Stud Wall Calculator (Timber or Metal Framing)
Number of studs and length of plates and timber for a framed partition wall in wood or metal profiles, from its length, height and stud spacing.
Results
What this tool does
Studs go at a fixed spacing — commonly 40 or 60 cm centre to centre, chosen so that board edges land on a stud — plus one at the end, which is where the '+1' comes from. Each door or window needs extra studs on its sides (and a header and short cripples above, which you may want to add to the count). Different countries and systems have their own rules for corners, junctions and fire walls, so treat this as the quantity estimate for ordering and follow the manufacturer's or local framing rules for the layout.
Formula
studs = ⌈length ÷ spacing⌉ + 1 + openings × extra · timber = studs × height + plates × length
Variables
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
l | Wall length | m |
s | Stud spacing (centre to centre) | cm |
h | Wall height | m |
op | Doors and windows | — |
ex | Extra studs per opening | — |
pl | Horizontal plates (top + bottom) | — |
N | Studs needed | — |
PL | Length of plates | m |
TL | Total length of timber or profile | m |
Worked example
- Wall length4 m
- Stud spacing (centre to centre)60 cm
- Wall height2.5 m
- Doors and windows1
- Extra studs per opening2
- Horizontal plates (top + bottom)2
- Studs needed10
- Length of plates8.00 m
- Total length of timber or profile33.00 m
Limitations
- Always order a little more material than the calculated quantity. Cuts, breakage and pattern matching create waste that depends on the shape of the job.
- For work that must comply with a standard or be signed off, check the result against the applicable code and have it reviewed by a qualified engineer.