Wall Stud Calculator

Frame a wall without a second lumber run: studs from length and spacing, plate lumber, and extra studs for every door and window opening. Runs 100% in your browser.

About this wall stud calculator

Wall framing has three lumber lines: field studs (the verticals, spaced on center), plates (the horizontal top and bottom), and opening studs (the king and jack studs framing each door and window). This calculator does all three from wall length and spacing — plus a waste allowance, because studs get cut, split, and rejected for crown. Our stud guide covers spacing choices, headers, and corners in more depth.

The field-stud formula is one division: wall length in inches divided by spacing, rounded up, plus one end stud. A 10-ft wall at 16 inches on center is 120 ÷ 16 = 7.5 → 8 spaces + 1 = 9 studs; with 10% waste, buy 10. Sixteen-inch spacing is the standard for load-bearing walls; 24-inch spacing suits many non-load-bearing partitions and uses roughly 25% less lumber — but check local code before using it on a bearing wall.

Plates are easy to forget and annoying to run short on: a wall needs a double top plate plus a sole (bottom) plate, which is 3× the wall length in linear feet of the same stud lumber. Openings each add about 4 studs (2 king studs full-height beside the opening, 2 jack studs supporting the header) — headers themselves, cripples, and corner assemblies are extra beyond this count.

How to use

Measure your wall length in feet.
Choose your stud spacing — 16 in on center is standard for load-bearing walls.
Enter the number of door and window openings (0 if none).
Pick a waste allowance and press Calculate.

Good to know

Straight walls only — corners, intersections, and T-walls need extra studs for nailing surfaces that this tool does not count.
Headers, cripples above/below openings, and blocking are not counted — size headers per span and load per local code.
Stud length (wall height) is not an input — buy studs cut to your wall height (typically 8-ft precut studs for 8-ft ceilings).

Frequently asked questions

How many studs do I need for a 10-foot wall?

At 16-inch spacing: 9 field studs (120 ÷ 16 = 7.5, rounded up to 8 spaces, plus 1 end stud) — buy 10 with 10% waste. Plates add 30 linear feet (double top + sole).

What is standard stud spacing?

16 inches on center is standard for load-bearing walls and gives the best drywall support. 24 inches on center is common for non-load-bearing partitions; 12 inches is for heavy loads and tile walls.

How many studs per opening?

Plan on 4 extra studs per door or window opening: 2 king studs (full height, outside) and 2 jack studs (under the header). Headers and cripples are additional.

How much plate lumber does a wall need?

Three times the wall length in linear feet: a double top plate plus a sole plate, all in the same stud lumber (usually 2×4).

How many studs do I need for a 12-foot wall?

At 16-inch spacing: 10 field studs (144 ÷ 16 = 9 spaces + 1 end stud) — buy 11 with 10% waste, plus 36 linear feet of plate lumber.