Best Flooring for Stairs: LVP, Hardwood, Carpet and What It Takes

The best stair flooring is usually whatever matches the floors at the top and bottom, installed with a solid, secure nosing on every step. Carpet is the most forgiving and has the best grip. Hardwood treads are the most durable and classic. LVP works well on stairs when it's done with the right stair nose pieces. What matters most is that every step is safe, tight and the same height.

Why stairs cost more

Stairs are almost all hand work. Every tread and riser is measured, cut, fit and fastened one at a time. Old staircases are rarely square, so no two steps are exactly alike. That's why stairs cost far more per square foot than open floor and take a lot longer. For budgeting, see LVP installation cost.

The options

• Carpet. Quietest, softest and best grip. Easy to install over most old stairs. Shows wear on the nose of each step over time.
• Hardwood treads. Solid wood treads with painted or wood risers. Durable, can be refinished, and looks right in older homes. Can be slippery in socks, so many people add a runner.
• LVP. Uses a matching stair nose piece on each step's front edge. It's water resistant and ties into LVP floors above and below. The nosing has to be glued and fastened properly, since that's where all the force goes.
• Laminate. Similar approach to LVP, with matching nosing. Harder surface, but more slippery and less forgiving of moisture.

Safety comes first

• Consistent step heights. Adding thickness to the treads can make the top or bottom step a different height than the rest. That's a real tripping hazard, so it gets planned before anything goes down.
• Secure nosing. A loose or flexing stair nose is dangerous. It needs to be solidly attached.
• Grip. Textured surfaces, matte finishes, or a runner help, especially for kids, older folks and dogs.
• Lighting. Not a flooring issue, but a light-colored floor on a dark staircase can make edges harder to see. Contrast at the nose helps.

What's under the carpet?

Pull back the carpet at the top step before you decide anything. In some older homes you'll find solid wood treads worth refinishing. In others, especially newer builds, you'll find plywood or particleboard that was always meant to be covered. That changes the plan and the price.

Matching the rest of the house

If the hallway upstairs and the living room downstairs are getting new LVP, doing the stairs in the same product ties it all together. If you're keeping carpet on the stairs, the transition at the top and bottom needs clean edges. More on that in flooring transitions between rooms.

Rentals

For multi-unit buildings in Danielson, Willimantic and similar towns, stairs take a beating. Durable, easy-to-clean treads with solid nosing usually outlast carpet in common stairways. See LVP vs. carpet for rentals.

How we handle stairs

At the free walkthrough we count the steps, check what's underneath, and look at how the top and bottom meet the floors. Your written fixed-price quote spells out the stairs separately so you can see what they cost. Book a walkthrough if your staircase is on the list.