Winder
A winder is a tapered stair tread used to change direction without a landing. NCC 2022 limits consecutive winders to 3 (quarter) or 6 (half landing).
Ask Chalkline about this →A winder is a tapered or triangular stair tread used to turn a staircase through a change of direction without needing a full flat landing. The tread is wider at the outside of the turn than the inside.
Winders are common in compact residential plans where a conventional landing would eat too much floor area. The trade-off is that the going varies across the tread width, which affects comfort and safety compared to a straight-flight stair with consistent goings.
Under the ABCB Housing Provisions Standard 2022 clause 11.2.2, there are limits on how many consecutive winders can replace a landing: no more than 3 consecutive winders in place of a quarter landing (90 degree turn), and no more than 6 consecutive winders in place of a half landing (180 degree turn). Handrails are not required alongside winders where a newel post is provided at the change of direction point (clause 11.3.5(2)).
Also known as: winder tread, winder step.
Category: Stair construction and compliance.
Related
- NCC stairs, balustrades and handrails: full Part H5 stair geometry and winder limits
See also
- Nosing: the front edge of a tread, relevant to handrail measurement at winders
- Going: the horizontal tread depth dimension that varies across a winder
Last updated: 2026-05-07. Verified: 2026-05-07. Quarterly review for currency.