Stair stringer layout diagrams for common heights
Six stairs worked out end to end. Each shows the marked 2x12, the finished stair from the side, and the numbers you set on the framing square. Open any of them in the tool to change the run, lumber or tread.
36″ deck (5 risers)
30″ deck (4 risers)
48″ deck (7 risers)
8 ft floor (14 risers)
Stringer spacing plan
3 stringers at 17 1/4 in o.c.
36 in stair width · 16 in max spacing
Tread & riser cut list
4 treads · exact rip width
Full boards + back board rip width
Lumber shopping list
1 × 2x12 · 2 × 5/4x6 boards
Est. material total: $184
18 in step-down 30 in deck 36 in deck 48 in deck 60 in deck 8 ft 9 1/4 in floor to floor
A low deck or a patio step-down. The stringers are short enough that two come out of one 6 ft board.
2 notches, 6″ rise by 10 1/2″ run, cut from a 6 ft 2x12
1
2
run 10 1/2″
rise 6″
throat 6 1/16″
26 11/16″ cut length · 6 ft 2x12
29.7° mark 0
drop 5″
The 2x12 as you mark it: crown up, notches numbered from the bottom, end cuts in red.
3 risers of 6″ and 2 treads of 10 1/2″ climbing 18″ over 21″
deck
total run 21″
total rise 18″
each step 6″ riser × 10 1/2″ tread
Installed, with treads and riser boards.
Risers × height 3 × 6″ Treads × depth 2 × 10 1/2″ Total run 21″ Pitch 29.7° Bottom drop 5″ Throat 6 1/16″ Cut length 26 11/16″ from a 6 ft 2x12
Stride 2R+T = 22.5 in: Short steps: feels shuffly. A deeper tread or taller riser walks better. Pitch 29.7°: Shallow. Fine outdoors, but takes a lot of run.
The most common backyard deck height, right at the IRC line: walking surfaces more than 30 in above grade need guards.
3 notches, 7 1/2″ rise by 10 1/2″ run, cut from a 6 ft 2x12
1
2
3
run 10 1/2″
rise 7 1/2″
throat 5 1/8″
42 1/2″ cut length · 6 ft 2x12
35.5° mark 0
drop 6 1/2″
The 2x12 as you mark it: crown up, notches numbered from the bottom, end cuts in red.
4 risers of 7 1/2″ and 3 treads of 10 1/2″ climbing 30″ over 31 1/2″
deck
total run 31 1/2″
total rise 30″
each step 7 1/2″ riser × 10 1/2″ tread
Installed, with treads and riser boards.
Risers × height 4 × 7 1/2″ Treads × depth 3 × 10 1/2″ Total run 31 1/2″ Pitch 35.5° Bottom drop 6 1/2″ Throat 5 1/8″ Cut length 42 1/2″ from a 6 ft 2x12
A typical first-floor walkout deck on flat ground.
4 notches, 7 3/16″ rise by 10 1/2″ run, cut from a 6 ft 2x12
1
2
3
4
run 10 1/2″
rise 7 3/16″
throat 5 5/16″
54 7/16″ cut length · 6 ft 2x12
34.4° mark 0
drop 6 3/16″
The 2x12 as you mark it: crown up, notches numbered from the bottom, end cuts in red.
5 risers of 7 3/16″ and 4 treads of 10 1/2″ climbing 36″ over 42″
deck
total run 42″
total rise 36″
each step 7 3/16″ riser × 10 1/2″ tread
Installed, with treads and riser boards.
Risers × height 5 × 7 3/16″ Treads × depth 4 × 10 1/2″ Total run 42″ Pitch 34.4° Bottom drop 6 3/16″ Throat 5 5/16″ Cut length 54 7/16″ from a 6 ft 2x12
A raised deck; the stringer gets long enough that a center support at mid-span is worth adding.
6 notches, 6 7/8″ rise by 10 1/2″ run, cut from a 8 ft 2x12
1
2
3
4
5
6
run 10 1/2″
rise 6 7/8″
throat 5 1/2″
78 7/16″ cut length · 8 ft 2x12
33.1° mark 0
drop 5 7/8″
The 2x12 as you mark it: crown up, notches numbered from the bottom, end cuts in red.
7 risers of 6 7/8″ and 6 treads of 10 1/2″ climbing 48″ over 63″
deck
total run 63″
total rise 48″
each step 6 7/8″ riser × 10 1/2″ tread
Installed, with treads and riser boards.
Risers × height 7 × 6 7/8″ Treads × depth 6 × 10 1/2″ Total run 63″ Pitch 33.1° Bottom drop 5 7/8″ Throat 5 1/2″ Cut length 78 7/16″ from a 8 ft 2x12
A tall deck on sloping ground. Check the throat and plan a solid landing pad.
7 notches, 7 1/2″ rise by 10 1/2″ run, cut from a 10 ft 2x12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
run 10 1/2″
rise 7 1/2″
throat 5 1/8″
94 1/8″ cut length · 10 ft 2x12
35.5° mark 0
drop 6 1/2″
The 2x12 as you mark it: crown up, notches numbered from the bottom, end cuts in red.
8 risers of 7 1/2″ and 7 treads of 10 1/2″ climbing 60″ over 73 1/2″
deck
total run 73 1/2″
total rise 60″
each step 7 1/2″ riser × 10 1/2″ tread
Installed, with treads and riser boards.
Risers × height 8 × 7 1/2″ Treads × depth 7 × 10 1/2″ Total run 73 1/2″ Pitch 35.5° Bottom drop 6 1/2″ Throat 5 1/8″ Cut length 94 1/8″ from a 10 ft 2x12
An 8 ft ceiling plus a 2x10 floor system: the classic basement stair.
14 notches, 7″ rise by 10 1/2″ run, cut from a 16 ft 2x12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
run 10 1/2″
rise 7″
throat 5 7/16″
180 1/8″ cut length · 16 ft 2x12
33.8° mark 0
drop 6″
The 2x12 as you mark it: crown up, notches numbered from the bottom, end cuts in red.
15 risers of 7″ and 14 treads of 10 1/2″ climbing 105 1/4″ over 147″
deck
total run 147″
total rise 105 1/4″
each step 7″ riser × 10 1/2″ tread
Installed, with treads and riser boards.
Risers × height 15 × 7″ Treads × depth 14 × 10 1/2″ Total run 147″ Pitch 33.8° Bottom drop 6″ Throat 5 7/16″ Cut length 180 1/8″ from a 16 ft 2x12
Adapting an example to your stair
Real decks rarely land on a round number. Measure your rise after the landing pad is set, open the closest example in the tool, and type your exact figure; fractions like 35 5/8 work. If your run is tight, switch to setting the number of treads instead and check that each tread still clears 10 in.
See how to mark and cut the board , or the rise and run table for every inch from 12 to 150.