How Much Does Labor Cost to Replace Stair Treads and Risers?

Labor to replace stair treads and risers runs about $100 per foot of staircase in the Houston area as of 2026. An average staircase measures about 14 to 15 feet going up, so plan on roughly $1,400 to $1,500 in labor, or a little over $100 per step. Parts for 13 steps add about $750 to $2,000, depending on the wood, for a total of about $2,200 to $3,500.

By Douglas Lovin, owner of Cheap Stair Parts, 20+ years in stair parts · Updated 10/21/26

How Installers Price Tread Labor

Installers usually price stair work by the foot of staircase, measured going up the stairs from the bottom step to the top. Rates are about the same whether they’re ripping out old treads and putting in new ones, swapping balusters or installing a new railing. It’s about the same amount of work.

Staircase	Length going up	Labor at $100/ft
Short staircase (about 10 steps)	11 ft	$1,100
Average staircase (13 to 14 steps)	14 to 15 ft	$1,400 – $1,500
Tall staircase (about 16 steps)	18 ft	$1,800

Got carpet on the stairs now? Pulling up carpet and pad is usually part of the job, but ask your installer to be sure.

Parts Cost for 13 Steps

Real prices from our store as of October 2026, for 13 steps that are 36 to 42 inches wide:

Option	Per step	13 steps
Red oak tread + red oak riser	About $69	About $900
Red oak RetroFit tread kit with riser	About $59	About $760
White oak tread + white oak riser	About $150	About $1,950

• Treads: our 36″ red oak 11-1/2″ bullnosed tread is $43.45, or $73.89 in white oak.
• Risers: a 3 ft red oak 7-1/4″ riser is $25.54, or $76.54 in white oak. Painting the risers? MDF risers start at $7.91.
• RetroFit kits: RetroFit tread kits are for carpeted stairs. You pull up the carpet, the step gets reframed, and the RetroFit tread and riser give it a solid hardwood look. It’s a different process from replacing solid treads, but labor is still about $100 a foot. A 42″ red oak kit with riser is $58.58.

All of our treads ship unfinished, so budget for stain and finish too, or ask your installer if finishing is in the quote. Not sure which tread you need? See our guide to the types of stair treads.

What Makes the Job Cost More

• More steps. Taller stairs mean more feet, more treads and more risers.
• Open sides. A stair that’s open on one side needs mitered return treads, which cost more than standard treads.
• Landings. Landings need landing tread and more fitting.
• Wider stairs. Treads wider than 42″ cost more per step.
• Wood species. White oak costs about twice what red oak does. Hickory, maple and walnut cost more again.
• Finishing. Staining and sealing new treads takes extra time.

How to Save Money

• Pull the carpet yourself. It’s easy demo work you can do before the installer shows up.
• Paint the risers. MDF or poplar risers painted white cost a fraction of oak and are a popular look.
• Buy the parts yourself. Many installers will install parts you supply, so you skip the materials markup.
• Do the railing at the same time. If you’re also changing balusters, doing it all at once avoids paying for two trips. See railing labor cost.
• Use a coupon. Check our current coupon codes before you order.

Bottom Line

Plan on about $1,400 to $1,500 in labor for an average staircase in the Houston area, plus $750 to $2,000 in treads and risers. Expect higher labor rates in more expensive cities. Questions about which treads fit your stairs? Contact us and we’ll help.