Basic Deck Stairs — board plan

What to buy, and which parts come off which board.

Buy 4 boards at 8 ft.

1 1/2" × 11 1/4" — 2x12

1 board · 8.1 board feet (includes 15% for knots and defects) · 64% of the boards you buy used

Board 1 · 34 3/4" left over
30"30"
1. Stringers — 30"
2. Stringers — 30"

1 1/2" × 5 1/2" — 2x6

3 boards · 11.9 board feet (includes 15% for knots and defects) · 64% of the boards you buy used

Board 1 · 22 3/4" left over
36"36"
1. Ledger / back board — 36"
2. Tread boards — 36"
Board 2 · 22 3/4" left over
36"36"
1. Tread boards — 36"
2. Tread boards — 36"
Board 3 · 58 7/8" left over
36"
1. Tread boards — 36"

Cuts are listed longest-first, which is how they should be made: the awkward pieces get placed while there is still board to place them on. The layout assumes one end of each board is squared off (1") and that every cut costs 1/8" of kerf — the reason six 16″ parts do not fit on a 96″ board.

1 1/2" × 11 1/4" — 2x12

Board 1 · 34 3/4" left over

1 1/2" × 5 1/2" — 2x6

Board 1 · 22 3/4" left over

Board 2 · 22 3/4" left over

Board 3 · 58 7/8" left over