10 Types of Stairs: A Breakdown of Common Staircase Designs

If you are building or remodeling your home, there are various staircases to choose from to meet the functional and aesthetic needs of your interior design. Here are the benefits and drawbacks of the most common types of stairs:

1. 1. Cantilever stairs: Cantilever stairs are sometimes referred to as floating stairs because they appear to be floating in the air. This minimalist design anchors a beam in the wall without other visible support structures, such as a handrail, on the other side. Builders can use various materials to form a floating staircase, including wood, glass, concrete, or stainless steel. This design is popular in modern homes for its clean and minimalistic design with open risers that allow light to seep through each step. The additional hidden support needed to make these stairs architecturally sound requires extra planning and costs.
2. 2. Curved stairs: A curved staircase makes an inviting statement with its gentle arc. Unlike a spiral staircase, these stairs do not form a complete circle. Instead, the steps and railing follow a subtle curve, making them more straightforward to navigate. These stairs are commonly placed in an entryway to highlight their elegant design, which can be pricier than traditional stairs because they are more complex to construct.
3. 3. Enclosed staircase: This set of steps is enclosed on both sides by a wall. Though it can take various shapes, it is distinct because it does not have a railing. Frequently, there is a door at the top or bottom of the enclosed staircase. This staircase is compact and hidden but leaves limited scope for thoughtful design elements.
4. 4. L-shaped stairs: L-shaped stairs are a straight staircase with one 90-degree turn somewhere along the stairs, usually at a midpoint landing. The l-shaped staircase takes up less space than the straight stair, as quarter-turn stairs can fit neatly in the corner of a room. These stairs may be easier to ascend than curved stairs due to the landing, which interrupts the climb. As for notable downsides, the additional complexity of the design and materials needed to build the handrails and support the landing make these stairs more expensive to build.
5. 5. Ladder: The ladder is the most space-efficient option in the stair world. Popular in small spaces where preserving every inch of space matters, this compact design is a no-frills way to get up and down. Some designs make it possible to hide the ladder when it is not in use. Ladders, however, are steep and narrow, which can be tricky to navigate. For this reason, building codes do not allow ladder stairs to be the primary staircase in your home design.
6. 6. Spiral stairs: Spiral staircases form a tightly wound helical shape around a center pole, resembling a corkscrew. Homeowners opt for this kind of space-saving stair in environments where floor space is coveted, such as an outdoor deck. Though whimsical, these circular staircases can be tricky for some to climb because each step narrows towards the center, and they usually have open risers. Some building codes prohibit circular stairs from being a home’s primary flight of stairs.
7. 7. Split stairs: Also called bifurcated stairs, the split staircase is the most stately of staircases. Usually placed in a grand entrance of a large home, this design typically begins with a single wide staircase that splits into two narrower sets of steps going in opposite directions at a central landing. Also, the banister and balusters (vertical pillars below the railing) may be more ornate and prominent than in other types of stairs. These grand stairs are expensive and take up a lot of space.
8. 8. Straight stairs: The most common set of stairs is the straight staircase. This functional design ascends from one level to the next without any change in direction. These straight stairs are less expensive to build than many of the other styles that require a curve, like curved stairs. Commercial buildings commonly feature this design with a mid-landing. The main drawback of this style is that it takes up a significant amount of linear space.
9. 9. U-shaped stairs: U-shaped stairs are similar to l-shaped stairs, except the second part makes a 180-degree turn at the flat landing. Homeowners favor these stairs, sometimes called switchback stairs, for their visually interesting design and space efficiency. Like l-shaped stairs, the inclusion of a half-turn assumes less linear space than straight stairs and can fit in a corner. This stair design can also create greater privacy between floors. On the other hand, it may be harder to find a railing for this type of staircase, not to mention it is much more challenging to maneuver furniture up and down this stair’s multiple right angles.
10. 10. Winder stairs: Winder stairs resemble l-shaped stairs—a set of three triangular steps takes the place of the small landing where the staircase makes a 90-degree turn. This subtle variation makes winder staircases even more compact than the l-shape. However, some may find those corner steps tricky to navigate as each step narrows towards the axis of the arc.

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