Concrete Stair Calculator

For exterior stairs, a comfortable riser height is typically between 4 and 7 inches, and a tread depth should be at least 11 inches to comfortably fit a person's foot. Always check your local building codes, as they have specific minimum and maximum requirements for safety.

No, this calculator determines the volume for the stairs only. If you are pouring a landing at the top or bottom, you should calculate the volume for that slab separately (using a Slab Volume calculator) and add it to your total concrete order.

Yes, it's always a good idea to order about 10% extra concrete to account for uneven subgrade, spills, and form deflection. Running out of concrete before the job is finished is a major problem, so having a buffer is critical. Our calculator does not include this overage, so you should add it to the final volume.

Forming concrete stairs typically involves building a sturdy wooden frame. You create two side forms (stringers) cut to the profile of the stairs, and then connect them with boards that form the face of each riser. The forms must be well-braced to withstand the immense pressure of wet concrete.

Yes, reinforcing concrete stairs with steel rebar is essential for strength and longevity. A typical setup involves placing rebar horizontally along the length of the stairs and vertically between the steps to create a grid. This helps prevent cracking from soil movement, temperature changes, and heavy use.

Cement is a key ingredient in concrete, but they are not the same thing. Concrete is a composite material made of three components: aggregate (like sand and gravel), cement, and water. The cement acts as a binding agent that hardens and holds the aggregates together to form concrete.