How to measure stairs for carpet

Once you’ve decided that you want to redecorate your stairs and have come to the conclusion that carpet is the best option, you are now faced with the challenge of how to measure carpet properly.

Measuring for a stair carpet can be a daunting task, but fear not! We’ve put together a handy how to which should easily guide you through the process. Everything from how to measure stairs to the perfect stair carpet measurements.

For best results, we always recommend hiring a professional. Take a look at our carpet fitting cost guide to get an idea of what to budget.

Tools required for the job

• Tape measure
• Paper
• Ruler
• Pencil

How to measure a stair carpet

Step 1: Start with counting

Depending on whether you have a straight or curved set of stairs, these will have to be measured accurately. Measuring stairs for carpet is no easy feat and it is a meticulous process.

Count how many stairs you have, separating straight and curved stairs, and make sure you write the numbers down on a piece of paper to keep note. The curved stairs will have to be measured individually as they will all be slightly different.

Step 2: Measuring straight stairs

Measure the entire step from the top steps riser, hold your measuring tape there, and drag your tape down the nose of the step all the way down the tread. Your straight stairs will be the same size so you don’t have to do this for every single step.

Step 3: Measuring curved stairs

Curved steps are a little harder to measure as every step will be different so will require more time. Go ahead and measure each curved step at its widest measurement from the inner corner of the narrow edge to the furthest point of of the widest edge.

Another measurement you’ll need is the back of the stair tread at its biggest point, all the way over and down the step.

Step 4: Time to add up

Once you’ve got your stair measurements, straight and curved, multiply this number by the amount of steps you have, this will be your length.

Step 5: Measure the width

Measure the width of your stairs to know how wide the piece of carpet must be. We recommend adding 5cm allowances to make sure you have some overhang available.

Need professional help?

Measuring your own stairs can come in handy as you can give your carpet fitter/retailer as much detail as possible. But, the likelihood is that a carpet fitter will want to come and measure up themselves.

If you’re thinking of choosing a patterned carpet this can be even trickier as the carpet fitter will want to match up the pattern. This will require more excess carpet so you will need to factor that into your costings.

Remember that you’ll also have to consider the price of underlay and fitting costs.

How to lay stair carpet

If you want to know how to fit a stair carpet and are wondering if you can do it, follow our steps on how to install carpet on stairs.

For best results, we do recommend hiring a local carpet fitter.

Step 1: Install carpet grips

Cut your carpet grips 1cm shorter than the width of your carpet and fix them to the back of each tread, leaving a little gap.

Use a hammer to secure the gripper to the step. Then fix another strip of grips to the riser making sure the barbs are angled down facing the tread.

Repeat this on every step.

Step 2: Time for underlay

Cut a piece of underlay to fit each step and secure it into place. Make sure your underlay is the right way up with the non-spongy side facing upwards.

Step 3: Lay out your carpet

Start at the bottom, place the roll of carpet on the first step, and push the carpet onto the barbs of the grippers. Pull it upwards to create tension with the barbs and then staple the base of the carpet to the base of the riser to hold it securely in place.

Step 4: Fix your carpet

Pull your carpet up over your first step keeping it as tight as you can. Use a knee kicker to stretch it and push it down over the gripper on the back of the read, making sure it’s firmly in place.

Continue to work your way up until you get to the top of your stairs.