Wall Stud Calculator
How many studs for a framed wall
Framing a wall? Enter the wall length to estimate the number of studs at standard 16-inch on-center spacing.
Estimating studs
At 16" on center, studs run about 0.75 per linear foot, plus one to finish the wall — and extra for corners, openings and blocking. Don't forget top and bottom plates (the horizontal members) when buying lumber.
Plates, corners and openings
A typical wall has a single bottom plate and a double top plate, so budget linear footage for three plate runs the length of the wall. Corners and wall intersections need extra studs for backing, and each door or window adds king studs, jack studs, a header and cripples — usually several extra pieces per opening.
16 vs. 24 inch and lumber grade
Use 16" on center for load-bearing and most exterior walls; 24" on center ("advanced framing") saves lumber on non-load-bearing partitions. Pick straight stud-grade lumber and sight down each piece — a bowed stud telegraphs through drywall, so cull the worst ones for blocking and short cripples.
Wall Stud Calculator: frequently asked questions
How many studs do I need for a wall?
At 16-inch spacing, roughly (wall length in inches ÷ 16) + 1, plus extras for corners and openings.
Is 16 or 24 inch stud spacing better?
16-inch is standard for load-bearing walls; 24-inch can work for some non-load-bearing walls and saves lumber.
How much extra lumber should I buy for framing?
Beyond the stud count, add lumber for a bottom plate and a double top plate (three wall-length runs), plus extra studs at every corner, intersection and opening. Buying about 10–15% more covers crooked boards you'll cull.