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How to Accurately Measure Stairs for Carpet

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If you have decided that you do not want hardwood stairs, then you will most likely want to cover them with carpeting. To determine how much carpet you will need for this task, you will have to properly measure the stairs to get accurate dimensions. While you do not want to over buy your materials, you do not want to under buy either. As you are measuring your stairs, you cannot simply measure the length of your stairs and multiply by the width. That type of measurement would cover a ramp, but you need to cover the stairs and the risers, and you also need to allow for covering the lip of the stairs. Instead, you will need to measure each portion of the stair step as well as each portion of the landing and then add everything together. So, to get an accurate measurement, you will need to go through a couple of different calculations.

Calculate Length

Starting at the top of your stairs, measure the length of one step. Then measure the rise of the step, which is the actual part of the stairs that you stand on. To get an accurate measurement, start your measuring tape at the deepest point of the step, and make sure that it comes out past the tip. Then you want the height of the step, or the fall of the step. This is the back part of the stair step. Measure from one riser to the next. Now add these two measurements, rise and fall, together plus two inches to account for padding and any curvature. Then count the number of stairs with this dimension and multiply. If you have other steps with different dimensions, go through the same steps to measure them, add two inches and multiply by the number of steps. Then add the different groups of steps together to get your total. Remember that your total will be in inches, and you will very likely be ordering your carpet by the yard, so do not forget to convert your measurement before you place your order.

Calculate Width

To properly measure the width of your step, begin with the widest step on the staircase. Even if some stairs are narrower, you will always want to measure the widest step. Since the carpet for each step is not cut separately, your measurement will have to accommodate the widest point in your staircase. Then add two inches to this dimension to allow for padding.

General Calculations

To measure a staircase that is uniform all of the way down, you can simply gather the dimension of one riser and add it to the fall plus two inches. Then multiply it by the number of stairs. Then measure the landings and add to your step measurement. Measure the width at the widest point, and your measurements will be complete. If you want to calculate your measurement from inches to yards, simply divide the total number of inches by 36 since there are 36 inches in a yard.

Once your stairway is beautified with new carpet, add some decorative flair to the stairway walls with abstract wall decor for a modern look or fleur de lis art if you prefer a more traditional look.