Wall stud calculator
Estimate studs, top and bottom plates, and extra king or jack studs for a framed wall from length, height, and on-center spacing.
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Tool guide
Wall stud calculator: how it works
Practical information to understand the result and use this tool correctly.
About Wall stud calculator
Enter the wall length, stud height, and on-center spacing. Layout studs are ceil(length ÷ spacing) + 1, so both ends are included. The last bay is the leftover distance after the regular spaces, which is useful when the wall is not an exact multiple of the spacing.
Plate run defaults to three lengths of the wall: one bottom plate and a double top plate. Switch to two runs for a single top plate, or one if you only need a bottom plate. Plate pieces are that run, plus waste, divided by the stock length you buy, rounded up.
Each door or window adds the extra pieces you set, defaulting to four (two king studs and two jack studs). Those extras are not subtracted from the layout count, so the order stays conservative. Corner studs are a separate add-on for an outside corner you are framing with this wall.
Nothing is uploaded. This is a material list, not a structural design: it does not size headers, check bearing, or count drywall sheets. If the stud height is longer than the stock stick, the tool warns you to order a longer length.
How to use it
- 1Choose meters or feet, then enter wall length and stud height.
- 2Set on-center spacing (0.4 m, 0.6 m, 1.333 ft for 16 in, or 2 ft for 24 in).
- 3Pick plate runs and add openings or corner studs if this wall has them.
- 4Set stock lengths and waste, then copy the stud and plate order.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the stud count calculated?
- Layout studs are ceil(wall length ÷ on-center spacing) + 1. Extra opening and corner pieces are added, then waste is applied and the result is rounded up. Plate pieces use plate runs × length × (1 + waste), divided by the plate stock length.
- Does this replace the drywall calculator?
- No. Drywall counts sheets, screws, and joint compound. This tool only orders studs and plates for the frame. Siding and insulation stay in their own calculators.
- Why are opening studs added instead of removed?
- A door or window still needs king and jack studs beside the opening. Removing layout studs from the count often under-orders lumber. The default of four extras per opening is a planning allowance, not a header design.
- Does the calculation leave the browser?
- No. Lengths, spacing, prices, and the order summary stay on your device.