How To Measure A Staircase For A Handrail System

Whether you're fitting a handrail for a customer or tackling your own project, accurate measurements are the key to getting the right components first time. 

If you're looking at a staircase and wondering where to start, you're not alone. Even experienced tradespeople can have questions when measuring for a modular handrail system. How do you measure around a landing or winder? Do you need to calculate the angles? How do you account for corners and connecting brackets? The good news is that it's much simpler than many people expect.

In this guide, we'll explain how to identify your staircase type, the measurements you'll need to take, and the common mistakes to avoid before ordering and installing a handrail system.

In this guide:

• 1 - Why Measuring Your Staircase Matters
• 2 - Before You Measure: Identify Your Staircase Type
• 3 - What Measurements Do You Need For A Handrail?
• 4 - How To Measure Your Staircase
• 5 - Measuring Straight Flights, Landings, and Winder Staircases
• 6 - What To Do With Your Measurements

Not sure where to start? These are the resources we recommend to help:

• Stair Types Guide - Identify your staircase layout
• Measuring Guide - Step by step guide on how to measure your staircase
• Handrails Calculator - Use your measurements to plan your handrail system
• Fitting Guide - Learn and follow how to install your handrail
• Build Your Own - Create a bespoke system manually

1 - Why Measuring Your Staircase Matters:

Although it sounds obvious, your handrail needs to follow the exact shape and layout of your staircase. Whether for a customer or for your own project, you need a clear understanding of the handrail's journey before you can measure accurately or order your handrail. This means that the measurements you take of a staircase are VERY important, how the sections are divided and what supporting components you'll need must be considered. 

Spending a few extra minutes checking your staircase at this stage can save time, money and frustration later (you'll thank us in the future). Accurate measurements will help you:

• Understand the route the handrail will follow
• Avoid ordering the wrong length
• Plan for turns, landings or winding sections
• Make the installation period easier
• Reduce the risk of missing components 

2 - Before You Measure: Identify Your Staircase Type

Before taking measurements, it's important to understand what type of staircase you have. Different staircase layouts require different handrail configurations, so knowing what staircase you have is the first step.

If you're not familiar with terms such at straight flight, quarter landing, half landing, single winder, double winder, or t-shaped staircase, don't worry - they're simply names used to describe different staircase layouts. Our Handrails Direct Staircase and Handrail Terminology Guide will help you identify the style of staircase you're working with.

3 - What Measurements Do You Need For A Handrail?

Naturally, people assume that they need plenty of technical staircase drawings prepared before choosing their handrail, but for small businesses and homes this is just overcomplicating the matter. For an average indoor staircase, you don't even really need a drawing. Only a couple clear measurements are required which include:

• Total handrail length - The overall length that the handrail needs to cover
• Number of turns - Knowing how many turns your staircase has helps you understand how the handrail may need to be divided into sections
• Distance before each turn - Note the distance from the start of the handrail route to the point where the turn begins
• Staircase types - A straight flight, quarter landing, half landing and winder staircase can all require different handrail planning
• Preferred finish - Once you can understand the staircase layout and measurements, you can also start thinking about the finish (colour) you want

At Handrails Direct, we offer a wide range of finishes for all our stair types. The finish itself doesn't change how you measure the staircase, but it does help when planning the final system.

4 - How To measure Your Staircase

Firstly, the total length of the route that the handrail will follow needs to be measured. This isn't always the same as measuring the floor beneath the stairs. For a Straight Flight staircase, measure from one end of the proposed handrail position to the other, following the angle of the staircase. For staircases with landings or turns, measure each section separately. 

Secondly, record any turns or changes in direction. Ask yourself, is there a flat landing? What about winding steps? How many times does your staircase actually turn? These details help you understand the layout.

Thirdly, if your staircase includes a turn, measure the distance before the turn occurs. For example, on a staircase with a quarter landing, you would measure the first run before the landing, then the section after the landing. On a winder staircase, make a note of where the angled steps begin.

Fourth, CHECK YOUR MEASUREMENTS! Although it sounds so obvious and you've heard it so many times, checking your measurements is crucial in case you've made any silly slip ups. A second measurement can help catch small errors and give you more confidence before moving forward.

Top tip: Measure in millimetres because it gives a clearer measurement and helps avoid rounding issues later.

5 - Measuring Straight Flight, Landings, and Winder Staircases

Measuring Straight Flight:

Straight Flight staircases are usually the easiest to measure. Because the staircase runs in one direction, you typically measure a single continuous route. 

• Decide where the handrail will start and finish
• Measure along the angle of the staircase
• Record the total length in millimetres
• Check the measurements again before ordering

The main mistake to avoid is measuring horizontally from the bottom of the staircase to the top. This won't reflect the route the handrail actually follows.

Measuring A Staircase With A Landing:
If you or a customer's staircase has a Quarter Landing or Half Landing, divide it into sections. The flights and the landings. Measure each part separately rather than measuring the entire staircase in one go. This makes the process much more accurate and easier to understand.

• Quarter Landing - A Quarter Landing changes the direction of the staircase by 90 degrees. Measure the first section up to the landing, the measure the next section after the turn.
• Half Landing - A Half Landing changes the direction of the staircase by 180 degrees. This is often best treated as two separate straight sections connected by a landing.

Measuring A Winder Staircase:
A Winder Staircase uses angled steps to change direction instead of a flat landing. This can make it slightly harder to identify where one section ends and the next begins.

• Identify where the straight section begins
• Measure to the point where the winding steps start
• Record the winding section separately if needed
• Measure the section after the turn
• Note the direction of travel

The most important thing is to avoid guessing, even if you've done this a million times before. If the staircase uses angled steps to turn, it's likely to be a winder rather than a landing staircase.

6 - What To Do With Your Measurements:

Now all of the previous steps have been completed, you can use this information to start planning your handrail system. At this point, the Handrails Direct Calculator will be your best friend.

The Handrails Direct Calculator simplifies the process of ordering your handrail by turning your measurements into a clear layout of what you need to order. It removes the need for time-consuming manual calculations for tradies and gives reassurance / reduces the risk of error for beginner DIYers. Basically, speeds up the process for both parties. The calculator allows you to enter details such as:

• Total handrail length
• Number of turns
• Distance before any turns
• Preferred finish

It can help generate a suggested configuration, including cut lengths, component quantities and downloadable PDF. You can also check out the Handrails Direct Calculator here.

Ready to install? The Fitting Guide provides practical information to help you prepare, including tools required, installation preparation, component positioning and general fitting advice. This is a useful resource to read before starting the installation. 

Conclusion:

Measuring the staircase does not need to be complicated. By identifying your staircase type, measuring the route the handrail will follow and recording any turns or landings, you can plan your handrail system with much greater confidence. Once you have your measurements, you can use the Handrails Direct Calculator to work out the required components, or explore Build Your Own if you already know exactly what you need.