How to Put a Carpet Runner on the Stairs Without Damaging the Stairs

Measure the width of your stairs. Subtract the width of the runner you're installing from the measurement. Assume the stair is 30 inches wide and the runner itself measures 26 inches, leaving 4 inches. Divide the remaining number by 2 to determine how much space to leave on each side of the step (2 inches on each side in this example). Mark these ends lightly with a pencil.

Cut tackless strips for each step that are 2 inches shorter than the width of the runner, which is 24 inches in the example. Place each strip 1 inch from the previous marks you made, which is 3 inches from the outside edges of the stair.

Place one strip against the back of the tread, the part you walk on, and one on the bottom of the riser, the part that goes up for each step, approximately 1/2 inch from where the tread and riser meet. Nail each strip down with nails spaced evenly apart.

Cut carpet padding the same width as the tackless strips with a carpet knife and allow 2 inches to hang over the edge of each step. Staple each piece of padding down with a staple gun.

Align the runner beginning with the bottom step. Place the square edge of the runner along the riser of the first step. Staple the runner to the stair riser with staples placed every 2 inches.

Pull the carpet tightly up and over the first step using a carpet stretcher for best results. Hook the carpet to the tackless strip on the first step and continue the process all the way up the steps, ensuring the runner is tightly pressed up against the back of each step.