As far as home designs go, stairs are ones that you want to get right. Any flaw in the execution could lead to an embarrassing trip or, even worse, a serious fall.
We are so used to walking up and down stairways all day every day, that we don't even think to look if everything is in order. These truly horrific stair designs, collected in a list by Bored Panda, are on another level. Poorly planned, dangerous, and maybe even deadly, after seeing them, you might want to look twice before you take your next step!
Seriously, how these design fails even came to live? Scroll down to check out the very worst staircases you'll ever see, and take care out there!
This post may include affiliate links.
Not A Good Carpet Choice For Stairs If You Ask Me
Are you ready for some scintillating stair facts? Of course you are! With thanks to StepJockey, here are a few things about home improvement that you might not have known.
- Stair climbing is officially classed as a ‘vigorous exercise’ and burns more calories per minute than jogging
- Stair climbing requires 8-9 times more energy expenditure than sitting and burns about 7 times more calories than taking a lift
- You burn about 0.17 calories for every step you climb, so you burn roughly a calorie and a half for every 10 upward steps
- You also burn calories going down. Every stair descended burns about 0.05 calories, so you burn 1 calorie for every 20 steps down
I've Seen Some Crappy Stairs, But This One Takes The Cake
When You Let Satan Choose The Carpet
- For buildings with five floors or less, it’s nearly always quicker to take the stairs. Studies show office workers save up to 15 minutes a day by taking the stairs.
- As well as guarding against heart disease, diabetes, stroke and some cancers, stair climbing releases endorphins that produce feelings of wellbeing.
- Just 7 minutes stair climbing a day has been estimated to more than half the risk of a heart attack over 10 years.
- Stair climbing cuts carbon emissions. By ditching the lift in a typical office you will save between 0.3 and 0.6 Kg of Co2 a day.
- Professional skiers often climb stairs to keep competition-fit. Many models do the same to keep their legs toned for the catwalk.
Camouflage 101
Built The Staircase Exactly As Designed, Boss
- Climbing stairs is a classic ‘short burst’ exercise and ideal for the time-poor. The biggest variable in stair climbing is your weight. The heavier you are, the more calories you burn.
- Other variables affecting calorie burn while stair climbing include the angle of the stairs, your sex, climbing speed, age and general fitness.
- You burn more calories climbing stairs in high heels.
- It’s a myth that climbing stairs two at a time burns more calories. More energy is expended over time by taking things slowly.
- The greatest height reached climbing stairs in 12 hours was 33,000 feet by Chris Solarz of Philadelphia, USA. Solarz climbed 58,080 stairs.
- The 19th century is regarded by many as the golden era of stair construction. In the 20th century architects gave prominence to lifts.
Stairs That Lead To Nowhere
Stairs Of Death
- Now, with the emergence of ‘active design’, architects are once again making stairs more prominent.
- Many scientific studies show that simple stair prompts significantly increase stair usage. One trick is simply to point-out ‘hidden’ stairs
- The longest stairway listed by the Guiness Book of Records is the service stairway for the Niesenbahn funicular railway near Spiez, Switzerland. It has 11,674 steps and a round trip would burn over 3,000 calories.
- Going down stairs burns fewer calories but works and tones different muscles and joints. It’s also good for balance and coordination.
- The Roman architect Vitruvius established the first guidelines for the stair in the first century B.C, suggesting a 37 degree pitch. Most stairs are not dramatically different today.
So what are you waiting for? Forget the lift, take a few deep breaths and get climbing!
Extreme Wheelchairing
In Case Of Fire Use Stairs, They Said. Do Not Use Elevators, They Said
Almost Broke My Leg
You Don't Have To Be Drunk To Fall Down These Stairs
These Stairs At A Movie Theatre
These Aren’t Stairs. They Are Decorative Waterfalls. My Friend Walked Into Them And Slipped, I Laughed My Ass Off
This Flight Of Stairs Outside A Door Is Death Waiting To Happen
My God
I literally thought that was a Toblerone until I scrolled down more
That would be one crazy old candy bar to have turned that color.
Load More Replies...
Especially when you look at all that's in the picture. I really want to know what's up with those balloons!
Load More Replies...
omg....this reminds me of old houses here in the Netherlands..in the old parts of a town not so far away from where I live. I had to walk down the stairs..well..it was very hard. The steps were too thin xD
It reminded me of old Dutch houses too - I’ve never seen steeper stairs!
Load More Replies...
You can tell there have already been accidents bad enough to brake the concrete off the ends of some of the steps.
Got one of those really cheap aluminum ladders from Wal-Mart. Threw some cement on it. This happened. Score!!
Oh wow, a near replica of my first apartment staircase in Amsterdam (Netherlands)!
These look like the stairs Smeagol made Frodo and Sam climb to get to Shelob's cave
My first thought, then I saw the gas canister, there's no doubt now
Load More Replies...
you just turn and climb down like you would a ladder. def looks like it's in poor country.
Well at least it do have a gate grid even though it is open when the pic was taken. Perhaps the photographer opened it just to take the pic!
I can see myself being the one idiot that tries to climb it for fun though
I can't believe these were designed by a grown up. A five year old would do better.
definitely needs a handrail. You would not need a stairmaster, tho.
Do not try this at home. In fact, do not try this without a safety harness.
Best disadvantages of both worlds! But at least there are some celebratory baloons to morally support you on your ascend.
Somewhat reminds me of the Stair of Cirith Ungol from the LOTR movies
Dragon’s teeth masquerading as stairs—if you actually make it to the top, you’re eaten.
For When You Want A Near Death Experience Every Time You Use The Stairs
What's with stairs with no railing? Who thinks that's safe for a healthy adult, let alone a child or an older person whose balance isn't quite as good any more (i.e. me)?
If You Choose To Go On The Left, On The Ramp, Because You Have A Bike Or Stroller, Then You Will Encounter A Step Later. But If You Choose Stairs Then You Will Encounter A Ramp After The Stairs
These Sloping Stairs
How To Break Your Bones
Man This Hill Is Just Too Steep. Hold On A Sec While I Take The Stairs
These Double Stairs
These Stairs
These Stairs Must Be For Pets And Children Only
These Stairs In Monaco
These Stairs
These Stairs In A College I Visited Had People Confused...
These Stairs In My Sisters House Are A Joy To Use
Someone Directed Us To These Stairs When We Were Lost
These Stairs In A Residence Hall When I Was In College. Always Creeped Me Out
These Stairs Are 1ft/30cm High
The One Stair Slightly Shifted To The Side
The Stairs To Nowhere
You Win This Time, Stairs...
Good place to hide your valuables. Though you’ll need to figure out a secret entrance; from the other side of the cabinet, or a way to move that stair. Just spitballing ideas here....
These Stairs...
Terrible Floor To See The Depth Of The Stairs
Space Saving Stairs
Let Them All Fall From Those Stairs
Carpeted Stairs To Shower
Constant dampness. Mold. Mildew. Gross. Plus, no room for a bath mat, because there’s only about 3 inches of space to step out onto.
Nearly Died Carrying A Box Down These Basement Stairs
I lived in a place that had similar stairs. Amazingly enough, your legs/feet do eventually pick up the rhythm and oddities of the stairs.
Stairs Leading To Nowhere At My School
Note: this post originally had 75 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
About 80% of these could be summed up with “sometimes things get remodeled”.
By a fly-by-night contractor and with no building permits, presumably.
Load More Replies...
So the people who designed these, the people who issued the permits, the people who built them... all failed to see the idiocy? And they got paid for that? They all need to give the money back and start looking for other jobs, preferably not involving people's safety!
Most of these were probably built without permits. Or at least without any inspection afterward to make sure building codes were followed. I wonder what countries these came from, because I've never seen anything like this where I live.
Load More Replies...
Also who the f**k designed these, beauty needs function, without it is stupidity
People need to understand that stairs are not meant to be optical illusions
Some can be, my friend has floating stairs and they look cool. But you can walk up them without falling off!
Load More Replies...
These staircases looks like you don't have enough money to finish, or they just don't give a f**k. And those stair to nowhere reminds me of the haunted house "The Winchester Mystery House" in San Jose, they build those stair for the spirit. Here's the video: https://youtu.be/Padm4JItZPw
Stairs in Russia are a real hoot. They build the risers all the same height, except at the top or the bottom there's a different-height riser to make it all fit.
99/100 designs were made in the following situation. Person A (wasted): I bet you can't design a stair that will kills you instantly. Person B (even more wasted): Hold my three beers.
Be interesting to know if kids lived at some of these homes... And whether they survived into adulthood.
Quite a few of these are the result of changed safety standards. In some businesses, guidelines call for employees to maintain 3 "points of contact" at all times : One foot and both hands. The photos reflect the addition of another handrail so that the 3 points are maintained at all times, where the were formerly too widely spaced to allow for it.
Almost all of these violate various building and life-safety codes in one way or another. There are good reasons that a safe set of stairs is usually a bit boring and predictable.
Aside from the Avant-Garde stairwells, a few seemed to have been modded after the original structure was built
I wear bifocals. Walking down a normal flight of stairs can be terrifying. I can't imagine walking down any of these flights of stairs while wearing bifocals! :-/ bifolcals-...943805.jpg 
Great story, typically unimaginative headline. Should have been called '40 Staircase Designs that Should Make Lawyers Rich.'
I actually like the ones where a railing has blocked off part of some variable width stairs. I need a handrail going down stairs and if there are a lot of people I can end up stranded in the middle of the stairs.
I used to work in a safety engineering office. Every single one of these would fail US safety regulations for staircases, and more than half of them are outright illegal. US laws on staircases are VERY specific: consistent tread-riser dimensions, maximum and minimum step dimensions, rail height, rail distance, rail diameter, lighting, coefficient of friction, angle ... the rules just go on and on and on.
I wonder how many people broke their ankles from these idiot designs?
Lol, I live in an old building with 5 flights of all different widths. Difficult sober in a rush bloody difficult pissed. #whynolift
Just a little note to go with all those photos of stairs with strangely patterned carpeting or otherwise with weird lines. When someone has had a stroke, oftentimes the ability to see depth correctly is hampered and this makes these stairs horrifically dangerous. The same goes for someone trying to get used to their new progressive, multi-focal glasses.
Low-bid your retrofit, your remodel, etc., and you get... no money to remove old stairs and similar. Oh, and if you see railings, that's usually to help control foot traffic flow and they're installed way after construction. Local high school has a few of these.... Yep. Low bids get you what you pay for!
All of these were likely designed by my family members; our house growing up was like these staircases, minus the artsy-cool vibe of some of these and with way more mess around it all. In architecture the form must follow the function, not vice versa. Nerd-rage!
#67 Friends had that exact type of stairs in their house. If the power goes out (which it does a lot where they live) the stairs turn into a death trap. Another friend lived in a 3 story apartment with only one way in or out using an outside, iron, fire escape type stair. He moved in in Sept, and by December, 4 injuries, 1 serious happened to him and people visiting. If the iron stairs got wet, iced or had snow on them, you'd be better off just jumping. He moved in January.
Lol, I know the pain. You get used to it, then someone visits...... next stop hospital
Load More Replies...
Why do I suddenly have the song "We're on the Road to Nowhere by Talkinhg Heads stuck in my head now?
About 80% of these could be summed up with “sometimes things get remodeled”.
By a fly-by-night contractor and with no building permits, presumably.
Load More Replies... So the people who designed these, the people who issued the permits, the people who built them... all failed to see the idiocy? And they got paid for that? They all need to give the money back and start looking for other jobs, preferably not involving people's safety!
Most of these were probably built without permits. Or at least without any inspection afterward to make sure building codes were followed. I wonder what countries these came from, because I've never seen anything like this where I live.
Load More Replies... Also who the f**k designed these, beauty needs function, without it is stupidity
People need to understand that stairs are not meant to be optical illusions
Some can be, my friend has floating stairs and they look cool. But you can walk up them without falling off!
Load More Replies... These staircases looks like you don't have enough money to finish, or they just don't give a f**k. And those stair to nowhere reminds me of the haunted house "The Winchester Mystery House" in San Jose, they build those stair for the spirit. Here's the video: https://youtu.be/Padm4JItZPw
Stairs in Russia are a real hoot. They build the risers all the same height, except at the top or the bottom there's a different-height riser to make it all fit.
99/100 designs were made in the following situation. Person A (wasted): I bet you can't design a stair that will kills you instantly. Person B (even more wasted): Hold my three beers.
Be interesting to know if kids lived at some of these homes... And whether they survived into adulthood.
Quite a few of these are the result of changed safety standards. In some businesses, guidelines call for employees to maintain 3 "points of contact" at all times : One foot and both hands. The photos reflect the addition of another handrail so that the 3 points are maintained at all times, where the were formerly too widely spaced to allow for it.
Almost all of these violate various building and life-safety codes in one way or another. There are good reasons that a safe set of stairs is usually a bit boring and predictable.
Aside from the Avant-Garde stairwells, a few seemed to have been modded after the original structure was built
I wear bifocals. Walking down a normal flight of stairs can be terrifying. I can't imagine walking down any of these flights of stairs while wearing bifocals! :-/ bifolcals-...943805.jpg
Great story, typically unimaginative headline. Should have been called '40 Staircase Designs that Should Make Lawyers Rich.'
I actually like the ones where a railing has blocked off part of some variable width stairs. I need a handrail going down stairs and if there are a lot of people I can end up stranded in the middle of the stairs.
I used to work in a safety engineering office. Every single one of these would fail US safety regulations for staircases, and more than half of them are outright illegal. US laws on staircases are VERY specific: consistent tread-riser dimensions, maximum and minimum step dimensions, rail height, rail distance, rail diameter, lighting, coefficient of friction, angle ... the rules just go on and on and on.
I wonder how many people broke their ankles from these idiot designs?
Lol, I live in an old building with 5 flights of all different widths. Difficult sober in a rush bloody difficult pissed. #whynolift
Just a little note to go with all those photos of stairs with strangely patterned carpeting or otherwise with weird lines. When someone has had a stroke, oftentimes the ability to see depth correctly is hampered and this makes these stairs horrifically dangerous. The same goes for someone trying to get used to their new progressive, multi-focal glasses.
Low-bid your retrofit, your remodel, etc., and you get... no money to remove old stairs and similar. Oh, and if you see railings, that's usually to help control foot traffic flow and they're installed way after construction. Local high school has a few of these.... Yep. Low bids get you what you pay for!
All of these were likely designed by my family members; our house growing up was like these staircases, minus the artsy-cool vibe of some of these and with way more mess around it all. In architecture the form must follow the function, not vice versa. Nerd-rage!
#67 Friends had that exact type of stairs in their house. If the power goes out (which it does a lot where they live) the stairs turn into a death trap. Another friend lived in a 3 story apartment with only one way in or out using an outside, iron, fire escape type stair. He moved in in Sept, and by December, 4 injuries, 1 serious happened to him and people visiting. If the iron stairs got wet, iced or had snow on them, you'd be better off just jumping. He moved in January.
Lol, I know the pain. You get used to it, then someone visits...... next stop hospital
Load More Replies... Why do I suddenly have the song "We're on the Road to Nowhere by Talkinhg Heads stuck in my head now?
