Stair calculator
Building or drawing a stair? Enter the height between the two floor levels and you get, in one go, how many steps you need and how high and deep each one should be to feel comfortable to walk.
Rise 150–200 mm per Svensk Byggtjänst; most comfortable about 150–180 mm. Going at least 250 mm (indoors), 2 × rise + going ≈ 630 mm. Boverket’s rules (BFS 2024:9) require safe stairs but give no exact figures.
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An estimate, not a finished calculation – check against drawings, regulations and supplier data before pricing or ordering.
How to work out the stair
- Measure the total height the stair must span (mm).
- Enter a desired rise (often about 175 mm).
- See the number of steps, the actual rise and recommended going.
The comfort rule
A stair feels comfortable when 2 × rise + going is about 630 mm. If the steps are too high or too shallow the stair feels uncomfortable and can be unsafe.
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Frequently asked questions
- How do I work out the number of steps in a stair?
- Divide the total height by the desired rise (often about 175 mm) and round. The actual rise is the height divided by the number of steps.
- What is a comfortable rise?
- Often 150–180 mm. Lower steps are easier to walk but need more steps and more space, while high steps make the stair steep. It is the balance against the going that decides how comfortable it feels.
- What requirements apply to stairs?
- Boverket’s regulations on safety in use of buildings (BFS 2024:9), which replaced BBR on 1 July 2025, require stairs to be designed so people can move safely, including handrails and guarding. They no longer give exact figures for rise and going – rules of thumb such as a rise of at most about 180 mm and a going of at least 250 mm are commonly used. Check the requirements for your type of stair.
- Does it cost anything?
- No, the calculator is free and requires no account.