Framing Calculator
Count the wall studs at 16 or 24 inches on-center for a given wall length, plus the linear feet of top and bottom plate lumber.
How it works
Type in the wall length and pick your stud spacing — 16 inches on center is the everyday standard, while 24 on center shows up in some non-load-bearing and advanced-framing walls. The calculator converts the length to inches, divides by the spacing to count the regular studs, and adds one to close out the far end of the wall.
Then it adds one more stud as a small allowance for the extra framing real walls always need — an end stud, a corner, or a partition tie-in. It's a rough single-stud buffer, not a full opening takeoff, so headers, cripples, and jack studs around doors and windows are on top of this number.
Plates are the horizontal members that cap and foot the wall. A typical wall has one bottom plate and a doubled top plate, which is three runs of the full wall length, so the plate lumber is simply the length times three. Buy in the longest boards you can to cut down on splices.
Frequently asked questions
How many studs are in a 20-foot wall at 16 on-center?
Twenty feet is 240 inches. At 16-inch spacing that's 15 gaps, so 16 studs to reach the end, plus one to close it and one for extra framing — the calculator lands on about 18 for a plain wall before you add openings.
Should I use 16 or 24 inch spacing?
Sixteen on center is the default for most load-bearing walls and works with standard sheathing and drywall. Twenty-four on center uses less lumber and suits many interior or advanced-framed walls, but check that your loads, siding, and code allow it.
Why is the plate lumber three times the wall length?
A conventional wall has a single bottom plate and a double top plate — three horizontal runs the full length of the wall. Multiply the length by three and you have the plate footage; the doubled top plate helps tie framing together and carry loads across studs.