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Stair opening calculator

Size the floor opening your stair passes through so headroom is maintained all the way up.

Stair opening calculator
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Opening section
Opening length
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Opening width
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Angle
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Steps
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Floor opening size

The opening in the upper floor must be long enough that a climber clears the floor edge with full headroom, and wide enough to frame the stair with a small allowance each side.

opening length = (floor assembly + min headroom) / tan(angle)

Frequently asked questions

How big should a stair floor opening be?

Long enough to maintain the code headroom (80 inches under the IRC) as the climber passes the floor edge, and about 1 inch wider than the stair on each side for framing.

What is a rough opening for stairs?

The framed hole in the upper floor that the staircase rises through, sized before finishes.

Why is my stair opening too short?

A short opening pinches headroom at the top of the flight. Lengthen the opening or reduce the stair pitch.