How to Install Carpet on Stairs

By
Cheryl Simmons
Cheryl Simmons
Cheryl Simmons is a flooring expert who grew up in the flooring industry, working in her family's retail store since her youth. She has written nearly 100 articles for The Spruce, mainly covering everything having to do with carpeting from colors and filaments to runners to area rugs.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 05/13/22
Reviewed by
Johnathan Brewer
Johnathan Brewer
Reviewed by Johnathan Brewer
Johnathan C. Brewer II is a licensed general contractor specializing in kitchen, bath remodels, and general construction with two decades of professional experience.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Installer Using Carpet Stretcher on Stairs

BanksPhotos/Getty Images

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 1 - 2 hrs
  • Total Time: 1 - 2 hrs
  • Skill Level: Beginner

Installing carpet on stairs can be tricky and time-consuming, but it can be accomplished—even by novices—with some understanding and patience. Once you have selected your carpet, measured, and prepped your stairs, you are ready to begin installing your new carpet.

Before getting started, be sure to learn the terms for the different parts of your staircase. The instructions will be much easier to follow if you speak the same language.

Two Installation Methods

There are two different ways to install carpet on stairs.

The French cap method wraps the carpet around the edge of the tread, contouring the nosing to meet the riser, then coming straight down the riser. Start at the bottom of the staircase and work your way up, unless the more difficult steps are at the bottom.

If the French cap method of installing carpet seems a little overwhelming or the carpet is too thick, use the waterfall method. In this method of installing carpet, which is considered simpler but doesn't necessarily look quite as polished, the carpet is attached to the edge of the tread and then drops down to meet the back of the next stair tread without adhering it to the riser.

To do the waterfall method, follow the same steps but skip the step that requires attaching the carpet underneath the tread. Trim the excess carpet at the end.

Tip

Over time, carpet can become loose, You can re-stretch the carpet with a carpet stretcher to pull it taut.

Before You Begin

Choose your carpet and measure your stairs. Cut the carpet carefully to fit the stairs.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Stapler
  • Knee kicker
  • Cutting tools
  • Flat-head screwdriver

Materials

  • Carpeting
  • Carpet staples

Instructions

  1. Staple the Carpet

    Fit the cut carpet to the stair. Staple the carpet to the bottom riser, working the nose of the stapler in between the fibers, so that fiber doesn’t get caught under the staple and create a dimple in the carpet. If you do get a fiber caught, gently pull it out using a flat-head screwdriver.

    Fasten the carpet underneath the nosing of the tread with staples and wrap the carpet around the nosing and over the tack strip at the back of the tread. Using a knee kicker, stretch the carpet tight to the back of the tread, and hold it in place until staples can be applied to the back of the tread behind the tack strip. Using the kicker, stretch the carpet over the side tack strips (if against a wall) by positioning the kicker to face the wall and stretching in that direction.

  2. Trim the Carpet

    When the carpet is securely fastened, trim any excess. Repeat the process with the next riser.

    While the basic process will remain the same, the type of staircase you're working with will determine how you finish the installation. You'll need to determine if you have cap stairs, pie stairs, bullnoses, or Hollywood stairs.

  3. Finish Method for Cap Stairs

    If the stair is open on the side with railing posts, the carpet must be cut around each post and re-joined on the other side.

    First, install the tread as described above. Next, make a slit directly in line with each post to the edge of the carpet away from the stair. Wrap the carpet around each post. If you have larger wooden posts, you may have to trim some excess carpet around the base of each post.

    Once you have brought the carpet around the posts, wrap it around the side of the stair and fasten it underneath the side nosing. To contour the 90-degree angle where the side of the stair meets the front of the stair, make a slit in the carpet diagonally from the corner to the outside of the carpet. You can then fold the carpet over and bring it together to cover the entire step.

  4. Finish Method for Pie Stairs

    If you have pie-shaped, or curved, stairs, install the carpet on the riser in the same way as mentioned above. For the tread, fasten the carpet to the floor under the nosing, and bring the carpet straight over the lip and across the tread. The only main difference is that there will be a lot more excess to trim.

    The carpet on a curved stair should be straight off of the tread nosing; otherwise, it will look crooked when looking up the staircase from the bottom.

  5. Finish Method for Bullnoses

    A stair that has a curved outside edge is referred to as a bullnose. It is found most commonly at the very bottom of the staircase as the first stair. The carpet can be wrapped around the curved lip of the stair by making a slit as was done for the cap stair, and flexing the carpet around the bend. Depending on the depth of the stair, you may need to make two or three slits to achieve the proper coverage.

    Typically, carpet technicians install the riser of the bullnose separately from the tread to make it easier to wrap the carpet around the curve.

  6. Finish Method for Hollywood Stairs

    Stairs that have no risers are called Hollywood stairs. These are fairly simple to install; the same general process applies except the carpet is wrapped completely around the tread and stapled underneath.