How to Calculate a Stair's Overall Rise

The rise of a staircase is the vertical distance between the bottom on the lowest riser and the top of the uppermost riser. Looked at another way, it's the distance from the floor level in the room where the stairs start to the floor level in the room where they finish. When calculating the overall rise, it is necessary to take account of the thickness of the upper floor, through which the stairs pass, as well as the distance between the lower floor and the ceiling.

Plumb line
Marker pen
Tape measure

Instructions

- 1
  Lower a plumb line from the uppermost point of the staircase so it hangs over the side of the stairs, with the weight just above the lower floor. You want the weight to be a fraction of an inch above the floor so the line can move, but only just. If it isn't possible to hang the line adjacent to the stairs, rest a flat wooden board across the top step so it overhangs the edge, and hang the line from the end of the board.
- 2
  Let the line settle, and then gently lower it until you feel the weight touching the floor. The plumb line now forms a vertical line from the lower floor to the top of the stairs.
- 3
  User a marker pen to indicate the top of the stairs on the plumb line by marking the point where the line is level with the surface of the top step.
- 4
  Measure the length of the line from the base of the weight to the mark representing the top of the stairs. The distance is the total rise of the stairs.

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