Wall stud calculator
Enter the wall length and stud spacing, plus corners and openings, which each need extra studs.
Studs
10 studs
- Common studs
- 10 at 16 in on center
- Plates
- 36 linear ft (1 bottom, 2 top)
- Plate boards
- 3 12 ft boards
How it works
Common studs are the wall length divided by the spacing, plus one to close the end. Each corner or wall intersection gets two extra studs for backing. Each door or window gets two extra for the king and jack studs beside the opening. Plates are a single bottom plate and a doubled top plate, so three times the wall length.
Example
With wall length 12 ft, stud spacing: 16 in on center, corners and wall intersections 0, doors and windows 0, plate stock length: 12 ft, the answer is 10 studs.
Tips before you buy
- Headers over doors and windows, and the short cripple studs above and below openings, aren’t included. Size headers from your plans or local code.
- Buy a few extra studs. Some will be too bowed or twisted to use.
- Exterior walls are often 2×6 for more insulation. Check what your plans or local energy code call for.
Common questions
How many studs for a 12 ft wall?
10 studs at 16 inches on center, before extras for corners and openings.
How many studs per foot of wall?
Roughly one per foot is a common quick estimate at 16 inches on center, once corners, openings and spares are included.
What does 16 inches on center mean?
The distance from the center of one stud to the center of the next is 16 inches.