A wide deck staircase with a seating area can provide extra seating facing the garden without taking up any additional space on the deck.
The solution works best when it is clear which parts are for walking on and which are for sitting on. A seating step should therefore be designed like a bench or a landing – not like a regular step in the middle of a staircase.
In this guide, we'll go over where to position the seating step, what depth works best in practice, how the railing is affected, and what you need to consider regarding materials, lighting, and safety.
Where should the step be placed on a deck staircase?
A seating step should be placed at the bottom, closest to the ground, or at the top, closest to the deck. An extra-deep step in the middle of a straight staircase disrupts the rhythm of the steps and can increase the risk of tripping.
The same principle is important when planning an outdoor staircase: the section used for walking should have a steady rhythm, while the seating area should be located outside the continuous walking sequence.
Avoid
A step to sit on in the middle of the main flight of stairs
After a few steps, your body gets used to the distance to the next step edge. If a step suddenly becomes 50 or 60 centimetres deep, the next edge won't be where your foot expects it to be.
Therefore, a deep seating step should not be positioned as a non-standard step in the middle of the section of the staircase used for walking.
It's better to put it here
At the bottom, near the ground, or at the top, near the deck
When the seating step is at the beginning or end of the staircase, the body does not need to maintain the same walking rhythm after the deep surface.
The seating area can then serve as a landing or bench rather than an unusual stair step.
What makes a deck staircase with seating practical and inviting?
A deck staircase is most useful as a seating area when the seating is positioned outside the usual walking path, the staircase is wide enough, and the materials and lighting are well-suited to the space. In that case, the same structure can both create a comfortable transition to the garden and provide additional seating without the need for freestanding furniture.
| Design choices | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Stairs spanning the entire width of the deck | Provides several natural seating areas without taking up space on the deck with loose furniture. |
| Extra-deep bottom step | It can serve as a natural bench facing the garden without disrupting the rhythm of the staircase. |
| Top step leading to the deck | Provides a seating area where the deep surface serves as a landing rather than a step that stands out in the middle of the staircase. |
| The same material as the deck surface | This creates a visual connection between the staircase and the deck, making them feel like part of the same structure. |
| Lighting by the stairs | Make changes in elevation and step edges more visible at dusk or in the dark. |
How does a step affect the railing on the deck stairs?
A wide step next to the railing also serves as a platform to stand on. This means that the effective height of the railing is lower from the new standing level, so the step must be taken into account when planning the railing’s layout.
When you're planning a railing for your deck, you should therefore base your calculations on the highest surface that anyone might actually stand on—not just the decking or ground level.
Principle
The seating step creates a new level to stand on
When a step becomes seating
The balustrade needs to be assessed from the level at which one can actually stand
For a child, a wide step is not just a bench. It is also a surface to step up onto and stand on. When the seating step is positioned directly next to the balustrade, the foot level is raised by the entire height of the step.
If the deck is located at a high elevation, the placement of the railing must therefore be planned so that the step does not create an unprotected standing area inside the railing.
Two possible solutions
How can the railing be installed around a seating step?
Outside the seating step
Run the balustrade beyond the outer edge of the step
The balustrade extends beyond the wide seating area, so that the step does not form a raised platform inside the guardrail.
Along the stairs
Let the railing continue down the side of the stairs
In that case, the guard follows the surface along which you are moving and reduces the possibility of stepping inside the railing from the seating step.
How deep should a step on a deck staircase be?
A seat depth of about 50–55 centimetres often works well when the step is to be used as a bench. At less than about 45 centimetres, the seating surface becomes too shallow, while a depth of more than 60 centimetres provides more space than is normally needed for sitting.
It might feel too shallow to use as a bench
The seat depth is limited, and you easily end up sitting far out on the edge instead of being able to sit comfortably across the entire surface.
Provides a place to sit without taking up too much space
The depth functions more like a real bench, while the seating step can still be kept in proportion to the rest of the staircase.
It easily becomes more than just a place to sit
The extra space is often used for items such as cushions and pots, and begins to function more like a wide ledge than a simple bench.
What material is best suited for an outdoor seating step?
Wood is often the most comfortable material to sit directly on, while dark composite, stone, concrete, and especially metal can become significantly hotter in strong sunlight. The choice of material should therefore be based on both the desired aesthetic and the staircase’s exposure to the sun.
| Materials | How it feels in the sun | Things to Keep in Mind |
|---|---|---|
| Timber and composite | Wood is often comfortable to sit on, while dark composite can get significantly warmer. | This works well when the step is used as a bench, but the colour and sun exposure affect how hot the surface gets. |
| Stone and concrete | It can store heat and remain warm even after the sun has set. | It may feel comfortable later in the day but become less comfortable after many hours in strong sunlight. |
| Metal | It can get very hot in direct sunlight. | If possible, avoid using metal for the seating surface itself where the stairs are exposed to strong sunlight. |
What should you check before building a deck staircase with seating?
First, decide where to place the seating area, and then check the dimensions of the steps, the railing’s length, the materials, and the lighting. That way, the seating area can become a natural part of the deck without compromising the staircase’s functionality.
Check before construction
Seven things to consider before you start building
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Is the seating step at the top or bottom?
Position the seating step at the bottom of the staircase near ground level, or at the top next to the deck. That way, the deep seating surface won't disrupt the walking rhythm of a standard staircase.
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Are the regular steps even?
Keep the steps used for walking consistent in height and design. The seating step is a deliberate exception and should serve as a bench or a final landing.
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Have you tested the seat depth before building it?
Feel free to test the intended depth before the structure is permanently installed. About 50–55 centimetres often works well when the step is to be used as a bench.
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Is the seat wide enough?
A wide staircase can provide several natural seating areas and create a smoother transition between the deck and the garden, but the seating area should not obstruct the clear path.
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Is the railing designed based on the new standing level of the step?
A wide seating step also serves as a surface to stand on. If there is a risk of falling, the railing’s layout must therefore be designed so that the seat surface does not create an unprotected standing area inside the railing.
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Is the material suitable for the staircase's sun exposure?
Don't choose based solely on appearance. Wood is often comfortable to sit on, while dark composite materials, stone, concrete, and metal can get significantly hotter in direct sunlight.
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Can you see the edges of the stairs when it gets dark?
On a wide, low staircase, downward-facing lighting can make step edges and changes in level easier to see at dusk and in the dark.
Next step
Are you planning to build a wide deck staircase?
Plan the balustrade at the same time as the staircase so that the seating steps, walkway, and fall protection function as a unified whole. If you need help with the balustrade’s layout, customer service can assist you based on your measurements.
What do you need to know about a deck staircase with seating?
Here, we answer common questions about seat depth, placement, steps, handrails, materials, and lighting when the deck staircase is also intended to serve as a seating area.
How deep should a step be?
Around 50–55 centimetres usually works well. At less than about 45 centimetres, the seat depth tends to be too shallow, while a depth of more than 60 centimetres often ends up serving more as a storage surface than as a bench.
Can I have a seating step in the middle of the staircase?
We advise against placing an extra-deep step in the middle of the staircase. It disrupts the rhythm of the steps and can increase the risk of tripping. Place the step at the bottom, closest to the ground, or at the top, closest to the deck—where the staircase naturally begins or ends anyway.
Do the other steps have to be the same height?
Steps used as part of a standard staircase should have a uniform rhythm and consistent dimensions. The seating step should therefore be treated as a separate bench or landing, not as an irregular step in the middle of the staircase.
Does the seat height affect the balustrade?
Yes. A wide step next to the railing also serves as a platform to stand on and creates a higher standing level. The railing’s layout must therefore be planned so that the step does not create an unprotected standing area inside the railing.
What material doesn't get too hot to sit on?
Wood is often the most comfortable choice for seating. Dark composite materials can get very hot in direct sunlight, and metal should be avoided as a seating surface because it can become uncomfortably hot. Stone and concrete can also retain a lot of heat.
Behöver en bred altantrappa belysning?
Lighting is especially useful on a wide, low staircase, where the edges of the steps can be difficult to make out at dusk. Downward-facing light at the steps makes the differences in level more obvious.
Is it possible to add a seating step later?
It’s often possible, but a new seating step can affect both the staircase’s design and the balustrade’s alignment. Therefore, check how the new seating surface relates to the staircase and the balustrade before you remodel.
