Enter your total rise (floor to floor) and preferred tread depth to find the number of steps, riser height, and total run.
Stair layout starts with the total rise—the vertical distance from one finished floor to the next. Divide it by a comfortable target riser height (around 7 to 7.75 inches) and round to the nearest whole number to get the number of risers. Then divide the total rise by that count for the exact riser height, which keeps every step equal.
The number of treads is always one less than the number of risers, because the top landing is the last level. Multiply the treads by your tread depth (commonly 10 to 11 inches) to get the total horizontal run. Always check your local building code, which sets maximum riser height, minimum tread depth, and headroom.