How Does This Calculator Work?
The calculator divides the total vertical rise of the staircase by your target riser height, then rounds to the nearest whole number of steps — since riser height typically adjusts slightly to divide evenly.
Getting riser height right is critical for a comfortable, code-compliant staircase. This calculator tells you how many steps you'll need for a given total rise and target riser height.
Example Calculation
Basement Stairs Example
A 108 inch total rise, target 7.5 inch risers.
108 ÷ 7.5 = 14.4, rounded to 14 steps (riser height then re-adjusts to 108/14 ≈ 7.71 in each).
Tips
Most residential building codes limit riser height to a maximum of about 7.75 inches — check your local code before finalizing a design.