How to Measure Stairs for Carpet Padding

Some homeowners like the look of bare wood stairs, but others prefer soft, non-slip carpeting underfoot. If you're in the latter group and plan to install carpeting on your stairs, you'll need a carpet pad underneath just like on a flat floor. The carpet pad prevents excessive wear of the carpeting and provides cushioning. Because you don't need to install padding on the risers, you measure for padding differently than for carpeting.

Tape measure

Instructions

- 1
  Position the tape measure at the edge of a lower step where it meets a wall or the railing and hold the end down firmly. Stretch the tape across the horizontal plane to the other edge. Write down the width of the step. Use this measurement to order the padding, which comes in rolls of several different widths to accommodate the width of stair treads.
- 2
  Place the end of the tape measure on top of the stair tread, at the back where it meets the riser if the carpeting will be installed with adhesive. Place it at the front edge of the carpet tack strip if you're using that installation method. Measure forward to the front rounded lip of the step and then proceed down by at least 3 inches. Write down this measurement, which corresponds to the length of carpet padding required for a single step.
- 3
  Count the number of steps in the staircase and multiply your length measurement by the number of stairs. Then divide the number by 36 to arrive at the number of yards of carpet runner padding required for the stairs.

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