Parts of a Staircase: Names and Terms Every Homeowner Should Know
The Parts of a Staircase
Stair terminology is confusing because the same part often has two or three names. This guide covers the terms you will run into when you shop for flooring, stair nose, or tread covers, and when you talk to an installer.
| Part | What it is | Why it matters for flooring |
|---|---|---|
| Tread | The horizontal surface you step on | The surface your new flooring covers |
| Riser | The vertical panel between two treads | Often painted or covered separately from the tread |
| Nosing | The front edge of the tread that overhangs the riser | The most worn edge and the one a stair nose finishes |
| Stair nose | A trim piece that finishes the nosing | Needs to match the floor and fit the tread |
| Stringer | The structural board that supports the treads and risers | Not covered, but where loose treads are fastened |
| Landing | A flat platform between flights, or at the top or bottom | Treated as regular flooring, with a nose at the step edge |
| Return | A finished side on a tread that is open to the room | Needs a return piece instead of a straight nose |
| Newel post | The large post at the start, end, or turn of a handrail | Not part of the flooring work |
| Baluster | The vertical spindles under the handrail | Can make cutting around the tread edge awkward |
| Handrail | The rail you hold | Not part of the flooring work |
| Skirt board | The trim running along the wall where the stairs meet it | A finishing detail at the edge of treads and risers |
| Flight | An uninterrupted run of steps | Defines how many nosings you need |
The Three Parts That Decide Your Flooring
When you replace or cover stair flooring, three parts do most of the work: the tread, the riser, and the nosing.
Tread
The tread is the flat part you step on. Closed stairs have treads that run wall to wall. Open-sided stairs have a tread with an exposed end, which needs a finished return. Tread depth and the 10 inch minimum are covered in our guide to stair riser height and tread depth.
Riser
The riser is the vertical face between treads. It can be solid or open, and it can be finished with matching planks, paint, or vinyl. Most people leave it white or paint it a contrast color. See the stair risers page for how to choose.
Nosing and Stair Nose
The nosing is the front edge of the tread that projects past the riser. The stair nose is the trim piece that finishes it. People use "stair nosing" and "stair nose" interchangeably, and both usually mean the same product. The stair nosing page explains the types.
Open vs Closed Sides
A closed side is against a wall. An open side faces a room, a railing, or a balustrade. Open sides change which pieces you need, because a tread with an exposed end needs a return, and a step open on both sides needs a double return.
- A left-return stair tread is open on the left side
- A right return is open on the right
- A double-open stair tread is open on both sides
- Open vs closed stair tread compares what changes in the product
Structure: Stringers, Landings, and Winders
Under the treads and risers, the stringers are the angled boards that carry the load. Most staircases have two or three. They matter to flooring because loose treads are fastened into them, and because a tread that moves will break an adhesive bond.
A landing is a flat platform where the stairs turn or pause. Landings are treated as flooring rather than stairs, but the step that leads onto a landing still gets a nose. A winder is a wedge-shaped tread used where a staircase turns without a landing. Winders are unusually shaped and each one needs to be measured on its own.
Handrails, Balusters, and Newel Posts
The handrail, balusters, and newel posts are the guard system. They do not take flooring, but they affect the work. Balusters that sit on the tread can restrict how you cut and fit a piece around them, and a newel post at the bottom can sit directly on the first tread.
Which Terms to Use When You Ask for a Quote
When you describe your stairs, the useful details are the number of steps, whether each is open or closed on a side, the riser height and tread depth, and the flooring brand, color, and SKU. If you are measuring for stair nose, use our measurement guide.
If your floor came from Home Depot, Lowe's, or Floor & Decor and you have five or more stairs, Find My Stair Match is the quickest way to start. You never need to send in flooring or samples.
Frequently Asked Questions
Products Mentioned in This Article
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