edge, known as the 'nosing.' It's absolutely critical for a perfect fit that your tape measure lies flat against the clean wood surface. Measuring over old carpet remnants or adhesive will give you an incorrect measurement, so be sure the surface is clear.

To measure the width, run your tape measure from side to side along the front edge of the step, keeping it parallel to the riser. If your stairs are between two walls, measure wall-to-wall. If one side is open, measure from the wall to your other boundary. To achieve that polished, intentional design, we recommend leaving a small border of exposed wood. For example, a standard 36-inch wide stair looks fantastic with a 34-inch tread, leaving a 1-inch border on each side.

In your notebook, create a simple chart and record the width and depth for each tread. It might seem tedious, but even stairs in newer homes can vary slightly. If you find a step with different dimensions, make a special note and number that step on your chart. For the ultimate peace of mind, especially when ordering our custom-made to fit treads, taking a quick photo of any unusual steps is a huge help. Remember the carpenter's rule: measure twice, order once!