Stud Calculator

How many studs and plates a framed wall needs: wall lengths, stud spacing, corners and openings, with the stud length for your wall height.

A framed wall has studs at a fixed spacing, plus extras at corners, junctions and openings, sitting between a bottom plate and a double top plate. Studs along a wall are its length divided by the spacing plus one (and one more if it doesn't divide evenly): a 12 ft wall at 16 in centres takes 10, and a 10 ft wall 9. Add two for a corner and two for each door or window, then 10% extra, and those two walls need 26 studs. The plates are three times the wall length: 66 ft, or 7 lengths of 12 ft with extra. Enter your walls, spacing, corners and openings and the calculator gives the studs, plates and the stud length for your wall height.

Units
Walls
ft
ft
ft
ft
Feet and inches work too: type 12'6 or 12.5.
in
in
%
Studs
26

91.5 in long

Plate lengths
7

12 ft each

Wall length
22 ft

2 walls

Spacing
16 in

on centre

How it was worked out
  1. Wall 1: 12 ft at 16 in centres = 10 studs
  2. Wall 2: 10 ft at 16 in centres = 9 studs
  3. Corners and wall junctions: +2 each (1); openings for doors and windows: +2 each for king and jack studs (1): +4
  4. 19 + 4 + 10% = 26 studs
  5. Plates: one bottom and two top = 22 ft × 3 + 10% = 72.6 ft ÷ 12 ft lengths = 7
  6. Stud length for a 8 ft wall: height − 3 plates of 1.5 in = 91.5 in

A quick estimate for a stud wall. Headers, cripples, blocking or noggins, and fire blocking are extra, and openings in real walls vary. Precut 92⅝ in studs are sized for 8 ft ceilings with a single bottom and double top plate.

Common use cases

  • Frame a partition wall, basement wall or shed
  • Order studs and plates for a garage or workshop
  • Compare 16 in and 24 in spacing (or 400, 450 and 600 mm)
  • Get a quick materials count before a framing quote

How to use

  1. Choose your units.
  2. Enter each wall's length and height.
  3. Set the stud spacing, the corners and junctions, and the number of doors and windows.
  4. Choose the plate length you'll buy, then read the studs, plates and stud length.

FAQ

How many studs do I need for a wall?

Wall length ÷ spacing, plus one, rounded up: a 12 ft wall at 16 in centres takes 10 studs. Add about two for each corner or wall junction and two for each opening, plus 10% for bowed or split studs.

Should studs be 16 or 24 inches apart?

16 in centres is the common default for walls in the US. 24 in centres uses less timber and is allowed for many walls, but depends on the load, stud size and wall covering. UK and Australian walls commonly use 400, 450 or 600 mm centres.

Why are precut studs 92⅝ in long?

A 92⅝ in stud with a bottom plate and a double top plate (each 1½ in) makes a wall 97⅛ in tall, which leaves room for an 8 ft ceiling of drywall plus a little clearance.

Related tools

Results are estimates for planning and buying materials, worked out from the figures you enter and typical values (weights, coverage, sizes) that vary by product and supplier. They are not engineering, building or professional advice. Check your local building code, the product maker's instructions and your supplier's figures before you buy or build, and use a qualified professional for structural, electrical and gas work. Sizes, spans, depths and reinforcement for anything structural must come from span tables, your building code or an engineer.