Vinyl plank and laminate on stairs: what to buy per step
By Michał Białas · Last updated
Count stairs by the piece, not the square foot: one nosing for every step edge, one or two strips for each tread and riser, and usually one plank per strip, because a 36 in step leaves an offcut too short for the next one. A straight flight of 13 steps typically takes 7 nosings of 94 in, about 30 planks and 7 tubes of construction adhesive.
Why square footage misses on stairs
On a floor, the offcut from the end of one row starts the next row, so waste stays near 7–10%. On stairs every tread and riser is a separate short piece. A 47 in plank cut for a 36 in step leaves an 11 in offcut that fits nowhere else on the flight, so the real waste can be 25% or more. Counting the pieces gives a reliable number; the stair area is still worth knowing, but only as a check.
How to measure a staircase
- Count the treads you will cover. Risers are usually one more than the treads.
- Measure the width of the steps from side to side.
- Measure the tread depth from the riser face to the front edge, including any existing overhang.
- Measure the riser height.
- Decide whether the top floor edge gets a nosing too — it usually does.
- Measure any landing as a small room; it goes through the normal area count.
Nosings, strips and planks
| Item | How to count |
|---|---|
| Nosed edges | Treads, plus 1 for the top floor edge |
| Nosings | Edges ÷ steps per nosing, rounded up (a 94 in nosing covers 2 steps of 36 in) |
| Tread strips | Tread depth minus the nosing coverage, divided by the plank width |
| Riser strips | Riser height divided by the plank width |
| Planks | Strips ÷ strips per plank, then +10% for breakage and mistakes |
| Adhesive | About 1 tube of construction adhesive per 2 steps |
Strips per plank is the plank length divided by the step width, rounded down. Stairs wider than about 47 in need two pieces per strip, and a joint in each tread. The stair flooring calculator does the counting and adds the stairs to the floor before rounding to whole boxes.
Example 1 (feet): 13 treads, 36 in wide, vinyl plank 47 1/4 × 7 1/2 in
- 14 risers; treads 10 1/4 in incl. overhang; risers 7 1/4 in. Nosing 94 in covering 3 in.
- Nosings: 13 + 1 = 14 edges; 94 ÷ 36 → 2 per piece → 7 nosings.
- Tread field 10.25 − 3 = 7.25 in → 1 strip; riser 7.25 in → 1 strip. 27 strips, one per plank → 27 planks; +10% → 30 planks → 4 boxes of 8.
- Adhesive: 13 ÷ 2 → 7 tubes. Stair area: 33.3 + 25.4 = 58.7 sq ft.
Example 2 (meters): 13 treads, 900 mm wide, laminate 1380 × 193 mm
- 14 risers; treads 260 mm; risers 180 mm. Nosing 1.2 m covering 75 mm.
- Nosings: 1200 ÷ 900 → 1 per piece → 14 nosings.
- Tread field 260 − 75 = 185 mm → 1 strip; riser 180 mm → 1 strip. 27 strips → 27 boards; +10% → 30 boards → 4 packs of 8.
- Adhesive: 7 tubes. Stair area: 3.04 + 2.27 = 5.31 m².
Choosing nosings
- Flush nosings sit level with the tread planks and need a plank of matching thickness.
- Overlap nosings cap the front edge and hide the cut end of the tread strip.
- Pick a length that is a multiple of your step width where you can: 94 in covers two 36 in steps, 78 in only one.
- Nosings for open sides, with a return, are counted separately.
Make a cardboard template of each tread before cutting: old stairs are rarely square, and every step can differ by 1/8 in or more.
Tiling stairs
Tile on stairs is counted by area, but with 20% waste, because each tread and riser is a separate cut piece. Add one edge trim per nosed edge, packed into 8 ft (2.5 m) stock lengths. Thinset and grout come from the same area. The added tread thickness changes the height of the first and last riser, so check it against the rest of the flight.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Result |
|---|---|
| Buying stairs by square footage | Several planks short on the last steps |
| Forgetting the top nosing | One nosing short and an unfinished top edge |
| Nosings that cover one step each | Twice the nosings and more joints |
| Ignoring the first and last riser height | A trip hazard where the new floor meets the flight |
Planks for stairs must match the floor in thickness and click system — see laminate vs vinyl plank materials.
Frequently asked questions
How many stair nosings do I need?
One per tread plus one for the top floor edge, divided by the steps one nosing covers. A 94 in nosing covers two 36 in steps, so 13 steps take 7 nosings.
How many boxes of vinyl plank for 13 stairs?
For 36 in steps and 47 1/4 in planks, 27 strips at one per plank, plus 10%: 30 planks, or 4 boxes of 8.
How many square feet is a staircase?
Treads × width × depth plus risers × width × height. A 13-step flight 36 in wide is about 59 sq ft.
Can I use the same planks as the floor?
Usually yes, with nosings made for that product. Rigid core vinyl and laminate need the matching nosing profile and construction adhesive on every tread and riser.