OSHA stair rules are looser than house building codes in some ways and stricter in others. In workplaces covered by the general industry standard (29 CFR 1910.25), standard stairs must be between 30 and 50 degrees, with risers no taller than 9.5 in and treads at least 9.5 in deep, at least 22 in wide, with handrails 30 to 38 in high. Construction sites follow 1926.1052, which adds a 1/4 in limit on riser variation and rail rules for any stair with four or more risers. This page lists both sets of rules and has a quick checker for a stair’s rise, run and angle.
Check a stair
OSHA general industry stair requirements (1910.25, 1910.28, 1910.29)
| Item | Requirement | 29 CFR section |
|---|---|---|
| Angle | 30° to 50° from horizontal | 1910.25(c)(1) |
| Riser height | 9.5 in maximum | 1910.25(c)(2) |
| Tread depth | 9.5 in minimum | 1910.25(c)(3) |
| Width | 22 in minimum between vertical barriers | 1910.25(c)(4) |
| Headroom | 6 ft 8 in above any tread, from the leading edge | 1910.25(b)(2) |
| Landings | At least the stair width and 30 in deep in the direction of travel | 1910.25(b)(4) |
| Handrails and stair rails | Flights with at least 3 treads and 4 risers need stair rails and handrails | 1910.28(b)(11)(ii) |
| Handrail height | 30 to 38 in from the leading edge of the tread to the top of the rail | 1910.29(f)(1)(ii) |
| Stair rail height | 42 in minimum for systems installed on or after January 17, 2017 (30 in before); 36 to 38 in where the stair rail also serves as the handrail | 1910.29(f)(1)(iii) |
| Finger clearance | 2.25 in minimum between the handrail and any other object | 1910.29(f)(2) |
| Strength | 200 lb in any downward or outward direction | 1910.29(f)(7) |
| Spiral stairs | 26 in clear width, 9.5 in maximum riser, 6 ft 6 in headroom, 7.5 in tread at 12 in from the narrow edge | 1910.25(d) |
| Ship stairs | 50° to 70°, open risers 6.5 to 12 in, 4 in minimum tread, 18 in minimum width | 1910.25(e) |
OSHA construction stairway requirements (1926.1052)
| Item | Requirement | 29 CFR section |
|---|---|---|
| When rails are needed | 4 or more risers, or a rise of more than 30 in, whichever is less: at least one handrail and a stair rail on each unprotected side | 1926.1052(c)(1) |
| Angle | 30° to 50° from horizontal | 1926.1052(a)(2) |
| Uniformity | Risers and treads uniform within each flight; variation no more than 1/4 in in any stairway system | 1926.1052(a)(3) |
| Temporary stairs | Landings at least 30 in deep and 22 in wide at every 12 ft of rise or less | 1926.1052(a)(1) |
| Stair rail height | At least 36 in (installed after March 15, 1991) | 1926.1052(c)(3)(i) |
| Handrail height | 30 to 37 in; 36 to 37 in where the stair rail also serves as the handrail | 1926.1052(c)(6)-(7) |
| Doors onto stairs | A platform, with the door swing leaving at least 20 in of effective width | 1926.1052(a)(4) |
| Strength | 200 lb at the top rail | 1926.1052(c)(5) |
Stair angle by rise and run
| Riser | Tread | Angle | Meets 1910.25 standard stairs? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 in | 9.5 in | 32.3° | yes |
| 6 in | 10 in | 31.0° | yes |
| 6 in | 11 in | 28.6° | no |
| 6 in | 12 in | 26.6° | no |
| 7 in | 9.5 in | 36.4° | yes |
| 7 in | 10 in | 35.0° | yes |
| 7 in | 11 in | 32.5° | yes |
| 7 in | 12 in | 30.3° | yes |
| 7.5 in | 9.5 in | 38.3° | yes |
| 7.5 in | 10 in | 36.9° | yes |
| 7.5 in | 11 in | 34.3° | yes |
| 7.5 in | 12 in | 32.0° | yes |
| 8 in | 9.5 in | 40.1° | yes |
| 8 in | 10 in | 38.7° | yes |
| 8 in | 11 in | 36.0° | yes |
| 8 in | 12 in | 33.7° | yes |
| 9 in | 9.5 in | 43.5° | yes |
| 9 in | 10 in | 42.0° | yes |
| 9 in | 11 in | 39.3° | yes |
| 9 in | 12 in | 36.9° | yes |
| 9.5 in | 9.5 in | 45.0° | yes |
| 9.5 in | 10 in | 43.5° | yes |
| 9.5 in | 11 in | 40.8° | yes |
| 9.5 in | 12 in | 38.4° | yes |
The table shows that once the riser and tread limits are met, the 50° maximum takes care of itself: a 9.5 in riser on a 9.5 in tread is exactly 45°. The angle limit matters for stairs designed by angle, such as industrial stairs bought by the flight, and the 30° minimum stops very shallow stairs that people trip on; below about 30° a ramp is the better choice.
OSHA vs house stairs
House stairs are governed by the building code, not OSHA. The International Residential Code allows a riser of no more than 7-3/4 in and a tread of at least 10 in, and handrails 34 to 38 in high, so a stair built to OSHA’s limits can fail a residential inspection. For house stairs use our stair calculator and the handrail and guard height guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the OSHA maximum stair riser height?
9.5 in for standard stairs in general industry (1910.25(c)(2)), with a minimum tread depth of 9.5 in.
What angle are OSHA stairs?
30 to 50 degrees from horizontal for standard stairs (1910.25(c)(1)) and construction stairways (1926.1052(a)(2)); ship stairs 50 to 70 degrees.
How many steps before OSHA requires a handrail?
In general industry, flights with at least 3 treads and 4 risers (1910.28(b)(11)(ii)); in construction, 4 or more risers or more than 30 in of rise (1926.1052(c)(1)).
How high are OSHA handrails?
30 to 38 in in general industry (1910.29(f)(1)(ii)); 30 to 37 in in construction (1926.1052(c)(6)).
Sources
- US federal regulations (29 CFR), read at law.cornell.edu; text cached 24 October 2026. Paraphrased with section numbers, not the legal text. 29 CFR 1910.25, 1910.28, 1910.29, 1926.1051, 1926.1052.
Last reviewed: 24 October 2026. Numbers in the tables are our arithmetic from the sources listed; code sections are summarised, not quoted. How we check our work: methodology and corrections. Spotted an error? Please let us know.