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What is the legal height of a step?

2 min read

Asked by: Trina Brown

1009.4. 2 Riser height and tread depth. Stair riser heights shall be 7 inches (178 mm) maximum and 4 inches (102 mm) minimum. The riser height shall be measured vertically between the leading edges of adjacent treads.

What is the maximum height of a step?

The maximum height of a riser is 7-3/4 inches according to the International Residential Code (IRC 311.7. 5.1), as measured between the leading edges of adjacent treads. Also, the maximum allowable variation between riser heights is 3/8 inch.

What is the standard height for a step?

7 ¾ inches

Riser Heights
In the United States, the step height standard should be between 7 or 7 ¾ inches at the most, and no less than 4 inches.

What is the legal step height in Australia?

The Australian Standard contains detailed advice on steps, stairs, landings, guard rails and so on: Rises and goings: All rises (R) and all goings (G), in the same flight of stairs, shall be of uniform dimensions within a tolerance of +/-5mm. For each rise: minimum 130mm, maximum 225mm.

Is an 8 inch step too high?

Building codes in many areas define maximum step height and minimum tread width, but in areas where it is not defined, Council of American Building Officials and International Code Council both recommend the rise to be no more than 7.75 inches and runs to be no less than 10 inches.

What is a comfortable step height?

→ stair will be comfortable. Rule one says that rise plus run (r+R) should equal 18 inches. Why? That’s what most people find to be a comfortable stride on most stairs. You can cheat a bit up or down, but below 17” and more than 19” will result in steps that require strides either too big or too small for most people.

What is the standard size of a stair step?

Most stair treads measure between 8 and 10 inches long, with longer treads being used on larger staircases. Nine-inch stair treads are the most common lengths. To determine the length you need, simply measure from the back of the step to the front of the step.

What is the riser on a step?

The riser is the vertical surface of the stair. The tread on the other hand is the horizontal surface of the stair and the part of the stair you step on. Nosing is the portion of the tread that overhangs the front of the riser.