How many stairs in a flight?

Well, the title is a bit misleading. People sometimes talk about stairs in a flight, but really we’re talking about answering the question, how many steps in a flight of stairs?

The number of steps in a flight of stairs is governed by various factors and regulations. When building a staircase, there are different rules for different applications. Private (residential) stairs have the most relaxed rules, as you would expect, and fire escapes have the most stringent.

At first, it might seem like a “how long is a piece of string?” question, however, there are specific rules that govern the number of stairs in a flight along with turns and landings.

What is a flight of stairs?

A “flight of stairs” refers to a continuous series of steps that connects one level or floor to another without any interruptions, such as landings or platforms. Essentially, it’s the uninterrupted stretch of steps you climb or descend in one go before reaching a landing or a flat surface.

For example, if you climb a set of stairs from the ground floor to the first floor without stopping on a landing, that entire section of steps is considered as one flight of stairs. If there’s a landing in between, the stairs would be divided into two separate flights.

How long is a flight of stairs?

So, is there a maximum number of steps in a flight of stairs…or a minimum?

If there are too many steps in a single flight (without being broken up by landings) it can be tiring to walk up, disorientating to walk down, and if there’s a fall, it increases the risk that there will be a serious injury. Too few and the staircase will take up significantly more space, as well as being slower to ascend and descend.

Most flights of stairs average out at 12 or 13 steps but it depends on the height of the staircase, the location of the stairs (as stair height regulations differ between public and private buildings and between countries), and the purpose of a staircase (as fire escapes have more specific rules than other sorts of stairs).

The length of a flight of stairs can vary based on several factors, such as the height it needs to cover, building codes, and design preferences. However, there are some general guidelines:

1. Number of steps: a standard flight of stairs usually has between 13 to 15 steps; this can vary depending on the height of the floor or the specific design of the staircase; your local building codes impact the number of steps and other dimensions; a minimum number of steps is not defined however a maximum number of steps is stipulated in the building code (i.e. public stairs might require a maximum number of steps and impose a landing in between for older persons to rest on before continuing)
2. Rise and run: the “rise” refers to the height of each step, and the “run” is the depth (or tread) of each step; the standard rise is usually around 7 to 8 inches (18 to 20 cm), and the run is typically around 10 to 11 inches (25 to 28 cm)
3. Total height: the height a standard flight of stairs covers (from one floor to another) usually ranges from 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 meters), depending on the building
4. Total length: the length of a standard flight of stairs is the horizontal distance from the start of the first step to the end of the last step; for a standard 8 to 9-foot ceiling height with typical step dimensions, the length might be around 10 to 14 feet (3 to 4.3 meters)

Keep in mind that these are general estimates, and the exact length of a flight of stairs can vary based on local building codes, the specific design, and the purpose of the staircase.

The following diagram shows the main regulations for private stairs. This article references UK regulations. Please make sure you confirm the latest regulations for your location.

General requirements

This gives a maximum pitch for a private stair of 42 degrees.

The PlanningPortal.gov.uk’s PDF guide to building stairs stipulates that private homes with more than 36 risers in a flight of stairs have at least one change of direction, with a landing that has a minimum length equal to the width of the stairs. Note that these are the minimal legal requirements and you might want to consider adding a landing for shorter flights of stairs too.

For buildings other than private homes, you can only have 16 risers for utility stairs, or 12 for fire escapes (16 in exceptional circumstances where there is a restricted amount of space). There should not be any single steps and each riser should be the same height.

Why a building code?

Building codes for stairs define the meaning of safe and accessible stair construction by setting regulations on dimensions, such as riser height, tread depth, and stair width. These codes inform proper stair design, ensuring uniformity, adequate handrails, and guardrails.

They also emphasize the importance of structural integrity and accessibility, making stairs safe and functional for everyone. Ultimately, building codes ensure that stairways are built with a clear purpose, where safety and accessibility hold significant meaning in construction standards.

Other stair design questions

We offer expert technical advice including a full range of videos, models and guides available on our website, our technical support forum and 1-2-1 training sessions.

Regardless of how many steps are in your flight, there’s an easy way to take the stress out of designing them. StairDesigner is a parametric design tool that is quicker and more reliable than drawing by hand or using a CAD programme.

It allows you to put in control values for your staircase elements and will recommend the correct number of steps to use thanks to its building wizard.

All you do is enter the exact measurements of your project (so that you can be sure the staircase takes up just the right amount of space) and start designing. You can save precious time by dropping in and resizing pre-configured elements straight from our Quick Design libraries and from StairDesigner’s user interface.

When your design is finished, you can instantaneously create 2D and 3D models so that you can show your clients what the staircase will look like in the room.

Cut costs, not corners

You might be wondering how much StairDesigner costs but it’s actually much less than similar professional software and we believe that it will pay for itself in next to no time.

How?

• Saving you time on design and editing so that you can complete each design and output the manufacturing details quicker and move onto the next job faster
• Cutting out costly workshop errors
• Automatically updating any changes to materials (i.e. changing oak to beech or mahogany or increasing the width of the staircase) which will prevent under-budgeting and waste of materials
• Automatically calculating a running total for your clients so that nothing is left off the bill

Using StairDesigner without buying it!

StairDesigner has a free version which allows you to design in full.

It doesn’t however give you the cut list, the plans, the 1:1 templates or the files to run your CNC router.

So here are your options…

Buy the software

All manufacturing output is fully integrated. Click here for more details on StairDesigner.

Use the free version and sign up for Premium Support

Create your stair with the free version of the software, all design features included. Once you’ve finished your design we’ll process the file and send you back the manufacturing details you need to build it.

You also have access to all resources, expert stair advice on our forum and via screen share sessions. To find out more, go to our StairFile service page.

If you’d like to get started designing stairs without the stress, then why not try download StairDesigner today?