How Many Studs Do I Need? Studs per Wall Length Chart
Multiply the wall length in feet by 12, divide by the stud spacing, round up and add one for the end. A 12 ft wall framed 16 inches on center needs 10 studs, plus extras for corners, doors and windows. A quick rule that covers the extras: one stud per foot of wall.
Studs by wall length
Field studs only, before corners and openings. Plates are one bottom plate and a double top plate.
| Wall length | Studs at 16 in O.C. | Studs at 24 in O.C. | Plate lumber |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 7 | 5 | 24 ft |
| 10 ft | 9 | 6 | 30 ft |
| 12 ft | 10 | 7 | 36 ft |
| 14 ft | 12 | 8 | 42 ft |
| 16 ft | 13 | 9 | 48 ft |
| 20 ft | 16 | 11 | 60 ft |
| 24 ft | 19 | 13 | 72 ft |
| 30 ft | 24 | 16 | 90 ft |
| 40 ft | 31 | 21 | 120 ft |
16 inches on center is standard for load-bearing walls and most interior walls. 24 inches is allowed for many non-bearing walls and some single-story exterior walls with 2x6 studs; check your local code.
Extra studs to add
- Corners: 2 extra per corner (or 3 for a traditional three-stud corner).
- Where a wall meets another wall: 2 extra, or 1 with ladder blocking.
- Doors and windows: a king stud and a jack (trimmer) stud on each side, which is about 2 to 3 more than the spacing gives, plus cripples above and below and a header.
- Waste: add 10% for crooked or split boards. Sight down each stud at the store.
Worked example: framing a 12 × 14 ft room
- Perimeter: 2 × (12 + 14) = 52 ft
- Field studs: 2 walls of 10 + 2 walls of 12 = 44
- Corners: 4 × 2 = 8
- One door and one window: about 6 more
- Total: 58 studs, or about 64 with 10% extra
- Plates: 52 ft × 3 = 156 ft, so 10 boards of 16 ft
For 8 ft ceilings buy precut 92 5/8 inch studs, which give a finished 8 ft wall with the plates. For 9 ft ceilings use 104 5/8 inch studs. Once the frame is up, the drywall calculator works out the sheets.
Frequently asked questions
How many studs are in an 8 foot wall?
7 studs at 16 inches on center, or 5 at 24 inches. Add 2 more for each corner and 2 to 3 for each door or window.
How many studs are in a 10 foot wall?
9 studs at 16 inches on center, or 6 at 24 inches.
How many studs are in a 12 foot wall?
10 studs at 16 inches on center, or 7 at 24 inches.
How many studs are in a 16 foot wall?
13 studs at 16 inches on center, or 9 at 24 inches.
How many studs are in a 20 foot wall?
16 studs at 16 inches on center, or 11 at 24 inches.
Is there a quick rule for studs?
Count one stud per foot of wall. At 16 inch spacing that covers the field studs plus the extras for corners, openings and blocking on most walls.