How to Remove Carpet From Stairs for a Fresh New Look

Learn Stair Terms

Knowing stair and flooring terminology will make following the directions easier. Here are terms you’ll want to be familiar with:

• Stairstep: Each individual step on a staircase, often referred to as a step

• Tread: The flat, horizontal part of a stairstep where you place your feet

• Riser: The vertical part of a step that forms a 90-degree angle with the tread of the step below it

• Nosing or nose: The rounded edge at the front of each step that hangs over the riser below it 

• Padding: The soft foam pad under the carpeting

• Tack strip: Narrow wood strips with tiny tack nails that are attached to the back of the stair treads and hold carpeting in place on the stairs

Know Your Goal When Taking Carpet Off Stairs

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If you’re going to recarpet the stairs once you've removed the old carpeting, the job will be easier. You’ll likely be able to reuse the tack strips instead of removing them, and you may be able to reuse the padding if it’s in good condition and not flattened or dirty. You also won’t need to worry about the appearance of the stairs underneath. 

On the other hand, if you’re planning to invest in the cost of refinishing hardwood steps or painting and transforming your staircase, what lies beneath will be more important to you. You’ll want to find hardwood risers under the carpet if you want to refinish the wood. To repaint, the type of wood doesn’t matter as much; it simply needs to be in good condition.

To determine what’s underneath, use a pair of pliers to grip the corner of a piece of carpeting. Many builders save money by using plywood instead of hardwood, simply bordering the carpeted areas with hardwood and covering the cheaper materials with carpeting. If that’s the case with your stairs and you were hoping to refinish the wood underneath, you may need to replace the risers with hardwood, paint instead of refinish, or install new carpeting. 

And remember, it’s okay if your goals change based on what you find when you pull back the carpet. If what you find changes the scope of the project and the budget, pivoting may be a smart move.

Prep the Stairs

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Start by vacuuming the stairs. Place your tools—including your wet-dry vacuum or hand vacuum—at the top of the staircase (working down is much easier than working upward). You’ll move these tools down a step every time you move down so they’re in easy reach. Then, starting at the top of the staircase, use the utility knife and a screwdriver or scraper to pry up a corner of the carpeting from the first riser.

Remove the Carpet From the Top Riser

With the pliers, hold the exposed corner of the carpet and pull toward you, separating the carpet from the wood and tack strip. When you’ve separated a large enough corner of the carpet to grab ahold of it, use your gloved hands to continue pulling the piece of carpeting until it’s free from the riser. As you remove the carpet, be wary of staples and fasteners embedded in the loose carpeting. These can scratch your arms and puncture gloves, so look before you grab.

Remove the Carpet From the Top Stair Tread

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Next, move down to the stair tread that forms a 90-degree angle at the bottom of the riser from which you just removed the carpet. Use the pliers to free a corner of the carpeting that covers the tread, just as you did with the riser. When you’ve freed enough of the carpet to grab it with your gloved hands, pull it completely free.

As you work, roll the carpeting (with the carpet pile in and the backing out) down the steps in the direction you’re working. This will keep the loose carpet from flopping around and help you control your workspace.

Remove Carpet Padding (Optional)

After removing the carpet from the tread, the padding should remain. If you’re going to recarpet and the padding looks like new, you may leave it in place. However, if it’s flattened or dirty, or if you’re refinishing your stairs, you’ll need to remove the carpet padding stuck to the floor. 

Use a pry bar or scraper to tear into the padding, and then pull it up. Unlike the carpet, it probably won’t come off in one solid sheet, so you’ll likely need to scrape or tear it off in pieces. Collect the pieces in a trash bag, or drop them off the side of the stairs and collect them all at once during the clean-up phase. Use the wet-dry vacuum or hand vacuum to remove dust and debris that collects under the padding.

Dispose of the Old Carpet and Padding

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When you’ve pulled up the carpeting and pad, place the rolls of carpet and the padding into sturdy boxes or trash bags. If you’re disposing of a lot of carpeting and have limited trash service, you may need to take the rolls and the pad to a disposal site, rent a dumpster, or hire a junk hauling service. Otherwise, set it out with your waste pickup.

Pry up Tack Strips (Optional)

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If you’re installing new carpeting and your tack strips are in good shape, skip this step. Tack strips can be hard to remove, so leave them in place if you can.

Note: Some DIYers prefer to pry up tack strips and remove staples and fasteners as they move down each riser and tread; others leave these steps until after removing the carpeting and pad. Doing it as you go can be safer so that you don’t leave sharp items exposed, but you’ll need to decide which method works best for you.

When you’ve pulled up the carpet and pad, be sure you’re wearing eye, hand, and hearing protection, and then use a pry bar or chisel and hammer to pry the tack strips free from the stairs. You can place a wide putty knife or scraper under the pry bar to protect the wood stairs from denting and damage. As you work, remember that most tack strips will splinter into smaller pieces rather than come off in one large strip. Place the tack strips into a large trash bag as you remove them.

Remove the Remaining Staples

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Most staples come up with the carpeting; however, some will remain embedded in the steps. Grab the staples and pull them out of the wood using pliers or a heavy-duty carpet staple remover. Place the staples directly into a trash bag or container for safe disposal. If needed, use a flathead screwdriver to gently pry the staples up to give you enough room to get ahold of them with your pliers or staple remover.

If you’re recarpeting or installing new stair treads, you may hammer down staples so they’re flush with the surface rather than removing them.

Continue Down the Staircase

Repeat this pattern down the entire staircase: Pull the carpet free from the riser, remove the carpet from the tread, remove the padding (if necessary), and then pull up tack strips and the remaining staples. Working on one riser and tread at a time keeps the job manageable and cleaner.

Cut Excess Carpeting

Most people can go about three risers and treads before the roll of carpeting gets heavy and unwieldy. When it’s as big as you want it to get, pause and use the utility knife to cut the roll free. Cut the carpet from the back in a straight line across the mesh or backing. This way, you can see the line you’re cutting. Be careful not to cut into the staircase or the wood.

Use duct tape to secure the carpet rolls. Then, set the rolls together and out of the way until you’ve finished removing the carpeting and padding.

Patch Holes and Sand Rough Spots (Optional)

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If you’re recarpeting, skip this step. But if you’re staining or painting the stairs, go over each tread and riser and look carefully for holes, gaps, rough spots, stuck-on pad glue, adhesive from tack strips, and other trouble spots and imperfections that will keep your new stairs from looking their best.

Using a wax wood-filler stick or colored wood putty, fill holes left by nails, staples, and fasteners. When the filler has had time to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions, smooth the filled areas and any rough spots with a fine-grit sandpaper.

Recheck Each Stair

This is your chance to give each step one last lookover for missed nails, tacks, adhesive, damage, holes, or issues you want to address. Carefully look over each stair, fixing what you can now and making a note of what you want to tackle before you move on to refinishing. For example, you may find baseboards need repainting or some steps have squeaks you want to address.

Vacuum the Stairs

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Use your wet-dry vacuum or hand vacuum to carefully clean each step, paying special attention to corners and other areas where dirt and dust may have collected. You may also want to spot clean stains and dirty areas or damp mop the entire staircase, depending on how dirty or discolored the wood is. However, remember that unsealed wood can permanently stain and discolor if exposed to water or certain cleansers, so use caution, especially if you’re planning to stain or seal hardwood steps.

Prepare for the Next Phase After Pulling Carpet Off Stairs

Depending on your goals, now is the time to get ready to recarpet, paint, stain, or refinish your staircase. Think about the task ahead and what you’ll need to do to get your current staircase ready for the work. This can look like preparing the wood, buying materials, calling contractors, and making a plan.