Total run
The horizontal distance the whole flight covers, floor to floor.
Total run is the horizontal footprint of the staircase — the sum of every run, measuring how far the flight reaches out from the bottom step to the top. It decides whether the stairs fit the room. Example: 14 risers means 13 treads (the top floor is the 14th level), so 13 × 10 in run = 130 in (3.30 m) of total run. Always confirm the landing at the bottom has room — codes require a clear landing at least as deep as the stair is wide. A short room may force a landing split or an L-shaped turn to fit the same rise.
Related terms
Stair calculators
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Written by the Stairs Calc editorial team. Methodology and code references: see our methodology.
Built and maintained by builders, drafters and engineers who plan stairs for a living — every code limit is transcribed from the published standard and cited to its exact section.
Last reviewed 2026-06-20 against IRC 2021/2024
Stairs Calc gives accurate geometry and checks it against published building-code limits, but results are estimates for planning. Codes are adopted and amended locally and change over time. Always confirm dimensions against your local adopted code and a licensed professional before you build.