Private staircase dimensions: rise, going and pitch
Written by Scott Jones, The Stair Guys, independent staircase measuring and sourcing specialists·Last updated
A private staircase, the everyday stair inside a home, is set out from three numbers: the rise (the height of each step), the going (how deep each step is front to back) and the pitch (how steep the whole thing is). Get these right and the stair walks comfortably and passes. Get them wrong and it is either uncomfortable, unsafe, or simply not allowed.
The numbers for England and Wales
- Going: at least 220mm. That is the usable depth of each step. In Scotland the minimum is 225mm.
- Rise: 150mm to 220mm, and critically every rise on a flight must be equal. An odd step at the top or bottom is a trip hazard and fails.
- 2R + G between 550mm and 700mm. Twice the rise plus the going has to land in that band. It is the formula that keeps rise and going in a comfortable relationship rather than one being traded off against the other.
- Pitch no steeper than 42 degrees. That is the maximum for a domestic stair.
The going and 42 degrees: a rule of thumb
There is a neat shortcut behind the 42 degree limit. 0.9 happens to be the tangent of 42 degrees, so if you take the rise and divide it by 0.9, you get the smallest going that still keeps the stair within 42 degrees. Round it up, never down, and you are safe on pitch.
Two things sit on top of that. First, there is a hard floor: the going cannot drop below 220mm however the sum works out, so you take whichever is larger, the rise divided by 0.9 or 220mm. For a 190mm rise, 190 divided by 0.9 is about 211mm, which is under 220, so it gets raised to 220. Second, that figure is the steepest you are allowed, not the target. A comfortable domestic stair is usually built around a 200mm rise and a 225mm going, opening the going out when there is room and only tightening back toward the limit when space forces it.
Why the finished floor matters
The rise is set out finished-floor to finished-floor, so the floor coverings at both ends, the tile, screed or carpet, have to be allowed for before the steps are worked out. Forget them and every rise shifts, the equal-rise rule breaks, and the top or bottom step ends up the wrong height. It is one of the most common ways a stair that looked right on paper fails in the house.
These figures are for a private domestic stair in England and Wales. General access and utility stairs, and the other three nations, use different numbers. For the full picture see the UK staircase building regulations guide.
Frequently asked
What are the maximum and minimum rise and going for a domestic staircase?+
For a private stair in England and Wales, each rise is 150mm to 220mm and the going is at least 220mm (225mm in Scotland). Twice the rise plus the going must be between 550mm and 700mm, and every rise on the flight must be equal.
What is the maximum pitch for a domestic staircase?+
42 degrees. A simple way to stay within it is to divide the rise by 0.9 (which is the tangent of 42 degrees) and round up to get the minimum going, then never go below the 220mm minimum going either. You take whichever of the two is larger.
What rise and going should a comfortable staircase actually use?+
The regulation figures are limits, not targets. A comfortable domestic stair is usually built around a 200mm rise and a 225mm going, opening the going out where there is room and only tightening toward the steepest allowed when space forces it.
Why do stair steps have to be exactly equal?+
Because an unequal step, especially at the top or bottom, is a trip hazard, and the equal-rise rule is a requirement, not a preference. It also means the finished floor coverings at both ends must be allowed for when the rise is set out, or the steps end up uneven.
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.
- Staircase building regulations: Northern IrelandThe staircase building regulations for Northern Ireland under Technical Booklet H (2012): rise, going, pitch, risers per flight, width, headroom, handrails and guarding, and how they differ from England, Wales and Scotland.
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