How to measure for a stair runner
Well Woven runners are made for hallways and stair paths. Use this guide to prepare a planning estimate, then have a qualified installer confirm the final measurements, material allowance, padding, and installation method before ordering.
Plan your measurements
Sketch each flight, landing, and turn
Draw each straight flight separately. Mark landings, 90° or 180° turns, pie-shaped steps, winders, curved sections, and where the runner should begin and end.
Count every covered tread
Count each horizontal step the runner will cover on every flight. Record landings separately; the floor at the top is not another tread unless the planned runner continues across it.
Measure the treads, risers, and nosing
Measure tread depth, riser height, and the shape and projection of the nosing. Check more than one step and record irregular top, bottom, or pie-shaped steps individually.
Build a straight-flight estimate
For a uniform straight flight, tread depth + riser height gives a planning estimate per covered step. Nosing, termination, installation style, and stair variation affect the final material requirement.
Measure width and plan placement
Measure the narrowest usable stair width and compare it with the widths offered for the selected runner. Note the preferred border on each side, balusters, trim, and any change in width along the path.
Record direction, repeat, and seams
Mark which way the design should face from the bottom of the stairs. Ask the installer to plan pattern centering, repeat, landing pieces, direction changes, seams, and finishing allowance.
Have the installer confirm the order quantity
Give the completed worksheet to a qualified installer. The installer should confirm the final path, material allowance, padding, surface preparation, transitions, and installation method before you choose the order length.
Confirm with your installer
Stair geometry and installation conditions determine the final material quantity. Ask a qualified installer to confirm:
- Final measurements for every straight flight, landing, turn, winder, and pie-shaped step
- Top and bottom termination, nosing treatment, pattern direction, repeat, seams, and finishing allowance
- Runner width and placement around trim, balusters, transitions, and changes in stair width
- Padding, surface preparation, and an installation method appropriate for the staircase
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the staircase's wall-along length (the diagonal up the wall) — that's the rake measurement, not the runner-path length, and it can materially understate the required length.
- Treating a quarter-turn or half-landing as a standard allowance instead of having the installer measure its actual path and seam plan.
- Ordering from the planning estimate before a qualified installer confirms the final length and installation method.
Stair runner planning worksheet
Use one copy for each staircase. Add extra flight sections as needed, then give the completed plan to your installer.
Planning worksheet — installer confirmation required before ordering.
Ready to order?
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Configure your runnerFrequently asked
Can I install a stair runner myself?
Well Woven runners are made for stair paths, but stair installation affects fit and safety. Have a qualified stair-runner installer confirm the plan, especially for landings, turns, pie-shaped steps, unusual nosing, or any condition the product instructions do not address.
Do I need a separate stair runner pad?
The answer depends on the runner construction, installation system, stair surface, pad product, and installer guidance. Have the installer specify any pad and confirm its documented floor and sizing compatibility.
What's the difference between waterfall and Hollywood install?
Waterfall installation drops from the tread edge toward the next riser; Hollywood installation contours the runner into the tread-and-riser corner. Compatibility and material allowance vary, so confirm the method with the product details and installer.
Will the same runner work on a quarter-turn or pie-step staircase?
Do not assume it will. Angled treads, seams, pattern alignment, and installation method require product-specific planning; have a qualified installer review the staircase and runner before ordering.
More measure guides
How to measure for a hallway runner
Many rooms look balanced with a border of bare floor around the runner, but the right margin depends on the hallway, doors, and widths the design offers.
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How to measure for a kitchen runner
Choose the part of the kitchen you want the runner to define, then measure that path without crossing appliance doors, cabinet clearance, or other moving parts.
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