Building & DIY

Wall Framing (Stud Count) Calculator

Estimate the lumber for a wood wall from its length, height, stud spacing, and openings. You get a stud count, plate length, and a header suggestion.

How to use
  1. Enter the wall length and height.
  2. Choose the stud spacing, usually 16 or 24 inches.
  3. Add any door or window openings to refine the count.
Examples
Total studs (with 10% waste)
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Estimates only, allow for waste and confirm against local building codes and supplier specs.
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How it's calculated

Studs = ⌈L × 12 ÷ spacing⌉ + 1 + corners + 5 × doors + 7 × windows, × 1.10

L = wall length (ft), spacing = 16 or 24 in on-centre, corners = 2 or 3 studs each, plus framing per door and window. × 1.10 adds 10% waste.

Common questions

What stud spacing should I use?

16 inches on center is the most common for load-bearing walls. 24 inches is allowed for some non-load-bearing walls.

Why are there two plates?

A wall has a bottom plate and a top plate that the studs nail into, so plate length is twice the wall length.