When designing or renovating your staircase, it’s not just about style — safety and compliance matter just as much. In the UK, domestic staircases must follow strict building regulations outlined in Approved Document K, ensuring every flight is safe, comfortable, and practical.
Whether you’re working with a joiner or planning a self-build, here’s a breakdown of the core dimensional and safety rules for domestic stairs that apply in 2025.
(Always verify these details with your local building control before starting work.)
| Feature | Regulation / constraint | Notes & rationale |
| Rise (step height) | Typically between 150 mm and 220 mm | All risers in a given flight must be the same height. |
| Going (tread depth) | Generally the going (i.e. the horizontal tread) is minimum 220 mm | For private stairs this is a baseline. |
| Pitch / steepness | Maximum pitch angle ~ 42° for domestic stairs | If stairs are steeper than 42°, they may be considered a “ladder” or secondary set. |
| “2R + G” rule | A commonly used comfort guideline: 2 × Rise + Going should lie between ~ 550 mm and 700 mm | Helps ensure stairs are not too steep or too shallow. |
| Headroom | Minimum 2,000 mm (2 m) of headroom, consistently over the stair flight | To avoid hitting one’s head mid-stair. |
| Landings | Must be provided at top and bottom of flights. The landing depth should be at least the width of the staircase. | Doors should not swing onto stairs; minimal clearance ~400 mm is often specified. |
| Handrails / balustrades / guarding | • Handrail height: typically 900 to 1,000 mm above pitch line • If stair < 1 m wide: one handrail; if wider: both sides preferred/required • Spacing: balusters (vertical posts) should not allow a 100 mm sphere to pass through |
These rules ensure grip safety, prevent entrapment, and help prevent falls. |
| Nosings & visual contrast | Nosings (the overhanging edge) should be clearly visible and not slippery; in public / commercial / accessible settings, a contrasting strip (30–55 mm wide) is often required | Helps visually impaired users see step edges. |
| Evenness / uniformity | Within a flight, all risers must be the same height; all goings should ideally be the same depth | Sudden changes in riser height are a major cause of trips and falls. |
These are the baseline safety and dimensional standards for domestic staircases in the UK as of 2025.
For commercial or shared access stairs, stricter requirements will apply — such as smaller risers, wider treads, and additional guarding for accessibility and public safety.
Need Professional Guidance?
If you’re planning a new staircase or home renovation, working with an experienced joinery team ensures your design meets both aesthetic and regulatory standards.
At EH Joinery, we craft bespoke staircases that are fully compliant, safe, and tailored to your space.
Contact us today to discuss your staircase project or request a compliance review.
