7-Step Stair Stringer: Dimensions, Length & Cut Angle
Seven steps covers raised decks and walk-out entries around four feet of rise. Every row is computed by the same engine as our interactive calculator.
7-step stringer dimensions · 10.5" tread
| Total Rise | Rise per Step | Total Run | Stringer Length | Cut Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47" (3' 11") | 6.71" (6 11/16") | 63" | 78.6" (78 5/8") | 32.6° |
| 48" (4') | 6.86" (6 13/16") | 63" | 79.2" (79 3/16") | 33.1° |
| 49" (4' 1") | 7.00" (7") | 63" | 79.8" (79 13/16") | 33.7° |
| 50" (4' 2") | 7.14" (7 1/8") | 63" | 80.4" (80 7/16") | 34.2° |
| 51" (4' 3") | 7.29" (7 1/4") | 63" | 81.1" (81 1/16") | 34.8° |
| 52" (4' 4") | 7.43" (7 3/8") | 63" | 81.7" (81 11/16") | 35.3° |
| 53" (4' 5") | 7.57" (7 9/16") | 63" | 82.3" (82 5/16") | 35.8° |
| 54" (4' 6") | 7.71" (7 11/16") | 63" | 83.0" (83") | 36.3° |
Total run is fixed at 63" for 7 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 = 6 × 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 7 steps?
Seven steps covers raised decks and walk-out entries around four feet of rise.
A 7-step stringer covers total rises from 47" (3' 11") to 54" (4' 6") while keeping every riser at or under the IRC maximum of 7¾" (R311.7.5.1). Below 47", use a 6-step stringer; above 54", move to 8 steps.
What board do you need?
The longest stringer in the table is 83.0", so a 8-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 7-step stair
- Handrail required. 7 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 7-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 7 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.