14-Step Stair Stringer: Dimensions, Length & Cut Angle
Fourteen steps is the standard interior flight for a 9-foot floor-to-floor height. Every row is computed by the same engine as our interactive calculator.
14-step stringer dimensions · 10.5" tread
| Total Rise | Rise per Step | Total Run | Stringer Length | Cut Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101" (8' 5") | 7.21" (7 3/16") | 136.5" | 169.8" (169 13/16") | 34.5° |
| 102" (8' 6") | 7.29" (7 1/4") | 136.5" | 170.4" (170 3/8") | 34.8° |
| 103" (8' 7") | 7.36" (7 5/16") | 136.5" | 171.0" (171") | 35.0° |
| 104" (8' 8") | 7.43" (7 3/8") | 136.5" | 171.6" (171 5/8") | 35.3° |
| 105" (8' 9") | 7.50" (7 1/2") | 136.5" | 172.2" (172 3/16") | 35.5° |
| 106" (8' 10") | 7.57" (7 9/16") | 136.5" | 172.8" (172 13/16") | 35.8° |
| 107" (8' 11") | 7.64" (7 5/8") | 136.5" | 173.4" (173 7/16") | 36.1° |
| 108" (9') | 7.71" (7 11/16") | 136.5" | 174.1" (174 1/16") | 36.3° |
Total run is fixed at 136.5" for 14 steps with a 10.5" tread: (steps − 1) × tread, because the upper floor or deck acts as the top step. For a different tread depth, total run = 13 × tread.
Rise per step is floored to the nearest 1/16" for framing-square layout. Different total rise? Use the interactive stringer calculator.
When do you need 14 steps?
Fourteen steps is the standard interior flight for a 9-foot floor-to-floor height.
A 14-step stringer covers total rises from 101" (8' 5") to 108" (9') while keeping every riser at or under the IRC maximum of 7¾" (R311.7.5.1). Below 101", use a 13-step stringer; above 108", move to 15 steps.
What board do you need?
The longest stringer in the table is 174.1", so a 16-foot 2×12 covers every case with layout margin. Use solid, straight-grained 2×12 stock — after notching, the remaining "throat" must keep at least 3.5" of material for structural integrity.
Code checkpoints for a 14-step stair
- Handrail required. 14 risers is at or over the 4-riser threshold — a graspable handrail is required on at least one side (IRC R311.7.8).
- Guards required. Every total rise in the 14-step range exceeds 30", so open sides of the walking surface need 36" guards (IRC R312.1.1–.2) — see the baluster spacing calculator.
- Riser uniformity: the largest and smallest riser may differ by no more than 3/8" (IRC R311.7.5.1) — divide total rise by 14 and mark every notch from the same reference edge.
- Drop the bottom riser by one tread thickness so the first step matches the rest after treads go on.