A worked example of a compliant staircase (England)
Written by Scott Jones, The Stair Guys, independent staircase measuring and sourcing specialists·Last updated
Official documents give you the limits, a maximum rise here, a minimum going there, but they almost never show you a whole compliant stair with real numbers. So here is one, drawn out and tabled: a straightforward England private staircase where every figure sits inside Approved Document K.
| Measurement | This example | England (Approved Document K) |
|---|---|---|
| Floor to floor height | 2600mm | sets the number of risers |
| Risers | 13 at 200mm | 200mm rise is within the 220mm maximum |
| Going | 250mm | 220mm minimum |
| Pitch | 38.7 degrees | 42 degrees maximum |
| 2R plus G | 650mm | 550mm to 700mm |
| Headroom | 2m | 2m minimum |
| Width | your choice | no legal minimum for a private stair |
Why it passes
Run the checks and every one clears. The rise of 200mm is under the 220mm maximum, and the going of 250mm is over the 220mm minimum. Two rises plus one going comes to 2 times 200 plus 250, which is 650mm, comfortably inside the 550mm to 700mm range that makes a stair feel right underfoot. The pitch, the angle of the flight, is the rise over the going as an angle, which works out at 38.7 degrees, under the 42 degree maximum. Headroom is a clear 2m. And because it is a private stair, there is no legal minimum width to meet, only a sensible, usable one.
Your stair will have its own numbers
This is one compliant answer, not the only one. The starting point is always your floor-to-floor height, because that fixes how many risers you need: 2600mm over 13 risers gives 200mm each, but a taller floor-to-floor needs more risers, and the rise and going then have to be set so the pitch and 2R plus G still land in range. That is exactly the sum an online box gets wrong when it does not know your real measurements. For the rules behind each figure see the building regulations overview and rise, going and pitch. The figures differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check the nation you are building in.
Frequently asked
Can you give an example of a compliant staircase in England?+
Yes. A private staircase of 13 risers at 200mm rise, with a 250mm going, over a 2600mm floor-to-floor height, is compliant with Approved Document K. It gives a pitch of 38.7 degrees (under the 42 degree maximum), a 2R plus G of 650mm (inside the 550mm to 700mm range), and 2m headroom. There is no legal minimum width for a private stair.
How many steps do I need for a 2.6m floor-to-floor height?+
About 13 risers. Dividing a 2600mm floor-to-floor height by 13 gives a 200mm rise per step, which is within the 220mm England maximum. Fewer risers would make each one too tall; the rise per step must stay at or below the maximum, so the floor-to-floor height sets the minimum number of risers.
What rise and going should a staircase have in the UK?+
For a private stair in England, a rise up to 220mm and a going of at least 220mm, set so the pitch stays at or below 42 degrees and two rises plus one going falls between 550mm and 700mm. A common, comfortable combination is around a 200mm rise with a 250mm going. Scotland and Northern Ireland use different figures, so check the nation you are building in.
Related guides
- UK Staircase Building Regulations, ExplainedThe building regulations for stairs in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, in plain English. Rise, going, pitch, headroom, guarding and handrails, every figure sourced.
- Staircase headroom: how much you need and how to check itHow much headroom a staircase needs under UK building regulations: the 2 metre rule, the reduced loft-conversion allowance, where headroom is tightest, and how to check it properly.
- Staircase handrail requirements: height, sides and gripWhat UK building regulations require of a staircase handrail: the 900mm to 1000mm height, when you need one side or both, and why a wall-mounted rail needs proper clearance and grip.
- Staircase guarding and balustrade: height and the 100mm ruleWhat UK building regulations require of staircase guarding and balustrade: where it is needed, the 900mm height, the 100mm sphere gap rule, and why it must not be easy for a child to climb.
- Private staircase dimensions: rise, going and pitchThe rise, going and pitch rules for a private (domestic) staircase in the UK, the 2R+G formula, why every rise must be equal, and the simple going = rise divided by 0.9 rule of thumb that keeps a stair within 42 degrees.
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