New staircase costs: How much can you expect to pay?

New staircase costs are not easy to gauge, but this guide is here to help. Prices for a new staircase can vary greatly, depending on a whole of factors including materials. Then you need to consider how much it costs for labour. Be warned this is not a job for most DIYers.

Your chosen staircase design can also have a big impact on price. Choose a staircase with a basic design and standard materials and it will cost a lot less than a bespoke staircase with expensive materials. Here we help you understand the factors that affect cost and how much you should be paying for a new staircase.

Shakir Hussain

Shakir is the founder of HandyHumans, a property maintenance business based in London. Passionate about craftsmanship and client satisfaction, he leads a team dedicated to transforming spaces and exceeding expectations.

New staircase costs: How much does a new staircase cost?

The cost of the staircase itself can vary greatly depending on a whole host of factors. Hussain says that they include the following:

• Size - the bigger the stairs, the pricier they will be.
• Shape - straight staircases are cheaper than curved or spiral ones because they are more straightforward to build and install.
• Complexity - the more twists and turns, the more expensive the stairs will be.
• Materials - some materials are cheaper than others. For example, oak or glass are more expensive than pine.

With these factors in mind, Hussain gives a general guide on what you can expect to pay for staircases.

• Low-end - Expect to pay £1000-£2000 for no-nonsense, nothing fancy, basic softwood staircases.
• Mid-price - These cost around £2000-£5000 and typically include hardwood or metal staircases that offer more style and reliability.
• High-end - Expect to pay £5000+ for bespoke designs using exotic or uncommon materials.

These costs give you an outline of what you can expect to pay. But it's always worth checking online or heading to your local hardware store, who may be able to offer something for less. And, contact local builders or joiner’s to get quotes on your exact requirements.

How much to replace a staircase?

The first step when replacing a staircase is to get rid of the old one. The cost to get rid of an old staircase is around £300, but as you might expect the cost is typically included in any quotes you get for the work.

So, now to the important point, how much does it cost to replace a staircase? Well, there isn’t a simple answer. For starters the cost of your chosen staircase will have a big influence on the overall cost of replacement. It makes sense that if you choose a staircase that costs £1,000, the replacement cost will be a lot less than if you have chosen a £6,000 staircase.

Labour costs are another can’t ignore factor in the cost of replacement. Shakir Hussain, CEO at HandyHumans shares how much you can expect to pay, “Labour cost is usually between £1000 to £2500, depending on how complex the job is.”

Again this has a broad range, and as Hussain points out the complexity of the job is another factor. And, don’t forget if you live in a major city like London prices are typically higher. Check with a few local builders and carpenters to see how much they charge as you might be able to get the price down.

Cost of replacing spindles and bannisters

If the tread and risers on your staircase are still in good working order you may want to give it a new look with new spindles and/or bannisters. These typically cost a lot less than a staircase, but if you are looking at specialist spindles or bannisters you can expect to play a lot more.

Hussain says you expect to pay “around £200-£1000 for labour costs, depending on the number of spindles and complexity.” A carpenter will charge around £200-£300 a day.

But what about the cost of materials? This will depend very much on what materials and quality of material you choose. Wood is typically the cheapest, with metal, glass and other materials costing more.

• Wood spindles – At the cheaper end of the market you can get plain square pine spindles for as little as £2 each. More decorative softwood stair spindles are available for £5-£10 each, while hardwood stair spindles start at around £15 each.
• Metal spindles – Basic, plain metal spindles can be bought for around £4-£5 each. But as you might expect more decorative and styles metal spindles will be around £10+.
• Glass panels – The prices for glass stair panels will vary depending on size, thickness, style and type i.e. toughened. But expect individual panels to start at around £50-£100.
• Bannisters – Basic pine handrails can be bought for as little as £50-£100, but if you want a hardwood handrail these will be £150+ for one. Length will make a difference to the cost. For example, a short 1.2m hardwood bannister can cost £50+ while a more commonly used 4m option will be at least three times the price.

How much does it cost to relocate a staircase?

You might not like the current location of your staircase and want to reposition your old one, or add a new one elsewhere. But be warned this is not cheap as Hussain reveals, “This is where things get interesting (and expensive).” He continues, “A staircase cannot be located anywhere because you need the right space for this complex installation. You can try to use the current staircase if it fits the new space perfectly, but that would be pretty lucky.”

So when relocating you typically have to invest in a new staircase, which will obviously add to the cost. But how much should you expect to pay? “The cost really depends on many aspects and for an accurate quote you would require a proper inspection,” explains Hussain.

But as a general guideline he suggests that, “a simple relocation can start from £3500 and go as far as £7000, depending on the materials used and if you have to make any changes to the flooring and surrounding walls.”

But if the job is more complex, prices start at, “£7000 and can go as far as £15,000 in extreme cases, assuming that there are significant structural changes to be done such as moving load-bearing walls or adding new supports, modifying walls etc.”

So make sure to get a quote to adjust your budgeting costs accordingly.

FAQs

Does a new staircase add value? 

Introducing a new staircase can add value to a property, but it will depend very much on what type of staircase is being added. If you are adding a standard or basic replacement it will add very little value. But it will add aesthetic appeal and could be a selling point, like anything new added to a property.

A high quality staircase made from a quality material such as hardwood, metal or glass add perceived value which will help achieve a higher selling price.

Do I need planning permission to change stairs? 

Typically you won’t need planning permission to replace or relocate your stairs if there are no alterations to the external structure of the building. You may need consent if the property is a listed building.

But there are building regulations that a staircase should adhere to. Typically a standard staircase will adhere to building regulations.

If you’re looking for a new staircase make sure to check out our modern staircase ideas and staircase lighting ideas. If you are thinking of adding carpet to your stairs check out our How to measure carpet for stairs guide.