Stair Treads Buyer's Guide: Sizes, Sets, Wool vs Washable and Installation
Measure the width of one step and the depth from the nosing back, then buy treads about three to four inches narrower than the step on each side; the 8 by 28 inch size most of Super Area Rugs' braided stair treads come in fits a standard residential staircase. Count your steps, buy that many plus one spare, and fix each tread with tape or tacks using an installation kit so it cannot slide.
Why stair treads, and who they are for
Bare wood stairs are slippery in socks and loud for everyone below. Stair treads add grip and quiet without carpeting the whole staircase or hiding the wood. They are popular in homes with older relatives, small children and dogs, who struggle most on polished treads. Braided treads suit traditional, farmhouse and cottage interiors and match the braided rugs sold alongside them, so a Cherry Hill tread on the stairs and a Cherry Hill rug in the hall tie the two spaces together.
Sizes, shapes and sets
The common size in the range is 8 by 28 inches, which leaves a border of exposed wood on a stair around 34 to 36 inches wide. Super Area Rugs lists the Cherry Hill Braided Wool Stair Treads, Pinecrest Braided Stair Treads, Ridgewood and Roxbury Braided Stair Treads and the Sanford and Sanibel treads in that size. Ovals are the classic braided look; the Sanford and Sanibel treads also come in a rectangle, which covers more of the step and looks tidier on modern stairs.
Some are sold as a single tread, which lets you buy exactly the number of steps you have, and some in a set of four, such as the Sophia, Katie and Sandi Tweed Stair Treads. Sets are cheaper per piece, so for a thirteen-step staircase buy three sets and one single, or four sets and keep the spares.
Wool vs washable braids
Wool treads such as the Cherry Hill, Pura Solid Wool and Tribeca Wool Stair Treads feel best underfoot and resist crushing where feet land in the same spot every day. Stairs take concentrated wear, so wool's resilience is worth the extra cost on a main staircase. For a basement, back stairs or a house with muddy dogs, the washable lines are more practical: the Hartford Reversible Stair Treads, Homespun, Maui, Santa Maria, Sparkle and Confetti Braided Stair Treads are all in the range. A reversible tread can be flipped when the front edge starts to look tired.
Installation that stays put
A loose tread is more dangerous than a bare step. Fix every one. The Super Area Rugs Stair Tread Installation Kit is intended for runners, rugs and stair treads, and it avoids the nail heads that old-fashioned tacking leaves behind. Clean the steps, position the tread centered with the front edge just behind the nosing, and press down firmly. Use a straightedge or a cardboard template so every tread sits at the same distance from the wall; treads that wander by half an inch look sloppy from the bottom of the stairs.
Vacuum treads regularly, because grit is what wears braid, and rotate the spare in if one tread takes more punishment than the others, usually the bottom step.
Matching the treads to the rest of the house
Stair treads are visible from the hall, so pick them with the hall rug in mind. The simplest route is to stay within one braid family. Cherry Hill treads pair with the Cherry Hill Premium Braided Wool Rug; Pinecrest treads with the Pinecrest Rustic Bordered Braided Rug; Sanford treads with the Sanford Rustic Braided Rug; Sanibel treads with the Sanibel Tweed rugs; Hartford and Roxbury treads with their matching washable rugs. Several families also offer chair pads and baskets in the same colorway, so one choice can carry through the kitchen too.
On color, mid-tone multis such as Bluestone Multi and Forest Multi hide dirt far better than a solid Cream or Navy, which matters on a staircase that is hard to vacuum thoroughly. Solids look sharper on the day they go down and show every footprint afterward.
FAQ
What size stair tread do I need?
Measure your step width and subtract six to eight inches for a border of exposed wood. For most residential stairs that lands on the standard 8 by 28 inch tread.
How many stair treads should I buy?
One per step, plus one spare. Count the steps yourself rather than guessing; thirteen is common but not universal.
Can stair treads be used without tape or tacks?
They should not be. A tread that shifts underfoot is a fall risk. Use an installation kit and check them every few months.
More guides
- Braided Rug Buyer's Guide: Wool, Washable, Jute and Indoor-Outdoor
- Do You Need a Rug Pad? When It Matters and Which Type to Buy
- Sheepskin Rug Guide: Single vs Double Pelt, Colors and Care
- Small Rug Sizes Explained: 20x30, 2x3 and 3x5 for Kitchens, Entries and Bedside