✨ Stair Lighting Planner
Stair Lighting Calculator
Riser lights, wall sconces, handrail strip, and downlights — with placement logic and safe spacing.
Lighting style preset
Staircase dimensions
Including top and bottom step
Typical: 7–7.75 in
Nosing to nosing
Stair configuration
Open or closed?
Indoor / outdoor?
Wall access?
⚠ Non-standard stair geometry detected. Winder and spiral stairs have variable tread widths — fixture spacing based on step count alone can give misleading results. Use the spacing guidance below as a starting point, but verify placement on-site. Each winder/spiral staircase is unique.
Lighting choices
Stair geometry
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Total run
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Total rise
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Slope angle
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Stair surface area
Side elevation — fixture placement
Riser / step light
Wall sconce
Handrail LED strip
Ceiling downlight
Recommended layout
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Fixtures needed
– lm
Lumens per fixture
– lm
Total lumens
– W
Watts per fixture
– W
Total load
–
Fixture spacing
Safety & glare guidance
Night mode
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Design guidance only. This calculator provides lighting design estimates based on standard formulas and your inputs. It does not constitute professional engineering advice and does not certify compliance with any building code, fire regulation, or safety standard. Always verify stair lighting installations with a qualified electrician and check local building regulations before installation.
Mounting position guide
The mounting location changes the visual effect, shadow direction, and glare risk completely. Choose based on your stair construction and desired aesthetic.
Riser-mounted
Light sits in the riser face, aimed down at the tread. Most common residential choice. No hotspot on tread.
Best for: closed-riser stairs, any style
Sidewall recessed
Recessed into the wall beside the stair. Creates dramatic diagonal shadows across each tread. Very architectural.
Best for: feature stairs, walled corridors
Under-tread LED strip
LED strip runs along the underside of the tread nosing. Creates a floating, glowing-tread effect. Stunning but complex.
Best for: floating/open-riser stairs
Handrail-integrated
LED strip runs inside a hollow handrail profile. Soft ambient wash, low glare. Works with motion sensors easily.
Best for: modern handrails, supplementary light
Ceiling downlights
Standard downlights above the stair. Easy to install but creates shadow risk on treads. Use wide flood beams only.
Best for: safety/code baseline, supplementary
Pendant / chandelier
Decorative fixture at the landing or void. Pure architectural statement — not a task lighting solution on its own.
Best for: double-height halls, luxury entry
Colour temperature for stair lighting
CCT is purely emotional on stairs — it sets whether the stair feels like a luxury hotel lobby or a hospital corridor.
1800K
Candlelight2200K
Ultra warm2700K
Warm white3000K
Soft white4000K+
Cool
Candlelight2200K
Ultra warm2700K
Warm white3000K
Soft white4000K+
Cool
Smart home and scene ideas
Stairs are one of the best use cases for smart lighting — they’re used at all hours, by different people, for short transits. Automation earns its keep here.
PIR motion activation
Motion sensor triggers lights on detection, fades after 30–60 seconds. Saves energy, eliminates switch-hunting in the dark.
Dusk-to-dawn dimming
Lights activate at sunset at 100%, dim to 5% after 10pm. Full brightness on motion. Elegant automation.
Night mode scene
1–5% amber glow from 11pm to 7am. Enough to navigate safely without waking anyone or triggering melatonin response.
Cinema mode
10–20% warm amber, perhaps RGB colour scene. Triggered by “Movie” scene in smart speaker. Sets the mood instantly.
Child-safe occupancy
Always-on at 30–40% when children are home. Full brightness on motion. Never below 50 lux during active hours.
RGB accent scenes
RGBW strip under treads or in handrail. Scene-programmable: warm white daily, colour for events. Requires smart driver.