Planning Concrete Steps
Concrete steps are one of the trickier pours because the geometry isn't a simple rectangle. Each step is a separate volume — riser height × tread depth × step width — and the total includes the landing at the top and the footing at the bottom.
Total = Sum of all steps + Landing + Footing
Standard: 7" riser, 11" tread (IRC R311.7)
Building code (IRC R311.7) limits riser height to 7¾ inches maximum and requires a minimum 10-inch tread. The most comfortable dimensions are 7-inch risers with 11-inch treads. All risers must be the same height — uneven risers are a tripping hazard and a code violation.