Stair rise, going and headroom in England

At a glance

Table 1.1 of Approved Document K, 2013 edition (England), minimum to maximum, in millimetres. Use any rise in the range with any going in the range that complies with the notes (para 1.3). The normal relationship is twice the rise plus the going (2R + G) between 550 and 700 mm.

Which row applies: private, utility or general access

Table 1.1 gives a different range for each of three stair categories, defined in Appendix A of the document. A private stair is intended to be used for only one dwelling. A utility stair is used for escape, for access for maintenance, or for purposes other than the usual day-to-day route between levels. A general access stair is intended for all users of a building as the normal day-to-day route between levels.

• Rise and going are measured as in Diagram 1.1: the going from nosing to nosing, the rise between the top surfaces of consecutive treads (para 1.2).
• Constant through a flight: treads are level, and the rise and going of each step are consistent throughout a flight and within Table 1.1 (para 1.5).
• 2R + G is a normal relationship: the table says it equals between 550 and 700 mm. The relationship is stated as the normal one, not as a separate limit.
• Existing buildings: the dimensions in Table 1.1 should be followed unless dimensional constraints make that impossible; any alternative is agreed with building control and recorded in an access strategy (see Approved Document M).
• Tapered treads (paras 1.25 to 1.27): use the rise and going of paras 1.2 and 1.3; consecutive tapered treads have the same going; tapered treads in a flight with straight treads have a going not less than the straight treads. Diagram 1.9 shows how the going is measured.

Rise, going, pitch and headroom on a section

The drawing shows the same quantities the table uses. A is a flight between two floors with the headroom check at the edge of the opening in the floor above. B is a step detail: the rise, the going from nosing to nosing, and the pitch, which is the angle between the horizontal and the line joining the nosings. C is the reduced headroom allowed for a loft conversion in a dwelling.

Headroom (paras 1.11 to 1.13, Diagrams 1.3 and 1.4)

• All buildings (para 1.11): provide the minimum headroom of Diagram 1.3, which shows at least 2 m above the pitch line of the flight and above the landings.
• Escape routes in buildings other than dwellings, and common areas of flats (para 1.12): 2 m clear headroom on all means of escape routes, except in doorways.
• Loft conversions in dwellings (para 1.13): where there is not enough space to achieve 2 m, Diagram 1.4 allows reduced headroom: 1.9 m at half the stair width and 1.8 m at the edge of the stair.
• Under a stair (para 1.8): in buildings other than dwellings, where the soffit beneath a stair is less than 2 m above the floor, protect the area with guarding and low-level cane detection, or a barrier giving the same degree of protection.

Other limits in the same section

Table 1.1 is only part of Section 1. These are the limits on headroom, width, flights, landings and steps in the same section, with the paragraph for each. Handrails and guarding to stairs are on the library sheet Balustrade and handrail rules.

Spiral and helical stairs are designed to BS 5395-2 (para 1.28). Alternating tread stairs are allowed only in a loft conversion, only where there is not enough space for a stair that satisfies paras 1.2 to 1.24, and only for access to one habitable room and, if desired, a bathroom or WC that is not the only WC (para 1.29); their construction is in para 1.30 and Diagram 1.10.

Worked set-out: 2,700 mm floor to floor

This is our own arithmetic, not a quotation from the document. Take a private stair with 2,700 mm between finished floors. The number of risers decides the rise (2,700 divided by the number of risers), so try each count against the 150 to 220 mm range, then a going of 250 mm (inside 220 to 300 mm), then check 2R + G and the pitch.

Twelve risers fail on rise alone. Thirteen to sixteen all pass with a 250 mm going. Where the top step is the floor above, a flight of N risers has N minus 1 goings, so 14 risers at 250 mm give a run of 13 goings, 3,250 mm. A general access stair for the same height needs a rise of no more than 170 mm, so at least 16 risers (168.75 mm each); with a going of 280 mm, 2R + G is 617.5 mm and the pitch is 31.1 degrees. Paragraph 1.18 limits a flight of a general access stair to 12 risers (exceptionally 16 in small premises), so unless the premises qualify for the exception that stair also needs a landing.

Six checks before a stair drawing is issued

• Category: private, utility or general access, which sets the row of Table 1.1. Which row a common stair in a block of flats takes is not stated in the paragraphs we read: ask building control.
• Total rise: measured finished floor to finished floor on site, then divided into equal risers.
• Rise, going, 2R + G and pitch: all within Table 1.1 and its notes, and constant throughout the flight.
• Headroom: at least 2 m at the tightest point, including at the edge of the opening above.
• Handrails and guarding: see the library sheet on balustrades.
• Escape and access: a stair that forms part of a means of escape is also governed by Approved Document B, and external stepped access by Approved Document M. Neither is covered here.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

The 2013 edition is for use in England. Wales publishes its own Approved Document K, and Scotland and Northern Ireland use their own technical guidance. We have not read those for this sheet, and they may use different figures. Do not carry the England figures into a project elsewhere without checking the local document.

Stair to [location], serving one dwelling only: [ ] risers of [ ] mm rise (150 to 220 mm) and [ ] mm going (220 to 300 mm), nosing to nosing; 2R + G [ ] mm (550 to 700 mm); pitch [ ] degrees (maximum 42). Approved Document K (2013 edition, England) Table 1.1; rise and going constant through the flight (para 1.5). Headroom not less than 2,000 mm (para 1.11) [loft conversion only: para 1.13, Diagram 1.4]. Total rise confirmed on site before fabrication.

Stair to [location] as a [utility / general access] stair: [ ] risers of [ ] mm rise ([150 to 190 / 150 to 170] mm) and [ ] mm going (250 to 400 mm), nosing to nosing; not more than [16 / 12] risers between landings (para 1.18); risers not open (para 1.6); nosings contrasting, 55 mm or more wide, protruding 25 mm at most (para 1.7); landings 1,200 mm clear or more (para 1.23); 1,000 mm or more between handrails (para 1.15).

Stair set-out: finished floor to finished floor [ ] mm; [ ] risers at [ ] mm; [ ] goings at [ ] mm; pitch [ ] degrees; tightest headroom [ ] mm at [location]. Dimensions verified on site before fabrication.

Standards and sources

• Approved Document K: Protection from falling, collision and impact, 2013 edition, England: read in full on 5 November 2026.
• gov.uk: Building Safety Regulator call for evidence on Part K (19 Oct 2026): a review; current guidance stays in place.

Questions we are asked

What is the maximum rise of a stair in England?

It depends on the category. Table 1.1 of Approved Document K (2013 edition) gives a maximum rise of 220 mm for a private stair, 190 mm for a utility stair and 170 mm for a general access stair. The minimum rise is 150 mm for all three.

What is the minimum going of a stair?

220 mm for a private stair, and 250 mm for utility and general access stairs (Table 1.1). The maximum goings are 300 mm for a private stair and 400 mm for the other two. For external tapered steps and stairs of dwellings that are part of the building, note 2 gives a going of at least 280 mm.

What is the maximum pitch of a stair?

Table 1.1 note 1 gives a maximum pitch of 42 degrees for a private stair. The table gives no pitch figure for utility or general access stairs, which are controlled through the rise, going and the 2R + G relationship.

What headroom does a stair need?

At least 2 m (paragraph 1.11 and Diagram 1.3). For a loft conversion in a dwelling where 2 m cannot be reached, paragraph 1.13 and Diagram 1.4 allow 1.9 m at half the stair width and 1.8 m at the edge.

What does 2R + G mean?

Twice the rise plus the going. Table 1.1 says the normal relationship is that this equals between 550 and 700 mm, so a steeper rise needs a longer going and a shallower rise allows a shorter one.

Do these figures apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

No. The 2013 edition is for use in England. Wales publishes its own Approved Document K, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own guidance. Check the document for the nation your project is in.