Choosing Stair Tread Rugs and Carpets

There are plenty of choices available when choosing stair tread rugs and carpets, ranging from simple and inexpensive to custom made and far from inexpensive.

When looking at stair tread rugs, which we describe as individual rugs that go on each step (definitions and descriptions do vary although we try our best to be consistent), there are many options available. They range from outdoor stair treads to ones designed for indoor use in just about every color and pattern available, and of course you can also make or have them made out of pieces of full size carpet if there is a color/pattern you just need to have. Sometimes these can be made from inexpensive remnants, although most people just buy them ready made. You can find a wide selection locally in most places or a wide selection at Amazon.

With stair tread carpet, which we define as a contiguous piece of carpet that covers multiple stairs, usually the entire staircase, there are also plenty of options. If the entire width of the stairs is covered, you can use most any wall to wall carpeting, often the same kind of carpet being used above or below.

If the carpet doesn't cover the entire width of the stairs, for example leaving a few inches of beautiful hardwood visible on each side, most people opt for a "stair runner." A stair runner is a piece of carpet that is almost full stair width and already bound on each side. It may be of a fixed size, or come on a long spool and merely cut to length, the top and bottom bound, and then installed. I've opted for professional installation in the past, although this is a popular do it yourself project as well. RugSale.com has an enormous selection of stair runners and more.

There are well over 1000 different choices in stair runners available, but sometimes you may have your heart set on a certain kind of rug. You can always have it cut to the appropriate width and use it, but it'll be expensive as you'll need to have both sides bound (approximately $5 a foot per side) and end up potentially with a lot of wastage. This is not an uncommon approach however.

You can find stair runners at any carpet store, online, as well as in most home improvement stores. If anything, you'll be overwhelmed by choices instead of not having enough when looking to choose among stair tread rugs and carpets.