How To Measure Stairs & Landing For Carpet? Step-by-Step Guide

Carpeting your stairs and landing can elevate your home’s comfort and aesthetics while providing protection from daily wear and tear. However, before you can install the perfect carpet, accurate measurements are essential. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about measuring stairs and landing for carpet, from the tools you need to the exact steps involved. Whether you’re working with straight, L-shaped, or curved stairs, this guide will help you measure like a pro.

Tools You’ll Need to Measure Stairs and Landing for Carpet

The first step of the process is to take precise measurements of your stairs and record them on paper so the carpet manufacturer knows what you need. This part doesn’t require any specialized equipment, but you should have:

• A notebook
• Pencil
• Tape measure 
• A ruler
• A camera
• Painter’s tape
• Helper (Optional)

Key Things to Remember When Measuring Stairs for Carpet

A few items to keep in mind when measuring your stairs for carpeting include:

3 Parts to Measure

When measuring for stair carpet, you’ll need to focus on three key components of each step:

1. Tread: The horizontal part of the step where your foot lands.
2. Riser: The vertical section between each step.
3. Nosing: The part of the tread that extends over the riser. Be sure to include this measurement, as it can significantly impact the amount of carpet needed.

Measure from the Top Down

The stairway carpet is installed from the top down, so make sure to present measurements that detail elements at the top of the stairway first.

Measure Your Landings

Be sure to include any half-landings midway up the stairs and the landing at the top of the stairs. Record the width of the landings as well, as you’ll usually want to carpet them along with the stairs.

Include Doors and Alcoves

Make note of any doorways, alcoves, or other irregularities that may affect the amount of carpet you need. These are easy to overlook, but forgetting to measure them can throw off your calculations.

Step-by-Step Guide to Measure and Calculate Carpet for Stairs and Landing

Now that you have your tools and know what to focus on, let’s dive into the step-by-step process of measuring your stairs and landing for carpet. Follow these instructions carefully to ensure precision.

Step 1. Measure the Tread, Riser, and Nosing

1. Measure the width of each stair. You should measure at two points on each step: the part close to the nosing and the part close to the riser leading up to the next step. In rare cases, the width of these two parts of the step may differ slightly. Remember to start measuring from the top step.
2. Measure the depth (tread) of each stair.
3. Measure the height (riser) of each stair.
4. Measure the nosing (the edge of each tread that protrudes past the riser) of each stair.

5. Calculate the total carpet needed for each stair.

You should measure each step separately, as the measurements may differ in old houses or on curved stairways.

Calculate the Total Height of the Stairs: Combine the tread width and the riser height, then add 5cm for fitting and trimming. Multiply this total by the number of steps.

Tread width (20cm) + Riser height (12cm) + 5cm allowance = 37cm

Measure the Stair Width: Measure the width of the stairs from left to right, adding 5cm to each side for trimming.Stair width (80cm) + 10cm allowance = 90cm

Calculate the Total Carpet Needed for Each Step: Multiply the total height (37cm) by the stair width (90cm).

Measurement per step:
37cm × 90cm = 3,330cm² (0.333m²) per step

6. Add up all the step measurements to get a total.

Calculate the Total Number of Steps: Multiply the measurement per step by the total number of steps to get the total area needed for the entire staircase.

Example:
3,330cm² × [number of steps] = Total stairway carpet area.

Step 2. Measure the Landing

1. Measure the width and length of the landing and of any half-landings on the stairs just as you would measure a normal room.
2. For half landings, measure the width across the landing. Then, measure the length of the landing, including the drop over the step down to the back of the next tread.

3. Calculate the total carpet area needed for the landing(s).

Calculate the Landing Dimensions: Measure the width and length of the landing, then add a 10cm allowance (5cm on each side) for trimming.

Width (90cm) + 10cm allowance = 100cm
Length (110cm) + 10cm allowance = 120cm (including the riser height)

=> The carpet piece you’ll need for the landing is 100cm x 120cm.

Step 3. Calculate the Total Carpet Needed

1. Total up the amount of carpet you need for stairs and landing.
2. Add 10% to your total to account for calculation errors. It’s better to order too much carpet than too little. Make sure to note that you added 10%.
3. Draw a blueprint of your stairs, complete with numbered measurements and any other features like alcoves present on the stairs.

How to Measure Curved or Spiral Stairs for Carpet

Curved or spiral stairs require extra attention, as each step might have slightly different dimensions. Here’s how to measure these tricky areas:

1. Measure Each Step Individually:
   • Measure the width of the tread at the front (widest part), the back (narrowest part), and the longest diagonal. Write down all these dimensions for each step.
   • For risers and nosing, measure as you would for straight stairs.
2. Sketch the Staircase: Draw a rough sketch of the staircase, noting the different measurements for each curved step. This will help you or your installer cut the carpet more accurately.

Combine the tread width and riser height, then add a 10cm allowance (5cm for each side) for trimming.

Tread width + Riser height (40cm) + 10cm allowance = 50cm

Tread width (110cm) + 10cm allowance = 120cm

The carpet piece you’ll need for this winder is 50cm x 120cm.

How to Measure Stairs with a Turn for Carpet

For L-shaped stairs, you just need to note in your measurements that the stairs take a 90-degree turn after the landing.

For stairs like spiral staircases that curve without a landing, you need to mark down which steps are curved and mark down the width at the front, back, and longest diagonal for each of those steps. Make sure to take detailed photos in these cases.

How Much Does It Cost to Carpet Stairs and Landing?

Cost varies depending on:

• Carpet material quality.
• Carpet measurements (per square meter).
• Cutting complexity. It will be more if you have a spiral staircase, for example.
• Staircase design.

To calculate the total amount of carpet needed, follow this formula:

• Total Stair Area = (Tread Depth + Riser Height) × Stair Width × Number of Steps
• Total Landing Area = Landing Width × Landing Length
• Total Carpet Needed = Total Stair Area + Total Landing Area

Tip: Always add 10% to the final figure to account for mistakes or waste. It’s better to have extra carpet than to fall short.

Read more: Choose best carpet for stair runners

Carpet Cost Estimate for Stairs and Landing

The cost of carpeting stairs and landings depends on several factors, including:

• Carpet Material: Wool and Tencel are on the higher end, while synthetic materials like nylon or polyester are more affordable.
• Staircase Design: Straight staircases are easier and cheaper to carpet than curved or spiral stairs, which require more precise cutting and fitting.

Cost Estimate Example:

• Straight Staircase: A standard straight staircase with 12 steps might need about 7 to 10 square meters of carpet. With average pricing, the cost could range from £200 to £400, depending on material.
• Curved Staircase: For a curved staircase, the cost could increase by 20-30% due to the complexity of the cuts and fitting.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Measuring for Carpet

Don’t fall into any of these traps that are common when measuring stairs for carpets!

• “Eyeballing it” – Remember that stair measurements need to be extremely precise! You should never take down a measurement without using a tape measure and verifying it.
• Forgetting about nosing – Neglecting to account for the nosing on each stair, including its curvature, will throw off the entire measurement. The additional measurement may seem small, but it will add up when accounting for every step.
• Disregarding doorways and alcoves – Irregularities like doorways and alcoves on the stairs often have a huge effect on the size and type of carpeting needed, and we’ve seen lots of cases where people forget to make note of all of them.
• Only measuring one stair – This one should be obvious, but many people just measure the tread, riser, and nosing for a single step, then multiply it by the number of steps (e.g., ‘x16’ for 16 steps).
• Doing it yourself (usually) – As mentioned, your carpet installer may come over and measure your stairs for free if you’re planning on buying from them, taking advantage of such a service is a surefire way to avoid mistakes.

Maintenance Tips for Stair and Landing Carpets

Keeping your stair and landing carpets clean and in good condition is essential. Here are some quick tips:

1. Regular Vacuuming: Vacuum at least twice a week to remove dirt and prevent wear on carpeted stairs and landings.
2. Immediate Spot Cleaning: Clean spills and stains right away using a mild carpet cleaner. Blot, don’t rub, to protect the carpet fibres.
3. Annual Professional Cleaning: Get your stair carpets professionally cleaned once a year to remove deep-seated dirt and allergens.
4. Use Doormats: Place doormats at entrances to reduce the amount of dirt brought into your home.
5. Protect High-Traffic Areas: Use carpet runners or mats on stairs to minimise wear and extend the life of your carpet.

Read more: Carpet and rug maintenance.

Choosing the Right Carpet for Stairs and Landing

Stairs and landings endure heavy foot traffic, so selecting the right carpet material is critical. Here are the best options:

• Wool: Wool carpets are durable, stain-resistant, and naturally soft. They offer excellent longevity and a luxurious feel underfoot, making them ideal for high-traffic areas like stairs.
• Tencel: Known for its silky texture and eco-friendly production, Tencel is a great choice for those looking for sustainability without sacrificing durability.

When choosing a colour, consider neutral tones like beige or grey to hide dirt and wear, or bold patterns to add character to the space. For more tips, head over to our post about choosing the best carpet.