Layout and Cut Stringers

What happens in this clip

Once your landing is installed and the rise and run of your steps have been determined, it's time to lay out the steps on your 2x12 lumber for the stringers. Set stair gauges on a framing square to match the exact height of your calculated rise and the length of your calculated run. Hold the framing square firmly at the corner of a 2x12 plank and use a pencil to mark the line for the top run cut. Then, slide the square along the plank, aligning it carefully, and mark both the rise and run for the next step. Continue this process, marking each successive rise and run, until you have laid out all your steps on the stringer board. For the top step, which will attach directly to the deck, subtract the thickness of a toe kick board and strike a perpendicular line; this is where the stringer will connect to the deck, and there won't be a separate toe kick here. At the very bottom step, mark the thickness of a tread board. This mark is crucial to ensure that once the treads are installed, the bottom step will be the same height as all the other steps. After marking, use a circular saw to make the bulk of the cuts for the stringer, and then switch to a handsaw to finish any cuts that the circular saw cannot reach, particularly in the inside corners of the steps. Finally, use this first cut stringer as a precise template to mark and cut all your remaining stringers, ensuring consistency across all stair supports.

Goal: Precisely mark and cut the stringers for the stairs based on calculated rise and run.

What's used

Tools

• 2x12 Lumber
• Circular Saw Kobalt
• Framing Square
• Handsaw
• Hearing Protection
• Pencil
• Safety Glasses
• Stair Gauges

About the full video

This project guides you through the process of building a safe and sturdy set of wooden stairs and railings for your deck, covering everything from calculating dimensions to installing the final handrails. It emphasizes adherence to building codes and provides options for landing foundations.

Step 5 of 6: Transfer Layout and Cut Additional Stringers

With the first stringer accurately cut, use it as a template to mark the layout on your other stringer boards. Lay the first stringer on top of a new 2x12 board, aligning the edges precisely. Trace the lines of the first stringer onto the second board. Repeat this for all required stringers (typically two to three, depending on the width of your stairs). Once marked, cut the additional stringers following the same procedure as the first, ensuring all cuts are clean and accurate. Having identical stringers is crucial for stable and level stairs.

Open this step in the guide

Every video in How to Lay Out and Cut Deck Stair Stringers

1. Step 1: Determine Stair Riser Height and Tread Depth

   • 0:06–1:32 Calculate Stair Dimensions
   • 0:19–0:57 Calculate Stair Dimensions and Stringer Type
   • 0:51–1:37 Calculate Individual Step Rise and Total Run

2. Step 2: Select Stringer Material

   • 0:00–0:03 Cut Stringers
   • 6:08–6:51 Stair Stringer Fabrication
   • 2:20–3:14 Mark and Cut Stringers

3. Step 3: Mark the First Stringer Layout

   • 3:10–3:59 Mark the Stringer Board
   • 6:59–9:34 Mark the Stair Stringer for Cutting
   • 6:12–7:01 Marking the Stringers

4. Step 4: Cut the First Stringer

   • 6:15–7:14 Cut Out the Stringer
   • 4:16–5:49 Cut Stringers
   • 15:12–19:27 Cutting the Stair Stringer

5. Step 5: Transfer Layout and Cut Additional Stringers

   • 8:43–8:58 Cutting Remaining Stringers using Template
   • 7:14–7:47 Replicate Stringers (Pattern Use)
   • 2:49–3:44 Layout and Cut Stringers (this video)

6. Step 6: Trim the Bottom of the Stringers

   • 7:25–10:59 Mark Top and Bottom Stringer Cuts
   • 7:30–8:22 Check and Adjust First Stringer
   • 8:10–9:35 Mark Top and Bottom Stringer Cuts