Wall Framing Calculator
Work out the lumber for a stud wall: on-center studs, extra studs for doors, windows, corners and intersecting walls, top and bottom plates, header sizes, sheathing and nails, with waste included.
Doors and windows (rough opening sizes)
Headers
How to estimate wall framing
- Enter the wall length and height, stud spacing and lumber size.
- Add every door and window using its rough opening size (usually the unit size plus about 2 inches). Count how many corners are in this wall and how many other walls tee into it.
- Read the studs, plates, headers and sheathing. Repeat for each wall and add them up, or enter the total length of several straight walls at once.
How the stud count works
The starting point is one stud every 16 inches (or 24) along the wall plus one at the end. Openings change that: studs that would fall inside a door or window are left out, and each opening gets two full-height king studs and two shorter jack (trimmer) studs that hold up the header (four jacks for openings over 6 feet). Short cripple studs fill the space above doors and above and below windows. Each corner and each place where another wall meets this one needs about two extra studs so there is something to nail drywall to.
Precut studs save cutting: 92-5/8 inches for an 8 ft wall, 104-5/8 for 9 ft and 116-5/8 for 10 ft. With a bottom plate and a double top plate, they give a finished ceiling height that fits standard drywall.
Header sizes
Headers carry the load above an opening. The sizes shown follow common rules of thumb for a load-bearing wall in a single-story house with a light roof: (2) 2×6 up to 3 feet, (2) 2×8 up to 4 feet, (2) 2×10 up to 5 feet and (2) 2×12 up to about 6.5 feet. Snow loads, a second floor or girder loads need bigger headers; check the span tables in IRC Table R602.7 or ask your building department. Non-bearing partition walls only need a flat 2×4 or a single header.
Plates and sheathing
A wall has one bottom (sole) plate and, if load-bearing, a double top plate whose joints are staggered at least 24 inches apart. The bottom plate is cut out across doorways after the wall is stood up, so less of it is needed. Sheathing is estimated as 4×8 sheets over the wall area minus openings.
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Frequently asked questions
How many studs do I need per foot of wall?
As a quick rule, one stud per foot of wall at 16-inch spacing covers the on-center studs plus the extras for openings and corners. This calculator gives a more exact count.
What is the difference between king and jack studs?
King studs run full height on each side of an opening. Jack studs are nailed to them and stop under the header to support it.
Should I use 2×4 or 2×6?
2×4 is standard for interior walls. 2×6 exterior walls hold thicker insulation and are required by energy codes in many colder areas, often at 24-inch spacing.
Is 24-inch spacing allowed?
Often, for single-story load-bearing walls and most partitions, with suitable sheathing and drywall. Check local code before using it on bearing walls.
Is anything sent to a server?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser, and nothing you enter leaves your device.