How to Measure Stair Risers for Peel-and-Stick Stickers
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Measure each riser from the top of the step below it to the underside of the lip (nosing) above it, at the left, middle and right. Use the smallest height for that riser, and measure its width wall to wall. Do this for every step. Stairs in older homes and basements are rarely all the same.
This guide is for anyone ordering peel-and-stick stair riser stickers. Our strips come 48" long in standard heights from 5" to 8", and we can make custom heights and lengths when you ask. Ten minutes with a tape measure now saves you from a sticker that's a quarter inch too tall.
What you need
- A tape measure (a rigid steel one is easier than a fabric one)
- A pencil and the worksheet below, or your phone's notes app
- A flashlight for dark stairwells
Step 1: Find the height you can actually cover
The riser is the vertical face of each step. Most stairs have a lip (the nosing) that sticks out over the riser. Measure from the top of the tread below up to the underside of that lip, not to the top of the step. The lip overhangs the riser, so the sticker can't go behind it.
Building codes keep most home stairs in a narrow range. In Canada, private stairs in a home have a rise of 125–200 mm (about 5"–7⅞"). The US residential code caps risers at 7¾". So most risers you measure will land between 6" and 7¾".
Step 2: Measure left, middle and right
Risers are often out of level, especially in older houses. Measure the height at both ends and in the middle. Write down the smallest number: a sticker cut to the smallest height fits the whole riser. Trimming a sticker that's too tall is easy. Stretching one that's too short is not.
Step 3: Measure the width
Measure from wall to wall, or from the wall to the outer edge of the stringer on an open stair. Our standard strip is 48" long. Most indoor stairs are 36"–42" wide, so you'll trim the extra off with scissors or a utility knife.
Wider than 48"? You can butt two strips together, or overlap them slightly so the pattern lines up. Most of our patterns repeat, so the join is easy to hide. For very wide stairs, message us first and we'll talk about a custom length.
Step 4: Check every step, especially the bottom one
- The bottom step is often taller, shorter or wider than the rest, and sometimes it has a rounded (bullnose) end.
- The top riser may meet the floor of the upper landing at a different height.
- Landings and turns: steps either side of a landing, and wedge-shaped (winder) steps, usually differ.
- Old houses: we regularly make custom heights for 100-year-old stairs where every riser is different.
Step 5: Pick your size
Choose the standard height equal to or just above your smallest measurement and trim the rest. If your risers vary a lot, read the tip below before you order.
Tip: keep the pattern the same size on every step
Each design is printed to fit its strip height. A taller strip shows a slightly larger pattern than a shorter one. If you order different heights for different steps, the pattern size changes from step to step. One customer noticed exactly this. To keep every riser matching, order all your strips at the tallest height you need and trim the shorter risers down. Or ask us for a custom height that covers them all.
Measuring worksheet
| Step (bottom = 1) | Left height | Middle height | Right height | Smallest | Width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||||
| 2 | |||||
| 3 | |||||
| 4 | |||||
| 5 | |||||
| … |
How many do I order?
One strip per riser. Our stickers are sold individually, not as a set, so set the quantity to the number of risers you have. Count the risers (the vertical faces), not the treads. A straight flight between two floors usually has 12–14. We suggest adding one spare: printing can vary slightly between batches, so a spare from the same print run is better than reordering a single strip later.
Common questions
Should I include the lip in my measurement?
No. Measure to the underside of the lip. The sticker goes on the flat riser face beneath it.
My risers are 7.25". Which size do I pick?
Order 7.5" and trim about a quarter inch off the bottom edge, or ask us for 7.25" exactly.
Can you make a size that isn't listed?
Yes. Custom heights above 8" and custom lengths are no problem. Send us your measurements and we'll add the size to the listing for you.
Metric?
Measure in millimetres if you prefer. 1 inch = 25.4 mm. A 7" strip is about 178 mm and a 48" strip is about 1,220 mm.
Next: how to install stair riser stickers so the edges don't lift.