Calculate the exact number of studs, plates, headers, jack studs, and cripple studs needed to frame a wall. Supports standard stud spacings, door and window openings, and waste factors. Free to use — no signup required.
View lumber dimensions chart for nominal vs actual lumber sizes. See stud spacing reference for code requirements by wall type.
Wall studs needed at 8-foot height, no doors or windows, no waste factor.
| Wall Length | 16" OC | 24" OC |
|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 7 | 5 |
| 10 ft | 9 | 6 |
| 12 ft | 10 | 7 |
| 16 ft | 13 | 9 |
| 20 ft | 16 | 11 |
Framing a 20-foot wall at 8 feet tall with 16" OC spacing, one door, and one window using 2x4 studs with 10% waste? You need approximately 16 wall studs, 4 jack studs, 5 plate boards (double top plate + sole plate), 4 header boards, 2 cripple studs, and 1 sill plate — about 35 boards total.
| Lumber | Typical Price |
|---|---|
| 2x4x8 stud (SPF) | $3.00 – $5.00 |
| 2x4x10 stud | $4.50 – $7.00 |
| 2x6x8 stud (SPF) | $5.00 – $8.00 |
| 2x6x10 stud | $7.00 – $10.00 |
| 2x8x8 (headers) | $7.00 – $11.00 |
| 2x10x8 (headers) | $9.00 – $14.00 |
| 2x12x8 (headers) | $12.00 – $18.00 |
At 16" on center spacing, a 20-foot wall needs 16 studs (240 inches / 16 + 1). Add jack studs and cripple studs for any door or window openings, plus 10% waste for cuts and defects.
16" on center is the standard for load-bearing walls and most residential construction per IRC code. 24" OC is allowed for non-load-bearing interior partition walls and can save 30-40% on lumber, but check your local building code first.
A standard header uses two 2x boards (2x6, 2x8, or 2x10 depending on span) with 1/2" plywood sandwiched between them. Headers sit on jack studs (trimmer studs) that carry the load down to the sole plate. A 3-foot opening typically uses a 2x6 header; wider openings need larger headers.
A king stud runs full height from the sole plate to the top plate and sits next to a door or window opening. A jack stud (trimmer stud) is shorter and sits inside the king stud, supporting the header directly. Every opening needs both king studs and jack studs on each side.
Yes, in most cases. A double top plate is required by code on load-bearing walls to tie intersecting walls together and distribute loads. The joints in the two plates must be offset by at least 48 inches. Single top plates are only allowed in specific engineered wall systems.
10% waste is standard for most framing projects and covers mis-cuts, defective boards, and off-cuts that are too short to reuse. For complex walls with many openings, consider 15%. Experienced framers on simple walls can get by with 5%.
Need to calculate drywall for this wall too? Use our drywall calculator to get sheets, compound, and tape quantities. Or calculate insulation for the wall cavity.