Stair Parts Terminology Every DIYer Should Know

Stairs are a beautiful way to add character and function to any room or place. A staircase is not just a way to get from one floor to the next - it can be an iconic centrepiece in a home, or it may serve as an elegant entrance into your living room. But when it comes time for the build, you may find yourself lost in terms like "riser" or "stringer."

What are the parts of a stair? We all know that there are stairs, but many people don't know what's inside or how they are built, including the terminology. Stair parts terminology may differ depending on where you live - some people refer to them as steps, others call them risers and treads. If you're not sure what these terms mean, don't worry!

This post will help you learn the basics and make your stair-building a breeze. Let’s get you brushed up on your stair parts terminology!

Stringer 

Also known as a stringer board, this stair part is the housing you find on either side of a flight of stairs. It’s one of the most important parts of the stairs, as it’s a major structural member that supports both the treads and the risers.

As well as along the sides of the stairs, there can also be an extra stringer in the middle of the staircase - these are not always visible but can be seen on stairs with open sides. If you need to work out the stringer width or thickness, you can use a stair stringer calculator for a quick and accurate result.

The stringers can either be cut to the shape of each step or left uncut, in which case the edges of the treads are concealed.

 Tread 

One of the most important parts of a staircase is the tread - this is the horizontal part of the stairs that you walk on. The width of the tread will determine how wide each step will be on average. Sometimes the tread can also be known as the run or the going, so if you hear either of these terms, they mean the same thing.

Its length is measured from the outer edge of the step, which includes the nosing (this is the protruding edge of a stair), to the vertical portion of the stair called the riser. If nosing is present, you have to subtract its width from your measurement to get an accurate result of the total run of the stairs.

When measuring the total run of a staircase, the length of the tread above the last riser, which is usually a landing or the start of the general flooring, isn’t included in the measurement. It’s suggested that the tread should be approximately 10 inches or 25.4 cm.

Riser 

A rise or riser is the vertical side of each step and it’s crucial when you’re trying to build yourself a new set of stairs. Riser height is measured by the vertical rise of each step from one level to the next, from the top of one tread to the top of the next tread - for this, you have to exclude the thickness of the treads, though.

The number of risers, not the number of treads, is used to determine the number of steps that make a staircase; this will also equal the total rise of the staircase. These stair parts terminology are also relevant for making other floor-levelling components such as outdoor and indoor ramps - to calculate these measurements it’s best to use a specialised calculator like the one on fundly.

It’s suggested that as a general rule, the maximum height of a riser must be no more than 7.75 inches or 19.7 cm.

Nosing

As mentioned before, the nosing is the material that protrudes on the edge of each step and is commonly used to add a little extra room for people to stand on. The nosing usually handles the majority of the strain from people using the stairs, as its what’s stood on the most.

Not all steps have nosing, but for the ones that do, the nosing should be included in the length of the tread. Nosing should have a minimum length of 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) and be no more than 1.25 inches (3.2 cm)

Baluster 

Balusters are small, column-like posts that hold up the handrails and connect them to the tread of the stairs. Also known as spindles, these supports are to help contain people inside a staircase for safety.

Balusters must be installed close enough so that the space between them is no greater than 4 inches or 10.16 cm. For safety precautions, they should also be able to withstand 50 lbs (22.6 kg) of pressure exerted over a 1-square-foot area.

Don’t confuse these with newel posts, which are the big posts that fit at the top and bottom of staircases used as the central supporting pillar, as well as to support the handrail and add style.

Handrail

The handrail and railings are what run up either one or both sides of your staircase for users to hold onto when ascending or descending. These can sometimes have guardrails to minimise the risk of potentially falling over the side of the staircase.

If you hear guard, guardrail, handrail, or railings, these are all the same stair parts terminology - so don’t get confused. Railings are required to have a rise of at least 30 inches above the floor.

The guard has to be at least 34 or 86.36 cm in height from the top of the treads, with handrails between 34 (86.36 cm) and 38 inches (96.52cm) high measured from the top of the treads, with a diameter between 1.25 inches (3.18 cm) and 2.675 inches (6.79 cm).