Staircase Construction Quote Template
Free staircase construction quote template for timber, steel, and concrete stairs. Covers stringers, treads, risers, balustrade, and BCA compliance.
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Or try it on the web →This staircase quote template is for carpenters building internal timber stairs for new builds or renovations. It works for straight flights, quarter-turn, and half-turn stairs. Most quotes go wrong in two places: under-pricing the labour for complex balustrades and forgetting the cost of site prep and temporary access during the build. Getting these details right at the start keeps your profit margin safe. Use this guide to make sure your numbers are accurate and you’ve covered every line item before you send the quote to the builder or homeowner.
How to Price Stair Materials and Labour
Your main costs are stringers, treads, and the balustrade. A standard pair of pre-primed pine stringers for a 2.7m ceiling might cost $300 from Bunnings Trade. Victorian Ash or Merbau will be double that. Price treads individually; a standard 900mm Tassie Oak tread is about $60. Labour is the biggest variable. A simple, straight flight might take two carpenters 1.5 days (24 hours total). A winder staircase with a glass balustrade could take 4-5 days. Always factor labour at your hourly rate, say $85/hr, plus 15% for material waste and fixings. QuoteMate can store these rates to make pricing consistent.
What Gets Left Off a Staircase Quote
It's easy to miss the non-obvious costs. Site access can be a big one; if you need to hire a small crane or scaffold to get stringers to a second floor, add that cost. Demolition and disposal of an old staircase can add half a day's labour plus tip fees. Also, check if structural changes are needed to the floor joists to create the stair void. This requires engineering sign-off, which is a separate cost. Finally, all stairs and balustrades must comply with the National Construction Code (NCC) Part 3.9.1 for dimensions and safety, so make sure your design is compliant before you price it.
Materials Included
- Stair stringers (timber or steel)
- Treads and risers
- Balustrade posts and handrail
- Balustrade infill (glass, wire, timber)
- Brackets and fixings
- Stair nosing strips
Quoting Steps
- 1Measure floor-to-floor height and available space
- 2Calculate number of risers and tread depth
- 3Select materials for stringers and treads
- 4Design balustrade to BCA requirements
- 5Include all hardware and fixings
- 6Add labour for fabrication and installation
Frequently Asked Questions
A glass balustrade is a specialist job. Instead of timber balusters at $15 each, you're looking at toughened glass panels that cost $300-$500 per linear metre supplied and installed. This includes the stainless steel spigots or channel fixings. Always get a direct quote from a glass supplier and add your margin, don't guess the price.
Yes, if the site will be active while you work. WorkSafe rules require fall protection. A temporary handrail is your responsibility until the permanent balustrade is installed. You can build a simple one with construction pine and charge for 2-3 hours of labour plus materials, or hire a temporary edge protection system for around $40 per metre per week.
The National Construction Code (NCC) dictates the dimensions. The riser height must be between 115mm and 190mm. The tread depth (going) must be between 240mm and 355mm. The slope relationship (2 x Riser + 1 x Going) must fall between 550mm and 700mm. These dimensions are detailed in NCC 2022 Volume Two, Part 3.9.1.
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